India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that Maa Kali blessed the Indian Army during Operation Sindoor.
He also claimed that Indian forces destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan even though Pakistan provided proof that India targeted civilians. He made the remarks while speaking at the Badi Kali Ji Temple. Singh added that women soldiers also took part in the operation and said, “That one form of Mahakali defeated the enemies.”
The Pakistani government had earlier rejected claims about Operation Sindoor and called India’s actions a routine effort to stoke tensions for domestic political gain.
Rajnath Singh and other senior BJP leaders are scrambling to sway political opinion and convince the public that it did not suffer terrible setbacks during the debacle known as Operation Sindoor.
Rajnath Singh continuously invoked religious references to justify the Indian aggression against Pakistan, calling it a “divine help.”
Experts have also warned that this marks a growing trend of saffronization within India’s armed forces. They note that military visits to temples and rituals, such as “shastra pooja,” are becoming more frequent and increasingly politicised.
One source while talking to Azaad English remarked, “This blurs the lines between religion, politics, and professional military conduct. Invoking religious symbols in military contexts risks alienating soldiers of other faiths.”
Many have warned that it may turn India’s military into a vehicle of Hindutva nationalism rather than a neutral, constitutional force.
Pakistan has stated that such actions and speeches are part of a wider political strategy by the BJP-led government, especially before elections, and reflect an attempt to militarize religious identity in the region.
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