The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman releasing the Diamond Jubilee commemorative stamp of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), at the DefExpo India - 2018, at Thiruvidanthai, Kancheepuram district on the East Coast Road near Chennai on April 11, 2018. The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chairman DRDO & Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Dr. S. Christopher, the DG (SAM), DRDO, Dr. Chitra Rajagopal, the Chief Post Master General, Tamil Nadu Postal Circle, Shri M. Sampath and the Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy are also seen.
The Chairman DRDO & Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Dr. S. Christopher handing over the Cumulative Transfer of Technology Fee of Rs 192 crore to the Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, at the DefExpo India - 2018, at Thiruvidanthai, Kancheepuram district on the East Coast Road near Chennai on April 11, 2018. The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre is also seen.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being welcomed by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on his arrival, at Chennai, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being welcomed by the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri O. Panneerselvam, on his arrival, at Chennai, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launching the iDeX (innovations for Defence Excellence) scheme, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018. The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit is also seen.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit, the Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami and other dignitaries at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018..
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his address, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his address, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his address, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India - 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the inauguration of Defence Expo 2018 at Thiruvidanthai in Kancheepuram on Thursday. | Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...efence-expo/article23510387.ece?homepage=true
Our commitment to peace is just as strong as our commitment to protecting our people and our territory, says the PM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at previous governments for being lax in procurement of defence equipment and said such “laziness” had caused damage to the nation.
“There was a time when, like many other aspects of governance, the critical issue of defence preparedness was also hampered by policy paralysis.We have seen the damage such laziness, incompetence or perhaps some hidden motives, can cause to the nation,” Mr. Modi said while inaugurating the Defence Expo 2018.
The Prime Minister said these issues should have been addressed long back, but are being resolved by his government now.
“You would have seen how the issue of providing bullet proof jackets to Indian Army soldiers was kept hanging for years. And, you would have also seen that we have brought the process to a successful conclusion with a contract that will provide a boost to defence manufacturing in India,” he said.
Without mentioning the Congress, the Prime Minister criticised the earlier process for the purchase of fighter aircraft, terming it as “long-drawn process that never reached any conclusion”.
‘Bold action’
He said his government had taken “bold action to meet our immediate requirements”, and referred to the process that has been initiated
now to procure 110 fighter aircraft for which tenders have been floated recently. “We do not want to spend ten years in discussions without any tangible outcomes,” he said.
“We will work with you (defence manufacturers) with a sense of mission to keep our defence forces equipped with state-of-the-art systems, and to create the necessary domestic manufacturing ecosystem to achieve this,” Mr. Modi said.
The Prime Minister also launched the ‘Innovation for Defence Excellence’ (IDEX) scheme for setting up Defence Innovation Hubs throughout the country, to provide necessary incubation and infrastructure support to the start-ups in defence area.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the defence offset policy was being relaxed. “The Offset Obligation fulfillment will now be a bit more flexible so that you have an option to choose Indian offset partners or products,” she said.
Plea for HAL unit in TN
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami urged the Centre to set up a manufacturing unit of
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to make Light Combat Aircraft in Salem and a Defence MRO in Coimbatore. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said the Centre and the State governments are working in tandem to realise the vision of the Defence Corridor.