Coimbatore, Feb. 15 -- Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday drew a profound parallel between Lord Shiva and the Indian Armed Forces at the Maha Shivratri Celebration Programme, which was held at the Adiyogi Shiva Statue in Coimbatore.

During the Mahashivratri celebrations, the Union Defence Minister remarked that just as Lord Shiva embodies the dual nature of protection and destruction, India's armed forces today personify both fearlessness and profound patience.

Singh highlighted that, when required, the forces act with the intensity of Rudra, as demonstrated in strategic missions like Operation Sindoor, to safeguard the nation's integrity.

He further asserted that a society built on fear can never achieve true, long-term se...