NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India’s growing self-reliance in the defence sector, saying the country is continuously strengthening its technological capabilities alongside the courage of its armed forces.Addressing the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister pointed to the induction of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy as an example of India’s progress in indigenous defence manufacturing.“This modern warship has been designed in India and made in India. More than 75 per cent indigenous content has been used in this. This is a symbol of the growing strength of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘,” he said.PM Modi also referred to the indigenously developed Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120), an advanced precision-guided artillery rocket system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
The system has a validated strike range of 60 km to 120 km.“Behind this success, it is the collective hardwork of our scientists and engineers,” he said.The Prime Minister also highlighted the successful flight test of the Khusha Missile, describing it as another milestone in India’s expanding indigenous defence capabilities.Later in his address, PM Modi paid homage to the soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil War, saying Kargil Vijay Diwas fills every Indian with pride and serves as a reminder of the extraordinary courage displayed by the armed forces.“There are certain dates in our lives for which we do not need to look at the calendar. Today, July 26, is one such date. Today is the Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day fills us with pride and reminds us of the extraordinary courage of our brave soldiers,” he said.“The towering peaks of Kargil, harsh weather, the challenges posed by the enemy, our soldiers faced every such circumstance, yet their morale was greater than any challenge. They sacrificed everything for protecting the motherland. Today, on Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to all the brave martyrs and soldiers,” he added.PM Modi said today’s India not only remembers the sacrifices of its bravehearts but also ensures that their stories reach younger generations.Referring to this year’s commemorative events, he said a special Shaurya Vijay Yatra was organised to honour the legacy of the Kargil War. The motorcycle expedition began on July 14 from the National War Memorial in New Delhi and will culminate at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras.“Its message is ‘One ride, one nation, one salute’. This expedition reminds us that the sacrifices made for the country can never be forgotten,” the Prime Minister said.
