Need indigenous arms, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need to manufacture arms and ammunition for the Indian Armed Forces indigenously and to put an end to the country’s dependence on imported weapons.

After unveiling a plaque for HAL’s new helicopter manufacturing unit at Bedirehalla Kaval village of Gubbi taluk in Tumakuru district on Sunday, he said, “To strengthen the hands of our soldiers, the government has started manufacturing defence equipment using our own research, engineering talent and scientists.”

He said, “After ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan’, now it’s time for ‘Jai Jawan’ to make our sainiks strong enough to compete with soldiers from other countries. Imported weapons are expensive and do not carry the latest technology. Our soldiers are ready to even give up their lives for the country, but we need to provide them the latest arms and ammunition. It is time to ensure that they carried the best weapons in the world. The ‘Make in India’ concept should be taken forward to make the country independent in all sectors,” he said.

Reiterating the need to manufacture all our defence equipment in the country, Mr Modi said that the helicopters built in Tumakuru will serve various purposes for soldiers, including carrying of war equipment and medicines to those stationed in remote areas.

He said that the first helicopter built at the unit might fly in 2018 and hoped that it would produce 600 helicopters in 15 years. Around 4,000 families will get their livelihood directly or indirectly from the unit. “This will also be a platform to empower the poor and downtrodden according to the vision of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he said.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the state government took several steps to start the helicopter unit, including providing 610 acres of land and clearing a high-tension wire line to the unit at a cost of Rs 54 crores. The government will support the growth of the unit as it will provide employment to thousands of people.

The government will also focus on aerospace during the Global Investors’ Meet scheduled in February.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar too spoke. Union Ministers H.N. Ananthakumar, D.V. Sadananda Gowda and G.M. Siddeshwar, state ministers G. Parameshwar, T.B. Jayachandra and R.V. Deshpande were present.

However, people who were eagerly waiting for the scheduled air show, were disappointed when the HAL cancelled it at the last minute. But two helicopters that carried out some maneouvres enthralled the crowds.

Because of high security, the visitors had to arrive at the venue around 11 am and they had to wait till 3 pm to listen to the Prime Minister and see the air show.