New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the Lok Sabha with a firm reiteration of the government’s position on Operation Sindoor, declaring that the ceasefire on May 10 came only after Pakistan “pleaded” for it. He also dismissed Opposition allegations and international speculation, stating unequivocally that no foreign leader had asked India to stop its military action.
In a sharp and detailed speech during the parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor and the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the Prime Minister directly countered Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier questioned why Modi hadn’t publicly contradicted U.S. President Donald Trump’s past claims of brokering peace between India and Pakistan.
“For the first time, I am placing these facts before the nation,” PM Modi said. “From the beginning, we made it clear that our operation was non-escalatory. No leader across the globe advised India to stop Operation Sindoor. On the night of May 9, U.S. Vice President JD Vance tried to contact me. For nearly an hour, I was in a high-level strategic meeting with our armed forces and couldn’t take his call.”
Modi recounted that when he returned the call, Vance had conveyed intelligence indicating that Pakistan was preparing for a major retaliatory strike. “I told him firmly — if Pakistan dares to attack, it will be met with a response of unprecedented force. ‘Ham goli ka jawab gole se denge’ (We will respond to bullets with cannon fire). And that is exactly what happened,” he stated.
According to Modi, on May 10, Indian armed forces inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan’s military infrastructure. “That was our message — clear, loud and irreversible. Pakistan now understands that every response from India will be larger than the previous one,” he said. “Let me declare from this temple of democracy: Operation Sindoor is not over. It continues.”
‘Pakistan Pleaded for Ceasefire’
Highlighting the events that followed India’s strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, Modi said India had already achieved its strategic objectives. However, when Pakistan tried to shield terror outfits and launched counter-attacks, Indian forces retaliated with intensified strikes.
“On May 9 and 10, we launched precise missile strikes deep into Pakistan, reaching locations they never imagined vulnerable. This brought them to their knees. It was then that the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to India with a plea: ‘Please stop. We can’t take any more. We have suffered enough.’ That is the truth behind the ceasefire,” the PM said.
He asserted that India’s military operations were limited in scope and targeted at terror networks and their leadership. “We never intended escalation, but if forced, we will not hesitate to act,” he added.
Pakistan’s Drone and Missile Barrage Neutralised
Providing new operational details, the Prime Minister disclosed that over a four-day period beginning May 7, Pakistan launched around 1,000 drones and missiles at India. “All of them were intercepted and destroyed mid-air. This speaks volumes about the preparedness and technological capability of our defence forces,” he said.
The Prime Minister also took a dig at the Opposition, especially the Congress party, accusing them of standing with those who oppose India’s counter-terrorism stance. “The terrorists are crying, their backers are crying — and seeing this, some people here too have started mourning. The Congress has a long history of coining terms like ‘saffron terror’ and defaming India’s image globally,” Modi alleged.
Rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi
Modi’s remarks were also a pointed reply to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier cited Trump’s old claim about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, questioning why the Prime Minister didn’t challenge it.
“The Opposition is more interested in promoting foreign narratives than trusting their own government and armed forces,” Modi said. “India acted independently, decisively, and with strategic precision. No one dictated our moves — not America, not Europe, not anyone else.”
National Resolve and Message to the World
The Prime Minister said Operation Sindoor was a clear signal to India’s adversaries. “We have shown that this is a new India — one that does not tolerate terrorism and will go to any length to defend its people,” he declared.
He praised the armed forces and intelligence agencies for their coordinated action and vigilance, stating that India had managed to dominate both the battlefield and the global narrative. “When we strike, we strike with purpose. Our objective was never to capture land, but to eliminate the terror machinery,” he said.
Closing Remarks
In his concluding statements, PM Modi called upon the nation to unite behind the armed forces and uphold India’s sovereignty above political considerations. “This House should send a unanimous message — that we stand with our soldiers, and that India will never bow to terror or to those who shelter it.”
He also warned Pakistan and any nation supporting terrorism: “If there’s another provocation, our response will be even more devastating.”
With the Prime Minister’s powerful speech, the government reaffirmed its commitment to national security and counter-terrorism, signaling that Operation Sindoor marks a new chapter in India’s strategic doctrine — one of proactive defence and swift retribution.
