Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the military exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ at the Pokhran field firing range in Jaisalmer on Tuesday. During this, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma was also present.
PM Modi, who witnessed the tri-service exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ in Rajasthan’s Pokhran along with delegates from more than 30 countries on Tuesday, lauded the bravery of all three forces–the Army, Air Force and Navy. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande welcomed all the people who came to witness the tri-service exercise.
At the Exercise Bharat Shakti in Pokhran, Rajasthan, PM Narendra Modi said, “India’s achievement of self-reliance in defence requirements instill confidence in its armed forces. During times of war, knowing that they possess indigenous weapons that will never be in short supply significantly boosts the morale and effectiveness of the military. Over the past decade, India has successfully developed its own fighter aircraft and constructed indigenous aircraft carriers.”
“Additionally, the production of C295 transport aircraft is underway within the country, along with plans for manufacturing modern engines domestically. Recently, the cabinet made another significant decision to design, develop, and manufacture fifth-generation fighter aircraft entirely within India,” he added.
The Prime Minister further said, “This display of bravery and skill is the echo of the new India. Pokaran has once again become a witness to the trinity of India’s self-reliance, self-confidence and pride. This is the same Pokaran who made India a nuclear nation.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The strength of the armed forces increases only when the country becomes economically strong. Today India is the fifth largest economy in the world. The strength of the country is continuously increasing and we are moving towards becoming the third largest economy.”
He said that Rajasthan will play an important role in achieving this goal and a developed Rajasthan will provide strength to the developed army.
He said, “In the last four decades, military families were lied to on One Rank One Pension (OROP). Our government fulfilled the guarantee of OROP as soon as it came into power. Till now, 1.75 lakh ex-servicemen of Rajasthan have received benefits worth Rs 5,000 crore under OROP. Army gains strength in last 10 years.”
Modi said that those who ruled the country for decades did not pay attention to the country’s security. “The first scam was in the purchase of the army. In the year 2014, there was talk of scams in defence deals. There were concerns about the army not having ammunition. They destroyed our ordnance factory.
We ruined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, we made it the most profitable company. They could not even build a national memorial for the heroic sacrifices. The earlier government was afraid of building modern infrastructure on our borders, today one road after another is being built,” he mentioned.
He said, “In the last four decades, military families were lied to on One Rank One Pension (OROP). Our government fulfilled the guarantee of OROP as soon as it came into power. Till now, 1.75 lakh ex-servicemen of Rajasthan have received benefits worth Rs 5,000 crore under OROP.”