'A soulful rendition’: Rajnath Singh shares video of IAF warriors' patriotic melody

Rajnath Singh described the performance as a "soulful rendition".

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday shared a video of Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel singing a patriotic song, praising their musical talent and saying their performance reflected the passion and dedication with which they serve the country. In the clip, which is shared on X, showed two uniformed IAF air warriors singing together in a large hall. The personnel sang lines including "Jeene ki ijazat de de ya hukm shahadat de de" and "O des mere" in the 45-second video. Sharing the video, Rajnath Singh described the performance as a "soulful rendition" and praised the air warriors for bringing the same commitment to music that they demonstrate in their service. "A soulful rendition by our talented IAF Air Warriors! Their voices reflect the same passion, pride and dedication that define their service to the nation. Truly a treat to listen to!" he wrote on X. Earlier, Rajnath Singh urged the armed forces to remain on the highest alert to deal with emerging threats to India's national security, warning that adversaries could use misinformation and social media to target both soldiers and local residents. Addressing air warriors at the Bagdogra Air Force Station in West Bengal, near the frontier with China in the eastern sector, Singh said the nature of security threats was changing and that the military needed to prepare for challenges beyond conventional warfare.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh offers sweets to Air Force officials during his visit to Bagdogra Air Force Station on the eve of Diwali festival, in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. (PTI)

Without naming any country, he said adversaries were increasingly looking to exploit weaknesses rather than engage in direct military confrontation. "Often, the adversary avoids direct confrontation and instead seeks to exploit our vulnerabilities. Through social media, the adversary may attempt to sow doubt in the minds of the local population and our soldiers by spreading misleading information," he said. "In such a scenario, your role extends beyond that of an ordinary soldier," he added. According to the Defence Ministry, Singh called for the armed forces to maintain the highest level of operational readiness, with particular attention to domain awareness, cyber resilience and the reliability of information.

He said modern warfare was no longer limited to conventional fighting along national borders. It now included asymmetric warfare, proxy conflicts, cyberattacks, drone swarms, information operations and attempts to shape public narratives. Singh described Bagdogra as a strategically important location and a key part of India's security framework, particularly for the North-Eastern region. He praised the personnel stationed there for their courage and commitment, saying their presence provided a strong defence shield for India's eastern sector. He added that their preparedness was essential to maintaining stability in the region.