Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Operation Sindoor had not only avenged the Pahalgam terror strike, but also reaffirmed India’s resolve to defend its sovereignty with full might. The offensive, he said, had sent shudders through enemy ranks and compelled the world to take serious note of India’s growing strength.“India today does not hesitate when it comes to safeguarding its dignity. After the cowardly attack in Pahalgam, the message from Operation Sindoor was loud and clear, we will strike back, and we will strike where it hurts,” the PM said, addressing a crowd at the valedictory ceremony of the Aadi Thiruvizha festival in the ancient temple town of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.The PM said Operation Sindoor sent a clear message — “For enemies of India, for terrorists, there is no safe haven.” As chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai rang through the air, he declared, “This is a new India. We will not remain silent; we respond with courage and clarity.”Speaking before the 11th-century Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by Chola emperor Rajendra I, Modi drew a striking parallel between the Chola Empire’s maritime prowess and modern India’s rising stature. “The Cholas not only built temples, they shaped civilisation across Asia. Their administration, maritime power and spiritual depth are lessons for our time,” he said.In a gesture laden with symbolism, Modi announced that statues of Rajendra Chola and his father Rajaraja Chola would be erected in Tamil Nadu. “These will not just be structures of stone and metal, but reminders of India’s strength, unity and vision,” he said.The PM also unveiled a commemorative coin in honour of Rajendra Chola I, and launched the Tamil version of the Bhagavad Gita, developed by the Chinmaya Mission, urging the youth to reconnect with their roots.Dressed in a traditional white veshti and shirt, with an angavastram draped over his shoulder, Modi struck a chord with the local audience. He said, “Tamil saints and scholars kept India’s soul alive through centuries of turmoil. Their voices still guide us — from the verses of the Nayanmars to the wisdom of ‘Anbe Sivam’ — Love is God.”Earlier, Modi’s 3-4 km drive from the helipad turned into an impromptu roadshow, with crowds lining the route, raising slogans and praising Operation Sindoor.Calling India’s cultural revival a national mission, PM Modi said over 600 ancient idols and artefacts, looted from Indian temples, had been brought back over the past decade—36 of them from Tamil Nadu alone, including rare statues of Nataraja, Parvati and Lingodbhavar.He also referenced the sacred Sengol, now installed in the new Parliament building, as a symbol of Tamil pride and tradition reclaiming its place in India’s national consciousness.Praising the Chola legacy, Modi highlighted the dynasty’s emphasis on humility and reverence. “Rajendra Chola, despite building a vast empire, ensured the gopuram of his temple was smaller than his father’s,” he noted.On the death anniversary of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Modi paid tribute to the “Missile Man of India”, calling him “a scientist, a saint, a son of this soil”. He urged the nation’s youth to emulate Kalam’s discipline, dedication and devotion to the country.
Op Sindoor proved there’s no safe haven for terrorists: PM in TN
