Indian Navy INS Visakhapatnam: India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh Sunday inducted INS Visakhapatnam in the Indian Navy. The stealth destroyer has been locally designed by the navy’s in-house design bureau and is being built by the state owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuliders in Mumbai.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said INS Visakhapatnam will strengthen maritime security and protect national interests and its induction was a giant leap towards achieving the target of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ policies envisioned by Prime Minister Modi’s government.
Rajnath Singh said the public-private partnership will soon make India a global shipbuilding hub and help in achieving the Indian Navy’s primary objective to keep Indo-Pacific open, safe and secure.
Indian leader said the country envisioned a rule-based Indo-Pacific in which interests of all participating countries are protected as the rule-based freedom of navigation & security of sea lanes must for stability and economic progress.
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Rajnath Singh said INS Visakhapatnam was a symbol of the growing maritime prowess of the country and a major milestone in achieving Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
INS Visakhapatnam
Singh said the ship was a reminder of ancient and medieval India’s maritime power, shipbuilding skills and glorious history.
He said the state-of-the-art ship, equipped with latest systems and weapons, will strengthen the maritime security and protect the interests of the Nation. He defined the ship as one of the most technologically advanced guided missile destroyers in the world which will cater to the present and future requirements of the Armed Forces and the Nation as a whole.
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Rajnath Singh appreciated the self-reliance efforts of the Indian Navy, terming the Indian Navy’s order of 39 of the 41 ships and submarines from Indian shipyards as a testament to their commitment towards achieving the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (a self-reliant India).
He described the development of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘INS Vikrant’ as an important milestone in their path to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’.
INS Vikrant returned to CSL’s yard on Sunday.
“The carrier will increase our reach from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Its commissioning will be a golden moment in the history of the Indian Defence. It will be the best occasion to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of India’s victory in 1971 war,” Rajnath Singh said.
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The defence minister praised the Indian Navy’s consistent efforts to participate in various outreach programmes of the industries and increase indigenised items under ‘Float’, ‘Move’ and ‘Fight’ categories.
Saying that global security reasons, border disputes and maritime dominance have forced countries to move towards strengthening their military power, Singh urged the public and private sector defence companies to take advantage of the Government’s policies, work together and make India an indigenous shipbuilding hub.
He listed out a number of reforms undertaken by the Government through which the public and private sector companies can make their mark in the international market.
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