Visakhapatnam: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh undertook a comprehensive review of the operational readiness of the Indian Navy during his visit to the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This visit marks his first outstation tour after assuming charge as Raksha Mantri for the second consecutive term.
Accompanied by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Rajnath Singh embarked on INS Jalashwa for a ‘Day at Sea’. The Raksha Mantri witnessed dynamic operations by various ships, submarines, and aircraft of the Command, showcasing the combat capability and preparedness of the Indian Navy.
Interacting with the officers and sailors of the Eastern Fleet, Rajnath Singh praised the Indian Navy for its operational readiness and its role as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). “Our Navy ensures that no nation suppresses another in the Indo-Pacific region or endangers its strategic autonomy on the basis of economic strength or military power. This is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), where our friendly countries remain safe and move forward together on the path of mutual progress,” he said.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the Indian Navy’s crucial role in enhancing India’s stature on the international stage, citing the Navy’s daring rescue operation in the Arabian Sea in March 2024, which freed 23 Pakistani nationals from Somali pirates. He noted, “This operation demonstrated humanity and the values imbibed in our naval personnel, who come to the aid of everyone, irrespective of nationality.”
The Raksha Mantri emphasized the importance of the Indian Navy in ensuring safe trade, peace, and prosperity in the IOR. “Securing free navigation, rule-based world order, anti-piracy, and peace & stability in the region are our biggest objectives. The Navy is playing a crucial role in fulfilling them. India, with its increasing power, is committed to making the region as well as the entire world peaceful and prosperous,” he stated.
Highlighting the Navy’s growing strength, Rajnath Singh underlined the link between India’s commercial interests and the IOR. He assured that national interest remains paramount to the Government, pledging all necessary steps to safeguard it. “Our shipyards are expanding, aircraft carriers increasing, and our Navy is emerging as a new powerful force. We will give momentum to our efforts in this tenure as well. Be it the Himalayas or the Indian Ocean, our priority will be to continuously strengthen the security at the borders,” he affirmed.
Reflecting on his previous term, Rajnath Singh mentioned his visit to the Siachen Glacier in June 2019 and April 2024, focusing on national security and infrastructure development in the northern borders. He emphasized that the focus in his second term will be on enhancing maritime security and strengthening India’s naval presence in the IOR. “The Government’s focus on land borders and maritime security has a broader vision – to bind the northern and southern parts of the nation in one thread,” he added.
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