Hyderabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that the NDA government has proved through the surgical strikes of 2016, the Balakot airstrike in 2019, and the recent Operation Sindoor that India is willing to cross any border when necessary to protect its citizens and maintain the nation’s unity and integrity. During his address at ‘JITO Connect’, organized by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), he condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, noting that victims were targeted based on their religion, while affirming that India did not consider religion in its military operations against Pakistan. Singh stated that the government focused on terrorist centers to hold accountable those behind the Pahalgam attack, affirming, “We never attacked any military or civilian establishment there.
If we wanted, we could have done that earlier, but we did not.” The Defence Minister highlighted that the current government’s efforts to enhance military and economic power are not for domination but to uphold the values rooted in religion, faith, and human dignity, as illustrated by the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir. He reiterated that, concerning India’s glory and dignity, the government has never compromised. Singh pointed out the significant increase in defence exports, which rose from Rs 600 crore in 2014 to over Rs 24,000 crore in 2025, with expectations to surpass Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. He mentioned that the armed forces are increasingly equipped with Made-in-India products, including Tejas fighter jets, Akash missiles, and Arjun tanks.
He celebrated a recent deal for 97 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, boasting over 64 percent indigenous content, as a landmark achievement in India’s quest for self-reliance in defense. Singh noted that India now manufactures a wide range of products, from toys to tanks, and is rapidly becoming the global manufacturing hub. On economic growth, he stated that India ranks as the world’s fourth-largest economy and is expected to reach a GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030. According to IMF projections, India is on track to become the second-largest economy by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) by 2038. The Minister paid homage to prominent Jain figures such as Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr.
DS Kothari, whose legacies continue to motivate the nation. He acknowledged the government’s initiatives to safeguard Jain heritage, including the recovery of over 20 stolen Tirthankara idols and the designation of Prakrit as a Classical Language of India. Singh urged citizens to adopt the principles of non-violence, truth, and Aparigraha, as taught by Lord Mahavira, to guide India toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. He also recognized the Jain community’s substantial contributions to the national tax revenue, despite constituting only 0.5 percent of India’s population, highlighting their strong work ethic and cultural significance in India’s spiritual and cultural evolution.
Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, and state BJP president N Ramchander Rao were present at the event.