Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 13
Envisaging that India would become self-reliant on manufacturing its own defence equipment in the near future, Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore today said the nation had come a long way since Independence.
Inaugurating the third edition of the Military Literature Festival, organised by the Punjab Government and the Western Command here, he said India was no longer dependent on food or aid from abroad, but continued to rely on war material from other countries.
“Slowly, we aim to become self-reliant in making our own weapon systems with cutting edge technology and already Rs 3,000 crore worth of defence equipment is being made in India. Very soon, we shall be securing our nation with indigenously designed and manufactured weapons and equipment.”
Pointing out that India had exhibited its competence in reaching targets far out in space and was evolving its own global positioning system and had the ability to watch its frontiers and beyond with satellite systems, Badnore said: “We are now in the process of making the Indian Ocean militarily safe for our country and securing our island territories as well as maritime traffic.”
Reminding the audience that the year marked the 20th anniversary of Kargil War and today was the day that terrorists had attacked Parliament in 2001, the Governor said India was capable enough of dealing with any kind of insurgency threatening peace, unity and integrity from within or across borders. “Our Armed Forces have demonstrated this with surgical strike in the mountains across the Line of Control and airstrike deep in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province,” he said.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen RP Singh said that the festival provided an ideal opportunity for exposure to geopolitical issues and matters of national importance. Badnore also participated in a session on the Battle of Haldighati fought between Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the forces of Mughal emperor Akbar in Rajasthan.
Prominent amongst those present were former Chief of Army Staff Gen VP Malik, former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh Andrew Ayre and Canadian Consulate General Mia Yen. Apart from a delegation from the UK and Canada, a number of serving and retired defence officers, military analysts, historians, authors and students are attending the festival.
Prominent faces
Prominent amongst those present on the inaugural day of the festival were
former Chief of Army Staff Gen VP Malik, former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh Andrew Ayre and Canadian Consulate General Mia Yen.