Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy had confined the entire Pakistan Navy to its ports.
“Our Navy was deployed in the Arabian Sea with full preparedness and strength, maintaining constant pressure on the adversary. As a result, Pakistan’s entire Navy remained confined to its ports.”
Speaking on the occasion, Raksha Mantri described the Nausena Shaurya Vatika as not only a tourist attraction, but also a symbol of inspiration that would remind future generations of the true cost of freedom and security. He added that the park would serve as a constant reminder of the nation’s safety and security, safeguarded through the valour and sacrifices of its bravehearts. “It is not just an architectural design or a product of structural craftsmanship; it rekindles the sense of gratitude we hold for our soldiers. The idea is to awaken the zeal for nation-building among our youth,” he said.
Rajnath Singh commended the Indian Navy for its robust presence and operational readiness at sea, underlining that amid the present geopolitical turmoil, the key to global peace and prosperity lies in securing maritime routes. He praised the Indian Navy’s exceptional contribution during Operation Sindoor, alongside the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. “Our Navy’s formidable posture in the Arabian Sea instilled a constant sense of fear in the mind of the adversary. As a result, the Pakistan Navy remained confined to its ports,” he said.
DM Singh noted the government’s special emphasis on making the nation secure and prosperous through a strong military and a self-reliant defence industry. He emphasised that the growing strength of the Indian defence forces is the outcome of the sustained efforts and strategic planning of the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
“India can truly be considered powerful when our defence forces do not have to depend on other nations for their weaponry. This is the very reason our Prime Minister articulated the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Through initiatives such as Make-in-India, Defence Industrial Corridors, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), we’re indigenously manufacturing state-of-the-art weapons, and exporting it to various friendly countries. India was always known as an importer of arms and equipment. However, today, the situation has completely changed, and our defence sector is steadily advancing towards complete self-reliance,” said Singh.
Raksha Mantri asserted that the persistent efforts of the last decade are bearing fruit as the domestic defence production, which stood at just Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, has surged to over Rs 1.51 lakh crore, and is poised to soon touch yet another record-breaking figure of Rs 1.75 lakh crore. He added that defence exports have skyrocketed from less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to approximately Rs 40,000 crore today.
Pointing out the pivotal role played by Uttar Pradesh in achieving this success, Rajnath Singh stated that while the soldiers from the state stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterparts from across the country to protect national interests, the Defence Industrial Corridor is significantly strengthening the defence manufacturing ecosystem. He added that the state is scaling greater heights in other sectors such as health, education, agriculture, science & technology, trade & commerce, roads, highways, and airports.
