INDIA

India’s Defence Imports Have Come Down By 21%: PM At Naval Seminar

Mumbai: PM Narendra Modi while speaking at the naval seminar on Monday said India’s defence imports have come down by about 21% in the last four-five years.

“Aatmanirbharta in defence is very important for 21st century India. The first step is to make 75 indigenous technologies for the Navy by August 15 next year the first step; the goal should be to take India’s defence to unprecedented heights by the time we celebrate 100 years of independence.”

Earlier, he said, we have developed a habit of relying on foreign countries even for the simplest products. “Like narcotics, we were addicted to products imported from abroad.”

To change this mindset, the central government worked on mission mode after 2014, learning from the perspective of the past, to create a new ecosystem of defence with the help of ‘Sabka Prayas’, he said.

The Prime Minister said, “If we do not give importance to our products, then how can we expect investment in the world? When we showed faith in our indigenously developed BRAHMOS, the world also came forward.”

PM Narendra Modi said, “In a short span of 4-5 years, our defense imports have come down by about 21%. We are moving from defense importer to defense exporter.”

Talking about India’s defense industry before independence, he said, “Many people don’t know that even before independence India’s defense sector was very strong. We had 18 ordnance factories that used to export artillery to the world, we were an imp supplier during WWII… but then what happened that we became the largest importer?”

“We have the talent. It’s not smart to let my soldiers go to the field with the same 10 weapons that the world has… I can’t take the risk. My jawan will have what the opponent won’t even think of…” said PM Modi.

He was speaking at the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar, ‘Swavlamban’, in New Delhi. It was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

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