Jammu, Aug 22: The country fulfilled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise to teach the preparators of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, by putting an end to terror havens across the border in Pakistan, as well as eliminating the terrorists behind the dastardly attack that killed 26 citizens, 25 of them tourists.
Hailing the resounding success of Operation Sindoor, followed by Operation Mahadev, Shah also said that the Modi government has created an ecosystem to counter terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
“After the BJP came to power, three major terrorist attacks had taken place and the armed forces had hit back hard,” the Home Minister said.
He remarks came while speaking at the Manorama News Conclave in Kerala’s Kochi and a party event in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli.
In Tirunelveli, Shah took on the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the region’s border with Pakistan had long made it easy for militants to cross over.
“Earlier, they used to train local boys for terrorism. Now the local recruitment is zero. No stone pelting is taking place. We have created an ecosystem to counter terrorism,” he claimed.
Shah said India had made major gains in security under Prime Minister Modi.
“Violence has come down drastically. There is a 70 per cent reduction in deaths. There is a 74 per cent reduction in casualties for security forces. Peace is returning,” he added.
He recalled that after the BJP came to power, three major terrorist attacks had taken place and the armed forces had hit back hard.
He cited Operation Sindoor, in which militant headquarters in Pakistan were destroyed. He also said laws such as the UAPA had been tightened, the NIA strengthened, and that Naxalism and Maoism “were on track to be defeated ahead of schedule.”
“A large number of terrorists surrendered as part of it,” he added.
In Kochi, Shah said that PM Modi ‘promised’ to teach a lesson to terrorists who were behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left many tourists dead, and that promise was fulfilled.
“Pakistani terrorists killed our innocent citizens in Pahalagam. Modi ji promised to teach a lesson to terrorists and their masters. Through Operation Sindoor, we entered Pakistan and put an end to terror havens,” he said.
“Operation Sindoor ended terrorists havens and masters (of terror operatives) while Operation Mahadev killed the three terrorists (behind Pahalgam attack) and avenged the killing of our citizens,” he said.
In Kochi, Shah also met the family members of N Ramachandran, who was killed in Pahalgam terrorist attack.
According to BJP sources, Shah met Ramachandran’s widow, Sheela, and his daughter, Arathi R Menon, at a hotel where the BJP state leadership meeting was being held on Friday.
The meeting took place before the BJP’s closed-door discussions commenced, a party leader said. The meeting lasted for over 15 minutes, during which Shah listened to the family.
He assured them of all possible support, the leader added. Ramachandran was among several tourists killed in the attack.
PTI adds: India will not compromise its farmers or wider national interests in any trade deal with the United States, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday, after Washington slapped new tariffs on Indian goods.
“Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has made it clear that any trade deal will not go above the interests of India,” Shah said at the Manorama News Conclave in Kochi.
“No agreement will be signed at the cost of our people. Farmers’ interests will not be put at risk. Everything we do will be keeping the nation’s interests first,” the home minister said, reacting to a query during a Q&A session.
The comments come after the US imposed a 25 per cent additional tariff on Indian exports such as textiles, marine products and leather, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Shah said that under Prime Minister Modi, India’s economy had jumped from the world’s 11th largest to the fourth in just over a decade. He contrasted this with the previous Congress-led government, which he accused of letting the economy drift.
“Until we reach the pinnacle and build a great India, no one has the right to rest,” Shah told the audience, urging citizens to put in their “utmost effort” to push the country to the top in every field.
Despite sharper trade tensions with Washington, Shah said the Modi government’s focus remained on “stability, peace and development.”
“When the history of this period is written, these 11 years of Modi’s leadership will be in golden letters,” he said.
Shah also spoke at length about internal security and politics.
On the recent violence in Manipur, Shah said the BJP had governed the state “peacefully for six years before unrest broke out”, following a court verdict.
“There was no violence then. The violence started after a court verdict. Violence even occurred when Congress was in power. But I am not blaming them. Now there is peace. We have conducted talks with both factions, and peace is returning. Our priority was restoring peace. I want to make it clear that it has no connection with religion. It is an ethnic issue,” he claimed.
Asked about Modi’s leadership, Shah praised his long years in public life. “He left his family and self-interest for the welfare of the country. He is the most successful and longest serving CM and PM in the country,” he said, adding that Modi worked tirelessly to fight poverty and keep India safe.
“He is the role model for youngsters in the country and the BJP party,” Shah said.
In Tirunelveli, Shah said Chief Minister M K Stalin does not have any right to dub the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill as “black bill” as he alleged the Tamil Nadu chief minister carried out “black deed.”
Addressing a party event here, Shah alleged the DMK led the “most corrupt” government in the country and it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who ran the government as per Tamil classical didactic book, Thirukkural’s guidance for an able, ideal ruler.
The BJP veteran alleged Stalin had no right to dismiss the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill as a Black Bill as he is a CM who did “black deed.” He listed out various ‘scams’ in the incumbent regime in Tamil Nadu.
Slamming the DMK over “corruption”, he alleged several scams, including those related to state liquor corporation TASMAC, sand mining, infrastructure, transport department, nutrition kit, free dhoti, cash for jobs, ration smuggling and a scam over MGNREGA where the money of poor Tamils was swindled.
Citing the case against DMK leader and former Minister K Ponmudy and the recent one of V Senthil Balaji who continued as a minister when he was in jail in connection with an ED case, Shah asked if it was appropriate to be part of the Cabinet and govern despite being jailed.
Taking a swipe at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, he said her only agenda was to make her son Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. Similarly, the only agenda of Stalin was to make his son Udhayanidhi the chief minister.
Both will not fructify as the NDA will emerge victorious, Shah asserted.
Alleging that the DMK is leading the most corrupt government in the country, he expressed confidence that in Tamil Nadu a regime of the BJP, AIADMK and other constituents of the NDA will form the government following win in the 2026 Assembly election.
In 2024 LS polls, NDA got 18 per cent vote share and AIADMK (which was not part of NDA at that time) received 21 per cent and when put together, it is 39 per cent.
Alliance with AIADMK is not a mere political agreement but a new path for Tamil Nadu’s progress.
