NEW DELHI: With the Indus Waters Treaty already in abeyance, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reinforced India’s hardening stance towards Pakistan. He asserted that the Narendra Modi-led government would not allow the waters of the Indus river to reach what he described as the “patrons of terror.“The defence minister remarks come as India continues to keep the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, a punitive diplomatic measure adopted in the aftermath of the Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack last year. Addressing an event in Hyderabad, defence minister Rajnath said the NDA government had shown through Operation Sindoor that it knows how to deal with those who do not understand the language of peace.He strongly denounced the Congress and other opposition parties for questioning Operation Sindoor and the courage of India’s armed forces. Rajnath said the government had made it clear that if terror attacks were carried out against India, Pakistan would face consequences, including on issues related to water and trade.“After the Pahalgam terror attack, by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, we said that those whose tears have dried up should not expect water from us. We will not let the waters of the Sindhu reach the patrons of terrorists and enemies of humanity,” he said.Rajnath said India has emerged as a trusted partner on the global stage and has consistently helped countries during times of crisis.Recalling India’s support to several nations during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said the country is now seen as a “vishwa bandhu” or friend of the world. At the same time, he warned that India’s adversaries should remember that the country possesses not only vaccines but also BrahMos missiles.The defence minister said India is producing goods not only for domestic use but also for global markets. He expressed confidence that the country’s exports would touch $2 trillion over the next five years.Highlighting growth in the defence sector, Rajnath said defence production currently stands at around Rs 1.5 lakh crore and is expected to rise to Rs 1.7 lakh crore soon. He added that defence exports have reached Rs 39,000 crore and are likely to increase further, with India now exporting defence equipment to around 100 countries.He also noted that the defence budget has increased majorly, reaching Rs 8 lakh crore compared to around Rs 2.5 lakh crore during his tenure as home minister between 2014 and 2019.Speaking about the NDA government’s achievements over the last 12 years, Singh cited the abrogation of Article 370, progress in reducing naxalism, the implementation of GST, nationwide electrification and reforms in the justice system.“There was a time when Congress used to say that no one could abolish Article 370. But you have seen our government abolish it with ease,” he said.According to Rajnath, Jammu and Kashmir has undergone major changes since then. He said the region, once associated with terrorism, is now witnessing growth in tourism, investment and employment opportunities.The minister said the national flag now flies proudly at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, Krishna Janmashtami is being celebrated there for the first time, Muharram processions are being held peacefully and cinema halls that remained shut for decades are reopening.He rejected allegations that the BJP discriminates on the basis of religion, caste or community, saying the party’s politics is guided by justice and humanity.Rajnath also said the BJP had promised action against illegal infiltrators and claimed that such individuals were being sent back from BJP-ruled states, including West Bengal, where he said the party had recently come to power.Referring to other promises, he said the NDA government had carried out reforms in waqf laws and had begun the process of implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand.“Work is underway in many BJP-ruled states. What lies ahead, I need not spell out,” he said.Targeting the Congress, Rajnath alleged that the party treats the country as the domain of a single family. Referring to Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress leader had often spoken about his political moment arriving in 2024.According to Rajnath, this reflected a belief in waiting for the right time rather than working to earn people’s trust. He said this was the key difference between the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its political rivals.Asserting that the BJP and Modi are sincere both in action and intent, Singh said the party focuses on the future of the next generation rather than electoral gains.“The BJP and the NDA government are not worried about winning the next election, but about securing the future of the next generation. There is no gap between the party’s words and its deeds,” he said.He also claimed that every rupee in the national budget was being used to strengthen India’s security and said there had been no corruption allegations against the NDA government.In contrast, Rajnath accused the previous UPA government of being marred by corruption scandals, including the 2G spectrum case, the coal allocation case and the Commonwealth Games controversy. He said reports of scams had become a regular occurrence during that period, causing huge losses to the public exchequer.
