"The operation against terrorists was not suspended due to the intervention of anyone," Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during his address at the Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations on September 17, 2025. Screengrab: X/@rajnathsingh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' celebrations as the chief guest, organised by the Union Government at Parade Grounds in Hyderabad on Wednesday (September 17, 2025).

The event was held to celebrate the anniversary of the merger of the erstwhile Hyderabad State under Nizam rule with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948.

Addressing the event, Mr. Singh equated the Razakar's threat to the Pahalgam attack, saying, "Threat of Razakars equivalent to Pahalgam attack where people were killed after asking their religion. It was a crushing strike on India's social harmony."

Regarding Operation Sindoor, the Defence Minister said, "Operation Sindoor will resume if any terror attacks take place in future."

He further stated that there was no intervention that suspended Operation Sindoor. "The operation against terrorists was not suspended due to the intervention of anyone. Some claim to have stopped the Indo-Pak conflict. Nobody did it. Pakistan's Deputy PM made it clear that India rejected any third-party role in it," he said. "PM Modi made it clear it is a bilateral issue and a third party can't interfere," he added.

The Defence Minister arrived at the Begumpet airport in Hyderabad on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) evening. He was welcomed by State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and other party leaders. Kishan Reddy and Sanjay Kumar called on Mr. Singh.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar welcomes Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at ITC Kakatiya Hotel, in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy also present. | Photo Credit: ANI

Recalling the stellar role played by the country's first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the unification of the erstwhile princely State of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, Ramchander Rao urged citizens to attend the function at Parade Grounds in large numbers.

September 17, 1948, is interpreted differently by different parties in Telangana.

Asserting that September 17 marks the liberation of the erstwhile Hyderabad State from the tyrannical rule of Nizam, the BJP for the last two decades has been demanding that the day be celebrated officially by the State government.

Operation against terrorists, India-Pakistan conflict not suspended due to anyone's intervention: Rajnath Singh