Mann Ki Baat: Modi recalls the 2016 surgical strikes as they near 10 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 138th Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, 27 September 2026, recalled the surgical strikes of 28-29 September 2016. The Times of India and Mathrubhumi reported the address. He said the strikes were about to complete 10 years.

The Times of India quoted him saying the Army struck terrorist hideouts in PoJK on 28-29 September 2016, and that soldiers crossed the Line of Control in a way that astonished the world. He called it "a major historical achievement". The Hindu reported that he described strikes on hideouts in Pakistan. Mathrubhumi reported his phrase that the actions "left the world stunned".

He said the strike "boldly demonstrated a new example of India's counter-terrorism policy to the entire world" and answered what he called India's long experience of terrorist attacks. "India has made it clear that terrorism will be met with a strong and decisive response," The Times of India quoted him. He said India follows "zero tolerance against terrorism". Mathrubhumi reported the same words.

The Times of India reported that the strikes followed the 2016 Uri terror attack, with the Army targeting launch pads across the Line of Control. Mathrubhumi reported that they followed an attack on an Army camp in Uri, in Jammu and Kashmir, and targeted hideouts across the Line of Control. This report uses only that background.

He also referred to the Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor. "Over the past decade, from the Balakot airstrike to 'Operation Sindoor', India has repeatedly sent a clear message: if terrorists dare to cast a hostile eye on India, they will face a befitting response," The Times of India quoted. The Hindu reported that he grouped those operations with the 2016 strikes. It also reported tributes to victims of the September 2008 Delhi serial blasts, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

On the census he called Census 2027 a national responsibility. "The facility to self-register your census details is very convenient. You can register information about yourself and your family from your mobile itself," The Hindu quoted. He said the first phase was nearly complete in every state and Union Territory, that data on over 32 crore families had been recorded, and that work continued in snow-clad parts of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Over 2.60 crore people had entered details by mobile without uploading documents, he said.

He noted the 100th birth anniversary of Ashok Singhal, former international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and credited him with direction in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and with a fight against social discrimination. On the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, The Hindu reported that he said Mahmud of Ghazni demolished the Somnath temple for the first time in 1026, and that the Sun Temple at Modhera was attacked the same year. The Times of India reported that he said the temple still stands by the sea.

The same papers reported further remarks of his. Ahead of 2 October he cited cleanliness drives in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and West Bengal, and called cleanliness "the most beautiful tribute we can pay to Bapu". He spoke of elephants returning to Assam's Sonai Rupai sanctuary after encroachment was cleared, and of the pygmy hog rising from six to over 190. On the Drug-Free Youth Campaign, or Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan, he said millions of young people were pledging to stay off drugs. The Hindu reported that the campaign will run 100 weeks. He also mentioned women planting mangroves in Jharkhali, Rajinder Singh's hockey work, amla in Pratapgarh, and September nutrition drives in four states.

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He presented census self-registration as open, with the first phase nearly complete. The Hindu reported that the drug-free youth campaign is to run for 100 weeks. He linked the cleanliness drives to Gandhi's birth anniversary on 2 October.