Operation Sindoor is a watershed moment in history, says TN Governor

Tamil Nadu Governor praises Operation Sindoor as a game-changer in India's national security and global positioning.

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Sunday (June 1, 2025) said that Operation Sindoor is a watershed moment in India’s journey and marks a new era in the country’s national security. He said future generations would study this operation as a major shift in how India asserts itself on the global stage.

Speaking at an event organised by the Chennai Citizens Forum (CCF) on the topic: ‘From Battlefield to Diplomacy: Operation Sindoor Decoded’, Mr. Ravi hailed Indian scientists and technologists who developed advanced sensor systems used in the operation and acknowledged the country’s growing capacity for research and development.

Mr. Ravi also listed several cross-border terror attacks since Independence and described in detail how Indian political leadership responded to such attacks. He said there has been an important shift in India’s approach since 2014, when Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister.

He also alleged that by understanding India only as a geographical expression, the country had earlier “lost” territories in several areas. He cited several examples, including the exchange of enclaves with Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), the “giving away” of the Kabaw Valley to Burma (present-day Myanmar), and of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. “But Bharat as a nation has existed for thousands and thousands of years with a wide range of diversities — including religious, cultural, linguistic, and culinary. No country in the world can boast or claim as much diversity as Bharat has,” he said.

He also called the National Education Policy “a revolutionary initiative” and added, “Some people say that they will not accept it. This is not possible. They have to. There is no option. The National Education Policy is necessary for self-reliance and a thrust on our research and innovation.” He said that in the last five years, India has grown nearly 500 times in terms of registering patents. He also said that although Tamil Nadu has more than 20 State-run universities and produces more than 7,000 PhDs every year, it falls behind in intellectual property registrations.

In his speech, Air Marshal (Retd) M. Matheswaran traced attacks and responses from Kargil to Pulwama and explained about various missiles and indigenous systems used by the Indian Armed Forces to make precise and controlled strikes without triggering uncontrolled escalation. Colonel (Retd) John Prince said the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has afforded India a crucial window to accelerate dam construction across key rivers like the Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej. “In our army parlance, we can weaponise these waters.”

K.T. Raghavan, president, CCF, said that within a short span, the Indian Air Force executed Operation Sindoor with precision, and the geopolitical implications of such an operation would be understood by all. R. Gayathri Suresh, secretary, CCF, was among others present.