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.

Chennai, May 22: Following stern directives from the Madras High Court, authorities have initiated the removal of encroachments along the Adyar riverbank in Tamil Nadu’s Anakaputhur, with plans to complete the process within a week.

The court had recently issued a three-month deadline to the Tamil Nadu government to eliminate all encroachments obstructing the Adyar River Restoration Project.

Responding to this, the Water Resources Department on Wednesday began demolishing illegal structures, including around 50 houses in Anakaputhur. Officials confirmed that this is the first phase of the eviction drive.

The removal will continue in downstream areas such as Thideer Nagar, Jyothi Ammal Nagar, Surya Nagar, and Malligaipoo Nagar in Saidapet and Kotturpuram in the coming weeks.

An official from the Water Resources Department stated, “We will proceed with the clearance, one neighbourhood at a time, as per the court’s directive. The project had been delayed for years due to the presence of these encroachments.”

The state’s Additional Advocate-General J. Ravindran informed the court that the encroachments had halted progress on the Adyar River Restoration Project — a major initiative worth Rs 1,500 crore announced in three consecutive budgets since 2023.

Due to the obstructions, contractors were unable to prepare a detailed project report, stalling the project indefinitely.

In Anakaputhur alone, 593 families residing in areas such as Quaid-e-Milleth Nagar, Thai Moogambikai Nagar, Santhai Nagar, and MGR Nagar Third Street are being evicted. However, the state government is providing alternative housing to the affected families.

“Each displaced family will be allotted a 390-square-foot house at no cost. These houses, valued at Rs 17 lakh each, are located in Talaivaram, Keerapakkam, Perumbakkam, and Navalur,” the official added.

The Adyar River Restoration Project aims to rejuvenate the heavily polluted waterway and prevent urban flooding — a recurring issue during Chennai’s monsoon seasons. The successful removal of encroachments is expected to pave the way for its long-awaited implementation.

Abu Dhabi, May 22: The second all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) early on Thursday morning (Indian time) as part of India’s massive global outreach campaign on Operation Sindoor.

This campaign is aimed at exposing Pakistan’s role in fostering cross-border terrorism.

The delegation includes BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg and Manan Kumar Mishra, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, IUML MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer, BJP leader S.S. Ahluwalia and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. After the UAE, it will visit Liberia, Congo and Sierra Leone.

“Taking India’s strong message against terrorism to the world! A warm welcome to the All-party delegation led by Shrikant Shinde to the UAE. Ahmed Mir Khoori, Member of the Federal National Council and Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, received the delegation,” the Indian Embassy in UAE said in a post on X.

“UAE is the first country to receive the All-Party delegation in the context of Operation Sindoor, underlining India-UAE’s deep bonds of friendship,” the embassy further stated.

Before heading to the Middle Eastern nation, Shinde said that it is a great opportunity for the whole team to put forward India’s firm stance against terrorism.

“Our purpose is clear and unwavering: to confront state-sponsored terrorism, specifically from Pakistan, on the global stage. We will be highlighting the remarkable success of Operation Sindoor and reinforcing India’s undeniable Right to Self-Defence as enshrined in International Law,” he said in a post on X.

“This delegation will deliver a strong, unified message to the international community — reflecting India’s resolute stand against terrorism and our deep-seated commitment to fostering global peace and security,” Shinde added.

The first delegation of Indian parliamentarians, led by Janata Dal-United MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, also arrived in Tokyo with a clear message — India’s zero tolerance policy toward terrorism.

The delegation includes a diverse array of leaders across party lines, including former External Affairs Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, Trinamool Congress’s Abhishek Banerjee, and Ambassador Mohan Kumar.

The campaign’s primary objective is to present a unified Indian front against terrorism and internationally isolate Pakistan by highlighting its consistent support for terror networks.

The MPs will engage with foreign governments, legislators, media, civil society, Indian diaspora, and international institutions, including the UN.

They will present evidence of Pakistan’s backing of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and its continued sheltering of globally designated terrorists.

The initiative represents one of India’s strongest and most cohesive foreign outreach efforts in recent years, aimed at building international consensus against state-sponsored terrorism.