New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Monday said India has transformed from a defence importer into an exporter under the Narendra Modi government and asserted that the world is astonished by its progress.
Addressing a programme organised by the BJP at its headquarters here to mark the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas, he said alongside the defence public sector undertakings, nearly 17,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem are now associated with the defence sector.
“There was a time when people said we should import weapons. Not anymore. India is no longer an importer. India has now become an exporter.
“About 10-12 years ago, our defence exports were only Rs 600 crore. Today, they have reached Rs 38,424 crore, and our target is to take defence production to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029,” Seth said.
There was a time when India depended entirely on foreign-made weapons to defend itself but today, its defence production has reached Rs 1.78 lakh crore, he told the gathering.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Seth said the operation reflected the country’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
“Operation Sindoor demonstrated this new strength to the world. Since 1947, India has fought many wars, but this operation represented a new kind of response.
“It showcased the power of indigenous weaponry. Using our own domestically developed defence systems, we reduced Pakistan’s capabilities within just a few hours. The world witnessed India’s growing military strength,” he said.
Claiming that the Indian armed forces have become the fourth largest military power globally, Seth said India is emerging as a self-reliant defence power.
“Today’s India manufactures its own weapons. It secures itself. It writes its own future.
“Atmanirbhar Bharat is not merely a campaign; it is the nation’s new shield of security. Swadeshi is not merely a policy; it is India’s self-respect,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructure development in border areas, the minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with changing the approach towards frontier villages.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi said these are not the last villages of India; they are the first villages of India. Today, roads comparable to those in Lutyens’ Delhi have reached the border areas,” he said, while praising the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for building strategic infrastructure in difficult terrain.
Paying tributes to soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil conflict, Seth said no nation could ever repay the debt owed to those who made the supreme sacrifice.
“A nation can never repay the debt it owes to such brave soldiers. The nation is proud of them. Today, I also salute the lakhs of soldiers serving Mother India on our borders, thousands of kilometres away from their families,” he said.
The minister also recited a poem paying tribute to the 545 soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil conflict and said their sacrifice would continue to inspire future generations.
BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said the party has been organising programmes on Kargil Vijay Diwas for several years to honour soldiers and reaffirm the country’s commitment to national unity and integrity.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have organised the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign and ‘Tiranga Yatras’ so that every citizen takes a pledge to uphold the unity and integrity of the nation. We also visit the homes of our brave soldiers and martyrs to honour their families,” he said.
Claiming that the BJP is the only political party to undertake such campaigns, Singh said, “The BJP is perhaps the only political party that undertakes such campaigns to honour soldiers and their families and to strengthen the country’s unity and integrity. That is why, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, we move forward with the guiding principles of ‘Nation First’, ‘Nation Supreme’ and public service.” PTI ADI ADI KSS KSS
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