Hyderabad – Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy, now serving as Telangana’s Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, has made a bold statement. The former Indian Air Force fighter pilot said he is ready to return to the battlefield if the country ever needs him again.
Speaking informally at Gandhi Bhavan, Reddy recalled his early military service. “At just 20, I was already flying MiG-23 fighter jets,” he said, describing his deployments in Uttar Pradesh, Srinagar, and Amritsar—regions often on high alert due to their strategic importance.
Reddy strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack, calling it a cowardly act supported by Pakistan. He emphasized that the attack was religiously motivated and that the entire nation—including Kashmir—stood united in grieving and denouncing the violence.
He named The Resistance Front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, as the group behind the attack. “India had every right to respond,” he said, referring to the country’s recent military retaliation.
Reddy spoke about Operation Sindoor, a strategic mission launched in response. He said Rafale fighter jets and Kamikaze drones were used in the operation, all launched from within Indian borders. According to him, such powerful actions are necessary if India wants lasting peace in Kashmir.
He didn’t shy away from stating his personal view: “The Kashmir issue won’t be resolved until India reclaims Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
On the Jammu attack, Reddy said it left India with no option but to strike back. He warned that any further aggression from across the border would only bring more trouble for Pakistan. “No other country is going to join a war on their side,” he added.
Ending with a strong message, Reddy said, “If a full-scale war breaks out and the nation calls me—I will return to fight.”
