Pokhran: Bharat Shakti is being held in Rajasthan, but its echo was being heard all over the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, applauding India’s military might at display in the integrated tri-service firepower and manoeuvre exercise.
The prime minister also spoke about the successful test firing of Agni V missile with MIRV technology. “Very few countries in the world possess this modern technology,” he said Tuesday in his address at the Pokhran field firing range where indigenous defence equipment and their capability were put on display.
“Today, once again Pokhran became a witness of the ‘triveni (confluence)’ of India’s Aatmanirbharta, self-confidence and its glory,” he said. “It is the same Pokhran that witnessed India’s nuclear test and today we are witnessing the power of strength from indigenisation.”
The success of ‘Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance)’ in defence could be seen with India’s tanks, cannons, fighter jets, helicopters and missile systems operated by the three forces, he said.
“We are experiencing the flight of Made in India with arms and ammunition, communication devices, cyber and space. This is indeed Bharat Shakti,” he said.
The Bharat Shakti exercise included the T-90 (IM) Tanks, Dhanush and Sarang Gun Systems, Akash Weapons System, Logistics Drones, Robotic Mules, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and an array of UAVs among others.
Indian Navy’s assets included Naval Anti-Ship Missiles, Autonomous Cargo Carrying Aerial Vehicles, and Expendable Aerial Targets, highlighting maritime strength and technological sophistication. The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Light Utility Helicopters, and Advanced Light Helicopters, demonstrating air superiority and versatility in air operations.
As reported by ThePrint earlier, the Army carried out a live demonstration of the Integrated Drone Development and Interdiction System developed by the DRDO.
Meanwhile, Modi took a dig at the previous governments for not prioritising India’s security needs. It was a matter of misfortune that those who governed the country for decades were not serious about India’s defence, he added.
“India was forced to be dependent for defence needs on foreign countries,” he said. “They purposely kept India dependent on foreigners.”
PM Modi then reiterated that the first scam after India’s independence was in the defence sector.
“Before 2014, defence deals used to languish for decades… It was a matter of worry that the Army used to be left with ammunition that would last only for a few days. They destroyed the ordnance factory. We breathed life into them. We turned them into seven big companies. They had destroyed HAL too, but we turned it into a company which brings record profits,” he said.
Without taking names, Modi then went on to assert that the previous dispensations did not appoint a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) even after the 1999 Kargil War. “We made it happen.”
“For decades, they did not even construct a war memorial. This was also done by our government. Earlier governments used to fear construction of modern infrastructure along the borders. But today, we have modern roads and tunnels in these regions,” he said. “This is what ‘Modi ki Guarantee‘ means”.
The PM then raked up the issue of One Rank, One Pension (OROP), saying that nearly 1.75 lakh defence personnel from Rajasthan had received the benefit of Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme.
He further spoke about defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and mentioned that they had attracted about Rs 7,000 crore worth of investment.
The Prime Minister said that in the last 10 years, equipment worth Rs 6 lakh crore had been procured from Indian companies. During this period, defence production doubled to more than Rs 1 lakh crore. In the last 10 years, more than 150 defence startups had started and defence forces had given them orders worth Rs 1,800 crore, he said.
“You can imagine how big India’s defence forces and defence sector will get in the future,” Modi said, adding that this will generate opportunities for the youth.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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