Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on November 22, 2025, stated emphatically that had India demonstrated the necessary resolve to conduct an “Operation Sindoor-like” military strike immediately following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the nation would never have been targeted by terrorists again.
Speaking at the solemn event held at the Gateway of India, which marked the approaching 17th anniversary of the coordinated assaults that claimed the lives of at least 166 people after Pakistani terrorists infiltrated the city via the sea, Fadnavis reflected on the enduring emotional impact, noting that “there is still pain in our hearts” despite the passage of nearly two decades.
He characterised the assault on landmark locations like the Taj and Trident hotels not merely as a localised attack, but as a direct assault on the sovereignty of the country, emphasising Mumbai’s crucial role as India’s economic hub. The Chief Minister articulated his regret, asserting, “Had we understood this and shown the courage to conduct an ‘Operation Sindoor’, then, nobody would have dared to attack us again.”
Fadnavis utilised the remembrance event to transition from reflection to a call for ongoing action and vigilance, underscoring that the “threat of terror still persists.” He urged the assembled audience, which had gathered to honour the martyrs and bravehearts of the attack, to remain alert, insisting that citizens must serve as “the eyes and ears of our country and speak in one language,” reinforcing the idea that national safety is contingent on unity.
He highlighted the strength of India’s current counter-terror infrastructure by citing a successful operation involving the seizure of 3,000 kg of RDX, material allegedly intended for attacks in Mumbai and other major cities.
In concluding his remarks, Fadnavis praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s firm policy on terrorism, reiterating the government’s stance that “terror and talks cannot go together.”
He credited the Prime Minister with giving the armed forces the “freedom… to take action,” noting that “Through Operation Sindoor, the world saw India’s might,” and affirmed that India remains a strong nation, concluding: “the war (against terror) is not over.”
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