Srinagar, Sep 27 (KNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday recalled the 2016 surgical strikes, describing them as a "decisive response" to the pain caused by terrorist attacks and saying they demonstrated India's counter-terrorism policy to the world.

Addressing the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme *Mann Ki Baat*, Modi said the surgical strikes, carried out on September 28-29, 2016, marked 10 years of what he described as a major historical achievement for India.

"Dix years ago, on September 28-29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan," Modi said, according to the official transcript of his address. He said Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control and carried out action against terrorism.

The Prime Minister said the operation "presented a new example of India's counter-terrorism policy" before the world.

He said India had endured the pain caused by terrorist attacks for a long time and described the surgical strikes as the country's decisive response to that suffering.

Modi's remarks came ahead of the 10th anniversary of the operation, which falls on September 28-29.

Focus on Census

In his address, Modi also urged citizens to participate in the ongoing Census exercise, calling it a "national responsibility".

He said the first phase of the Census had been completed in most states and Union Territories, with information from more than 32 crore families already recorded. The exercise is also continuing in remote and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Modi asked people to make use of the self-enumeration facility available through the Census online portal.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe facility allows citizens to enter information about themselves and their families using a mobile phone.

According to the Prime Minister, the process takes around 15 to 20 minutes, does not require uploading documents and is available in 16 languages, including Hindi. After submitting the information, citizens receive a special ID that can be shared with the census enumerator for verification.

He said more than 2.6 crore people had already entered their details through the Census portal using the self-enumeration facility.

The Centre has said Census 2027 is being conducted in phases, with population enumeration scheduled across most of the country in February 2027. In Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the population enumeration is being conducted in September 2026.

Modi speaks on drug abuse

The Prime Minister also spoke about the campaign against drug abuse, saying young people across the country were coming together to fight addiction.

He said lakhs of youngsters had taken pledges to stay away from drugs and were also working to spread awareness among others about the need to remain free from substance abuse.

Pays tribute to Ashok Singhal

Modi also paid tribute to late Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal on his 100th birth anniversary.

Recalling Singhal's contribution to social and cultural causes, Modi described him as a person who had dedicated his life to culture, society and the nation. Singhal was born on September 27, 1926, in Agra.(KNS)