BrahMos Is More Than a Weapon—It Sends a Powerful Message: Rajnath Singh

A day after reports confirmed that India had used its BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to strike Pakistani air bases ahead of a ceasefire, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the BrahMos Integration and Testing Centre in Lucknow. At the event, Singh emphasized that BrahMos is more than just a missile; it is a symbol of the Indian Armed Forces’ strength and a deterrent against enemies. He stated that BrahMos represents India's commitment to protecting its borders and is one of the fastest supersonic missiles in the world.

Quoting former President A P J Abdul Kalam, often referred to as India’s “Missile Man,” Singh reiterated that only a strong India can command respect globally. He said, “Fear has no place… strength respects strength.” Singh highlighted that Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Army with the purpose of destroying terror infrastructure in Pakistan as a response to terrorism. He added that while India never targeted common citizens, Pakistan had attempted to strike not only residential areas but also religious sites like temples, gurdwaras, and churches.

Participating virtually in the event, Singh praised the Indian armed forces for demonstrating not only courage and bravery but also restraint in their retaliatory operations. He emphasized that Operation Sindoor was not just a military initiative but a reflection of India’s political, social, and strategic resolve. According to him, this operation proved that India will not allow the bases of terrorists or their masterminds to remain secure—on either side of the border. He underlined that the Indian Army’s actions echoed even in Rawalpindi, where the Pakistan Army’s headquarters is located.

Referring to India’s past responses to terrorism, including surgical strikes after the Uri attack and airstrikes post the Pulwama bombing, Singh said the global community has seen India’s capacity to retaliate when provoked. He reaffirmed the country’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, asserting that New India will act decisively against terror on both sides of the border.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who attended the event along with his two Deputy Chief Ministers, also emphasized BrahMos’s capabilities. He remarked that those in Pakistan have now experienced the missile’s might through Operation Sindoor and invited skeptics to ask Pakistan for confirmation. He stressed that any act of terror against India would be treated as a war until it is decisively crushed. Adityanath likened terrorism to a dog’s tail—something that can’t be straightened or corrected with kindness—and said it must be countered in its own language, with Operation Sindoor serving as a global message in that direction.

The Rs 300-crore BrahMos facility in Lucknow’s Sarojininagar was established as part of a joint venture between India and Russia, with its foundation laid in 2021. This facility is a key component of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. As part of the same corridor, Singh and Adityanath also inaugurated the Titanium and Super Alloys Materials Plant, also called the Strategic Materials Technology Complex, further boosting India’s defense manufacturing capabilities.