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New Delhi, October 23 (IANS) Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a symbol of India’s will and capability and a message to the world that the country is always ready to respond to every challenge.
Addressing the Naval Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi, the Defense Minister lauded the Indian Navy for creating a deterrent posture that forced Pakistan to remain in port or near its coast, and said the world witnessed the operational readiness, professional capability and strength of the Navy during the operation.
Describing the Indian Navy’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as a “comfort for friendly countries” and a “discomfort for those trying to destabilize the region”, he said, “The IOR has become the center of contemporary geopolitics. It is no longer passive; it has become an area of competition and cooperation.”
He said, “The Indian Navy has played a leadership role in this region through its multi-dimensional capabilities. Over the last six months, our ships, submarines and naval aircraft have been deployed on an unprecedented scale.”
He said, “In addition, our Navy has provided safe passage to about 335 merchant vessels, equivalent to approximately 1.2 million metric tonnes of cargo and trade value of $5.6 billion. This is a testament to the fact that India has now become a reliable and capable partner in the global maritime economy.”
Describing a self-reliant Navy as the foundation of a self-confident and powerful nation, he said, “In the last 10 years, about 67 per cent of the Navy’s capital acquisition contracts have been with Indian industries. This proves that we are no longer dependent on imports alone. We rely on our talent and the capabilities of MSMEs and start-ups.”
Terming the current war as technology and intelligence based, the Defense Minister said, “Maritime preparedness is no longer just about ships or submarines, it is based on technology-driven, network-centric and autonomous systems. We need to enhance our capabilities in these areas as well as protect ourselves from the modern technologies of our adversaries.”
Talking about a self-reliant India and the job creation it will lead to in the maritime sector, the Defense Minister stressed that, “With each ship and submarine built, a new job is created; with each engine, a new skill is created, and with each indigenous system, India’s dependence is being reduced. The Project 17A ships, which have more than 75 per cent indigenous content, have brought about Rs 1.27 lakh to shipyards like MDL and Jobs have been created. GRSE. This is proof that every project of the Navy is not only related to security but also to the economy and employment of youth.
CDS Anil Chauhan, Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, DRDO Chairman and other key officials, Sameer V. Kamat and Naval Commanders were present on the occasion.
The conference serves as a platform for close interaction with the national leadership and bureaucrats, and improves the Indian Navy’s approach towards mitigating multi-dimensional challenges in the current geo-strategic environment. The Navy’s top leadership is reviewing its operational preparedness on the western and eastern seaboards, promoting indigenization and innovation under the Make-in-India scheme, taking forward the government’s vision of OCEAN (Reciprocal and Holistic Advancement of Security in all Areas) and promoting the Indian Navy as a preferred security partner in the IOR and Indo-Pacific.
–IANS
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