Bikaner (Rajasthan), May 22: Delivering a fiery address in Palana, Bikaner, his first visit to Rajasthan after Operation Sindoor — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented a firm, uncompromising stance against terrorism, asserting India’s new principles in dealing with threats.

“Operation Sindoor has established three clear principles,” the Prime Minister said.

First, any terrorist attack on India will receive a decisive response, with the timing and method left to the armed forces.

Second, India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats.

Third, there will be no distinction between terror groups and the governments that support them, PM Modi said.

Slamming Pakistan, PM Modi declared: “The game of state and non-state actors is over. India will hold all responsible parties accountable. Those bullets pierced the hearts of 140 crore Indians. Those who tried to erase the Sindoor of our sisters have been razed to the ground.”

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which took place exactly a month ago when 26 innocent civilians were killed, he revealed that India’s forces destroyed nine major terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir within 22 minutes.

“The world saw what happens when Sindoor turns into Barood (gunpowder),” he said.

Making a scathing attack on the neighbouring country, he said, “Pakistan cannot face India directly, so it resorts to terrorism. But they forgot — now Modi stands here with his chest puffed out. My mind stays calm, but my blood runs hot with Sindoor.”

In his address, the Prime Minister said that seven Indian delegations comprising political leaders and foreign policy experts will visit different countries to expose Pakistan’s role in supporting terrorism.

“No talks, no trade with Pakistan — only talk will be about PoK,” he asserted, adding, “India will not back down. This is our resolve, and no power in the world can shake it.”

Describing Operation Sindoor as “not revenge, but the new face of justice,” he said, “This is the fierce form of Samarth Bharat — capable India.”

He recalled a symbolic connection with Rajasthan: “Five years ago, after the Balakot airstrike, my first public meeting was in Rajasthan. Today, after Operation Sindoor, I’m once again in this Veer Bhoomi (land of the brave).”

Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok before inaugurating 103 modernised Amrit Bharat railway stations and flagging off the Bikaner-Bandra Express.

He also launched and laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 26,000 crore, including water and infrastructure initiatives for Rajasthan.

Highlighting India’s development strides, the Prime Minister cited engineering marvels like the Chenab Bridge, Atal Setu, and Pamban Bridge, and praised the Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains as symbols of a fast-moving India.

A touching moment unfolded when a woman named Sumitra from a self-help group presented a bullock cart model to PM Modi and tried to touch his feet. The Prime Minister gently stopped her and bowed in return.

Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and senior BJP leaders were present at the event. Prime Minister Modi also visited an exhibition celebrating Rajasthan’s heroes.

Mumbai, May 14: The Indian defence sector has witnessed a sharp rise in its market capitalisation, gaining an impressive Rs 86,211 crore since the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

The bull rally began after the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a major precision strike on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This operation, India’s largest tri-service action since the 1971 war, significantly boosted the confidence in defence stocks. Despite the heightened geopolitical tensions, shares of defence companies surged.

As a result, the Nifty India Defence Index, which tracks the performance of leading defence stocks, has gained 9.39 per cent since the start of the military action, a remarkable contrast to the 1.98 per cent increase in the benchmark Nifty during the same period.

Paras Defence and Space Technologies Limited led the rally, with its share price rising nearly 40 per cent since April 22. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited followed closely, seeing a gain of more than 28 per cent, as per market data.

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited and Bharat Dynamics also posted strong performances, each rising over 26 per cent. Other notable performers include Data Patterns India and DCX Systems, both of which saw returns of over 20 per cent.

The surge in the sector has also been reflected in the market capitalisation contributions of major players. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has added Rs 23,683 crore to the sector’s market value, while Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics have contributed Rs 21,654 crore and Rs 12,345 crore, respectively.

Other companies, such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Solar Industries, have also played a significant role in the overall market cap gain, contributing Rs 9,971 crore and Rs 6,859 crore, respectively.

Meanwhile, the domestic defence sector remained a standout performer on Wednesday, attracting consistent interest from investors even as broader markets faced some intra-day volatility.

Mumbai, April 26: Steel serves as the backbone of India’s economic progress and a vital enabler of the national vision for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, said on Saturday.

Addressing the 6th edition of ‘Steel India 2025’ here, the minister highlighted how India is setting new global benchmarks in infrastructure development, from the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, the world’s highest railway bridge, to the historic Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu — all made possible by the growing strength of the steel sector.

Every milestone in the nation’s infrastructure journey, he remarked, is forged in steel — reflecting the momentum and aspirations of a Nation on the move.

Reddy further stated that India’s steel sector has grown at an impressive pace in recent years, positioning the country as the second-largest steel producer globally.

Citing the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister referred to steel as India’s “Sunrise Sector” — a key driver of domestic consumption, industrial expansion and self-reliance through the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.

Reddy expressed confidence that through close collaboration between the Centre, state governments and industry stakeholders, India will not only meet its raw material requirements domestically but also emerge as a global leader in sustainable, self-reliant steel production.

He urged all participants at the conference to contribute actively to shaping policies that will secure a greener and more resilient future for the nation’s steel ecosystem.

The Union Minister emphasised that if steel forms the backbone of India’s economy, the coal and mining sector represents the strong foundation on which it rests.

He highlighted the importance of raw material security, especially in the context of the current session on Raw Material Strategy and the Shift in Raw Material Mix.

Ensuring the availability of critical raw materials like iron ore, coking coal, limestone, and essential alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, and chromium, he noted, is both an economic necessity and a strategic imperative.

India recently achieved a landmark milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal production and dispatch in the last financial year — a transformative step toward national energy security.

While efforts to enhance renewable energy are underway, the minister reaffirmed that coal will remain central to India’s energy and industrial landscape in the foreseeable future.

Focusing on coking coal, a critical input in steel manufacturing, Reddy pointed out that it constitutes nearly 42 per cent of steel production costs. India currently imports around 85 per cent of its coking coal needs, rendering the industry vulnerable to international price volatility and supply chain disruptions.

The minister called upon private stakeholders to actively participate in washeries, beneficiation plants, and block auctions. Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) trials using domestic coal have already shown promise for import substitution, and greater innovation in beneficiation can further improve outcomes.

The minister also emphasised the importance of timely utilisation of greenfield mines, as reiterated by the Prime Minister.