"PM Modi and Army are giving befitting reply to Pakistan": Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

Sindhudurg (Maharashtra) [India], May 12 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Armed Forces (IAF) are giving a befitting response to Pakistan.
Shinde said this after performing aarti at the ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Rajkot along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
"We performed the puja at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue; it will inspire all who will visit it. It's a symbol of the pride and valour of Maharashtra. PM Modi inaugurated the earlier statue that was here. The PM and our Army are giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, which is also as per the ideology of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Shinde told ANI.
CM Fadnavis at the occasion speaking on the security arrangements in Maharashtra amid tensions between India and Pakistan, said that the norms of the war book were being followed, further stating that all district administrations had been instructed to make arrangements accordingly.
"We have taken the full security review... I have discussed security arrangements along with Shinde and others in the state... We are following the norms of the War book and making all security arrangements accordingly... All district administrations have been instructed accordingly to make all arrangements," he said.
The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).
Operation Sindoor was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
On Sunday, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai asserted that the tensions between India and Pakistan over the last three to four days are no less than a war.
He paid homage to five fallen jawans of the armed forces and civilians who lost their lives due to Pakistani shelling across the Line of Control (LoC).
He said that the Pakistan Army might be involved in infiltration across the LoC, trying to harm the army posts.
"The activities that have been going on for the last 3-4 days are no less than a war. Under normal circumstances, the air forces of the countries do not fly in the air and attack each other...Under normal circumstances, infiltration across the Line of Control is done by terrorists. We have information that the Pakistani army may also be involved in infiltration across the Line of Control, which is trying to harm our posts," Ghai said in a presser here.
"I pay my solemn homage to my five fallen colleagues and brothers from the armed forces and civilians who tragically lost their lives in Operation Sindoor. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families...Their sacrifices shall always be remembered," he added.
The DGMO warned that India has exercised immense restraint while focusing only on non-escalatory actions. Any threat to the country's sovereignty would be met with decisive force. (ANI)