Modi picked name for counterterror op

Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked the evocative term "Operation Sindoor" as the codename for the Indian forces' strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and tracked the progress of the operation through the night, people aware of developments said on Wednesday.

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran and Prawesh Lama

NEW DELHI:

At a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday morning, Modi said the country's armed forces deserve credit for carrying out Operation Sindoor. According to the people cited above, the PM was addressing his cabinet colleagues soon after India targeted terror hubs in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.

"The PM was tracking the operation as it was underway from his official residence, and it was his decision to name it Sindoor. He chaired the cabinet committee on security soon after the operation and then the full cabinet meeting," said a person aware of the details.

According to this person, the PM was quick to credit the armed forces during the cabinet meeting after some ministers congratulated him for taking a decisive step against Pakistan.

The PM is learnt to have said that the timing of the action was carefully chosen as the whole country was looking up to the government to take action.

"PM Shri @narendramodi Ji chaired Cabinet meeting after the launch of #OperationSindoor. The Cabinet lauded the armed forces for their bold and successful operation against the terrorists," Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said in a post on X.

At the beginning of the meeting, defence minister Rajnath Singh gave details about the operation. The cabinet hailed the action by thumping of desks, the person cited above said.

After the cabinet meeting, the PM also called on President Droupadi Murmu to brief her about the operation. He also separately met the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, said the people cited above.

The codename for the operation was inspired by the fact that it was aimed at avenging the loss of civilians in the terror attack that targeted men -- 25 of them tourists and 24 of them Hindu -- and left their widows bereaved, said the people cited above. Vermillion (sindoor) is associated with married women the Hindu tradition.