External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar minced no words while criticizing the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday for doubting the idea of 'India's new normal' in dealing with national security.
He introduced the term 'Modi normal' to explain the government's stance—term that he claimed had been more suitable in describing the uncompromising stance of the current government towards combating terrorism.
While arguing in the debate on Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar highlighted that a number of Opposition members had shown uncertainty or doubt regarding the 'new normal' phrase. In rebuttal, he compared it with what he termed the 'Congress normal,' drawing attention to an underlying change in how India currently approaches terrorism and national security threats.
He described the 'Modi normal' doctrine as:
Terrorists will not be dealt with as proxies, cross-border terror will receive a befitting response, talks and terror will not go hand in hand, we will not yield to nuclear blackmailing, and blood and water will not flow together."
These are the guidelines, he insisted, that make up the core of an aggressive new security policy that is firm and unyielding.
The concept of this 'new normal' was born in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, when the Modi government gave complete operational freedom to the military. The policy emphasizes that any terrorist attack on Indian soil will from now on be considered as an attack on the nation's sovereignty, and will elicit the strongest possible military reaction.
Jaishankar stressed that India's military response under Operation Sindoor provided a global public good in terms of neutralizing major terror hubs within Pakistan.
"Bahalwapur and Muridke are still the largest hubs of cultivating terrorists and disseminating terrorism in India and across the world. Our troops brought it to dust; they performed a global service and are being appropriately hailed by all," he informed the House.
Blaming the Opposition for their stance, he accused them of politicizing the successes of the security forces.
"There are sufficient instances of Indian forces causing heavy damage to Pakistani military resources," he said, "but some political players still raise question marks over our military's successes."
Jaishankar also quoted Pakistan's own admission of the Indian strikes. "Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif admitted that General Munir telephoned him saying that Indian ballistic missiles struck their Noor Khan air base and missiles such as BrahMos struck their provinces such as Rawalpindi," he said, lamenting that even with such confessions from the other side, some parts of the Indian political landscape didn't believe it.
He ended by saying that eroding the credibility of the military for political gain is a disservice to not only the country but also to the world in the fight against terror.
