Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday emphasized that India is “no longer dependent” on any other country and that every Indian is today realising the “power of governance,” following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Speaking at the launch of Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya’s book Janata Ki Kahani Meri Aatmakatha in the national capital, Dhankhar said that no interest—personal, economic, or political—can supersede the national interest.
“The Pahalgam terror attack has made every citizen believe in the power and vision of governance. Today, every Indian is realising the power, vision, and thinking behind governance. We are no longer dependent on any other country in this regard, and what is happening in India today is elevating the spirit of every Indian. We are Indians—nationalism is paramount, and the nation comes first. No personal, political, or economic interest can be above the national interest,” Dhankhar said.
On Thursday night, Pakistan launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India’s western border, targeting multiple regions. Defence officials confirmed that India’s air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, intercepted the attacks and prevented significant damage.
The assault followed India’s Operation Sindoor earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan after a deadly attack in Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 tourists.
At a joint press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi described a major escalation along the western front, revealing that the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the nights of May 7 and 8, aiming at Indian military infrastructure.
“On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace multiple times along the western border to target military installations. In addition, they fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltrations at 36 locations,” Qureshi said.
She added that many drones were shot down using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods, with preliminary investigations identifying them as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.
The situation remains volatile, with international calls for restraint and diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
ANI