Lucknow, May 12 -- Operation Sindoor was not just a military action, but a symbol of India's political, social and strategic willpower against terrorism, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday while virtually inaugurating the Lucknow-based BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre. Rajnath Singh said the impact of the operation was not confined to border areas alone, but its reverberations reached the Pakistani Army's headquarters in Rawalpindi. The entire operation proved the capability and determination of the Armed Forces, which ensured justice to the innocent families who lost their loved ones to terrorist organisations on Indian soil, the defence minister said. Speaking from Delhi, Rajnath Singh called BrahMos not only one of the world's fastest supersonic cruise missiles, but also a message of the strength of the Indian Armed Forces, a message of deterrence to adversaries, and a message of the nation's unwavering commitment to safeguarding its borders. Whenever India acts against terrorism, even the land across the border is not safe for terrorists and their masters, he further said. "Through the surgical strikes after the Uri incident, airstrikes after Pulwama attack and now multiple strikes after the Pahalgam attack, the world has witnessed what India can do if terror attacks are carried out on its soil," Singh said. He asserted that the operation was launched to destroy terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, and innocent civilians were not targeted. However, Pakistan targeted the civilian areas in India and tried to attack temples, gurudwaras and churches, Singh added. "Our armed forces displayed valour and restraint and gave a befitting reply by attacking many military bases of Pakistan. Not only did we take action against military bases adjacent to the border, but the indignation of our Armed Forces reached even Rawalpindi, where the Pakistani military headquarters are located," the defence minister said. Commenting on the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre, Singh stated that it would strengthen India's efforts towards aatma-nirbharta (self-reliance) in defence. Singh quoted the Missile Man of India and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who had said, "Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us." In this world, fear has no place, only strength respects strength, the defence minister said. He added that BrahMos is the confluence of top defence technologies of India and Russia. Terming the BrahMos facility in Lucknow as a matter of pride for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), Singh stated that it has already created around 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs. He emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's vision of setting-up the corridor rests on its goal of developing the state as the world's top defence production and export destination. Following the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism, the prime minister has made it clear that New India will take effective action against terrorism on both sides of the border, the defence minister said. "With courage, discipline, and unmatched bravery, the Indian Army dealt a decisive blow to Pakistan-based terror networks," he added. Speaking on the significance of the day, Singh termed the inauguration of the BrahMos Aerospace facility on National Technology Day (May 11) as historic. He recalled the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests, conducted under the leadership of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which marked India's emergence as a strategic power. "On this day in 1998, under the leadership of respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, our scientists showed India's strength to the world by conducting nuclear tests in Pokhran." Singh commended chief minister Yogi Adityanath for completing the project in a record 40 months. He lauded efforts of the scientists, engineers, and the state government, stating that his dream of seeing Lucknow contribute meaningfully to India's defence infrastructure was finally being realised. On progress of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor project, Singh said: "A total of 180 MoUs have, so far, been signed with a proposed investment of Rs 34,000 crore. Investment of Rs 4,000 crore has already been made." The highlight of the project is that the participation of both public and the private sector is being witnessed. In Lucknow itself, titanium and super alloy material plants are being started by PTC Industries Limited, Singh added. "In addition, the foundation of seven additional critical projects is being laid. This would accelerate the pace of India's self-reliance in the defence sector," asserted Singh. The defence minister reiterated the government's vision of 'Make-in-India, Make-for-the-World', stressing that self-reliance not only means catering to India's own security needs, but it also envisages making the country a key exporter of defence equipment to the global market. Citing a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which said that global military expenditure has risen to $2,718 billion in 2024, Singh stated that such a massive market is an opportunity India must seize. "The launch of the BrahMos facility is a firm stride towards making India a significant player in the world's defence production ecosystem," he said. He added that Kanpur, which was known as Manchester of East in the past, will regain its lost glory due to the Defence Corridor project. Kanpur is one of the six nodes of the defence corridor in UP....