'Pakistan jahan khada hota hai ...': Rajnath Singh tweaks iconic Amitabh Bachchan dialogue to slam Islamabad

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday took a sharp dig at Pakistan's economic crisis by invoking Amitabh Bachchan's famous dialogue from the movie 'Kalia', while addressing Army personnel in Srinagar.

"Pakistan jahaan khada hota hai, wahin se maangne waalon ki line shuru hoti hai (Wherever Pakistan stands, that's where the queue of beggars begins)," Singh said, referring to Pakistan's frequent requests for international financial aid.

The defence minister pointed out the contrast between India and Pakistan, noting that while Pakistan continues to seek IMF bailouts, India has evolved into a nation that lends to the IMF to help other struggling countries.

"Our country today belongs to the category of nations that give loans to the IMF, so that the IMF can, in turn, lend to poor countries," Rajnath Singh said.

In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, Rajnath reiterated that Operation Sindoor was a necessary remedy for a disease like Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

"I feel proud to be here among you amid such adverse conditions. The entire nation is proud of whatever you all did during Operation Sindoor, under the able leadership and guidance of PM Narendra Modi. Before being your Defence Minister, I am an Indian citizen. Besides being the Defence Minister, I am here to express gratitude to you as an Indian citizen," Rajnath said.

"After Pahalgam attack, the manner in which the people of Jammu and Kashmir expressed their anger against Pakistan and terrorists — I also salute the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I am here to feel that energy which destroyed the enemies. The manner in which you destroyed Pakistani chowkis and bunkers across the border, I think the enemy will never be able to forget it. For a disease like terrorism, a remedy like Operation Sindoor was necessary," he added.

This came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Adampur airbase in Punjab and where he interacted with the Air Force personnel following armed forces carried out precision strikes on terrorist launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Following several days of confrontation along the Line of Control (LoC), both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. India clarified its position, stating that whilst military operations would cease, there would be no diplomatic discussions with Islamabad.