'This Is Just The Trailer...': How Rajnath Singh Became The Steely Voice Of Operation Sindoor

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

From “jaisa aap chahte hain, waisa ab hokar rahega" just before Operation Sindoor to “ye sirf trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai" after the four-day-long operation — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emerged as the government’s strongest voice on Operation Sindoor.

Known for his measured, encompassing and tempered demeanour, Singh has surprised many with his assertive stance over the past fortnight, as he has taken up the mantle — alongside the Prime Minister — to speak tough on Pakistan. Given that Operation Sindoor carries an external dimension and is India’s largest cross-border military operation in recent times, it was only natural for Singh, as Defence Minister, to take the lead. But it is the manner in which he has spoken and acted that has both astonished and inspired many.

The Promise

It all began on April 23, a day after the dastardly Pahalgam attack, with Rajnath Singh becoming the first senior minister to speak out. “We will not only reach those who perpetrated this incident. We will also reach those who, sitting behind the scenes, have conspired to carry out such nefarious acts on the soil of India… the people responsible for such acts will get a strong response in the near future," Singh said on April 23 at the Arjan Singh Memorial Lecture in New Delhi.

This marked the first public warning from India that those behind the Pahalgam attack would have hell to pay. Then came Singh’s big warning to Pakistan on May 4, also at an event in Delhi, as public impatience was beginning to grow over when India would launch a cross-border strike. “I want to assure you that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, what you want — that will surely happen. It is my duty to give a befitting reply to those who cast an evil eye on the country, along with my army," Singh said. His words proved prophetic on the morning of 7 May, with the launch of Operation Sindoor.

The Action

Soon after the operation, Singh was once again the first senior minister to speak about it — addressing an event on 7 May, where he informed how Indian forces had created a new history by displaying their valour and courage, acting with precision, alertness and sensitivity. He cited the ideals of Lord Hanuman, which he had followed while destroying Ashok Vatika. “Jin mohi mara, tin mohi maare" — meaning we killed only those who killed our innocents.

The next day, at an all-party meeting, Singh informed political leaders that 100 terrorists had been killed in Operation Sindoor. He reiterated the bravery of the armed forces again on 8 May at another public event.

While inaugurating a BrahMos facility on May 11, Singh used strong words, saying India has demonstrated that when it acts against terrorism, even the land across the border won’t be safe for the terrorists and their masters. “We acted not just against Pakistani military bases near the border, but the impact of Indian forces was felt even in Rawalpindi, where the headquarters of the Pakistani army is located," he said. Singh described Operation Sindoor as not merely a military action, but a symbol of India’s political, social, and strategic will.

The Visits

Over the past two days, Rajnath Singh has visited the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar and the Bhuj air base — both to commend the armed forces and to send a strong message to Pakistan that it had failed to inflict any damage on India’s air bases. “I have come to feel your energy, which destroyed the enemies. The way you demolished Pakistani posts and bunkers across the border — the enemy will never forget it," Singh told the jawans at Badami Bagh. He also questioned whether Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were truly safe in what he called a rogue nation. “Operation Sindoor is the biggest action India has ever taken against terrorism," he declared.

On Friday, at the Bhuj air base, Singh upped the ante further by saying that India’s fighter jets are now capable of striking every corner of Pakistan without crossing the border. “Pakistan itself has acknowledged the power of the BrahMos missile. There’s an old saying in our country — ‘showing stars in the day’. But the BrahMos missile, made in India, has shown daylight to the enemy Pakistan in the dead of night," Singh said.

He also warned the IMF that a large portion of the one billion dollar aid package to Pakistan would likely be diverted towards funding terror infrastructure, and that the IMF must reconsider it.

He also said ‘Operation Sindoor’ is not over yet. “Whatever happened was just a trailer. When the right time comes, we will show the full picture," he warned — a clear and dire message to Pakistan from India.

Rajnath Singh has previously been part of the core strategic team during India’s strong responses to Pakistan — including the surgical strikes after the Uri attack and the Balakot air strike following the Pulwama terror attack. At the time, he served as Union Home Minister, and the Pulwama attack in 2019 had claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

This time, as Defence Minister during Operation Sindoor, Singh adopted a far more aggressive stance — a side of him that many had not seen before. In the past, the government had often deployed Singh to defuse tensions when matters got complicated with the opposition.

Singh has now shown how he can handle both tact and aggression.