'Returned to Bihar after fulfilling promise made here': PM Modi says terrorism razed to ground - top quotes

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday recalled his last rally in Bihar when he vowed to take revenge on Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack and said that he is back after fulfilling his promise.

While addressing a rally in Bihar, PM Modi said, "There is ‘Ram’ in ‘Sasaram’. The people of Sasaram know the custom of Ram- ‘Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye’. It means that promises get fulfilled. Ram’s custom has become Bihar’s policy. After the dreadful terrorist attack in Pahalgam, I had promised the country on the land of Bihar that the hideouts of the masters of terrorism would be razed to the ground, that they would get a punishment bigger than they could ever imagine. Today, when I have come to Bihar, I have come here after fulfilling my promise."

In the early hours of May 7, India launched peration Sindoor, targeting nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoK, after the Pahalgam attack which claimed the lives of 26 people.

The Indian Air Force also destroyed 11 Pakistani airbases in response to Pakistan's failed attempts to strike Indian military positions on May 8, 9, and 10.

Here are the top quotes:

• Pakistan and the world have seen the power of India's daughters' Sindoor... The world has seen the unprecedented valour and courage of the BSF during Operation Sindoor ... While performing the sacred duty of serving the motherland, BSF Sub Inspector Imtiaz laid down his life at the border on 10 May. I pay my respectful tribute to this son of Bihar... The enemy has seen the power of Operation Sindoor. They should understand that this is just one arrow in our quiver. India's fight against terrorism has neither stopped nor halted. If the hood of terror rises again, India will crush it by pulling it out of its hole.
• The people of Bihar are witnesses to how we have eliminated those who spread violence and unrest in the past years. How Naxalism was dominant in the Sasaram and nearby districts a few years ago... These people had no faith in Babasaheb Ambedkar. Even in those circumstances, Nitish Kumar tried his best for development here... Before 2014, more than 75 districts were Naxal-affected. Now, only 18 districts are left Naxal-affected. The day is not far when Maoist violence will be completely eradicated.
• When the Jungle Raj government was dismissed under Nitish Kumar's leadership here, Bihar also started moving ahead on the path of progress. Broken highways, bad railways, limited flight connectivity, that era has now become history... A web of four-lane highways is being constructed in Bihar... Bridges are being constructed on all major rivers..
• The condition of railways in Bihar is also changing rapidly... These development works could have been done earlier as well. But those who were responsible for modernising railways in Bihar looted the lands of the poor. These were their methods of social change: looting the poor and taking advantage of their helplessness.... It is necessary for the people of Bihar to remain cautious of the lies and deceit of Jungle Raj in future as well.
• The Bihar government has started Bhimrao Ambedkar Samagra Seva Abhiyan in which the government is reaching every corner of Bihar with 22 important schemes. Our aim is to reach every Dalit, backwards and poor person's house. Till now, more than 30 thousand camps have been organised under this campaign.... When the government directly reaches out to the beneficiaries, there is no discrimination or corruption. Only then true social justice happens.
• A new dawn of social justice has been seen in Bihar and the country during the NDA era.We have provided basic amenities of life to the poor.We are working to provide those facilities to 100 percent of the beneficiaries.
• Congress and RJD never bothered about the problems faced by Dalits and backward classes. These people used to bring foreigners around to show them the poverty of Bihar. Now when the Dalit, deprived and backward society have abandoned the Congress because of its sins, they are remembering the talk of social justice to save their existence.
• The power of sindoor (vermilion) worn by India's daughters was witnessed by Pakistan and the entire world. Terrorists used to feel secure under the protection of the Pakistani army. But we brought them to their knees. We also destroyed Pakistan's airbases and their military establishments. This is new India (Naya Bharat), and its power is there for all to behold,
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened terror to a serpent, saying, "if it raises its hood again, it will be dragged out of its hole and trampled.