New Delhi: Sending a stern warning to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made it clear that India will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail.On India’s 79th Independence Day, PM Modi delivered a powerful address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech, and said India will not differentiate between terrorists and those supporting them and that Indian armed forces will decide on punishment in case of any future misadventure from the neighbouring nation.Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during 79th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort (PTI)”India has decided it will not fall for nuclear threats anymore.
What the Indian armed forces have done during Operation Sindoor was not seen in many many years. We have set a new normal in dealing with cross-border terrorism. I salute our brave soldiers who punished the masters of terror beyond their imagination,” PM Modi said.The Prime Minister also hailed the armed forces on the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He said India’s military forces dealt a severe blow to Pakistan, citing recent reports of heavy damages suffered by the country.Referencing to the Indus Waters Treaty and the country’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism, PM said, “Blood and water won’t flow together.”
The Prime Minister criticised the IWT as “unjust and unreasonable”, suggesting that India may reconsider its obligations under the agreement if Pakistan continues to support terrorism.PM Modi also spoke about building a ‘Naya Bharat’, reaffirming his government’s vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. Calling Independence Day “a festival of 140 crore resolutions”, he urged every citizen to work together for a stronger, self-reliant nation. As India entered its 80th year of freedom, his message from the Red Fort was clear when he said, “The country’s security, sovereignty and dignity will never be compromised.”