The repeal of Article 370, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has given the people of Jammu and Kashmir fresh hope for their dreams.
On July 24, 2022, Rajnath Singh made the statement, “India has become a powerful and confident nation that is well-equipped to safeguard its citizens from anyone who attempts to cast an evil eye.” The event was held to celebrate “Kargil Vijay Diwas” in Jammu. Rajnath Singh praised the freedom fighters and members of the armed forces who have sacrificed their lives since independence for the country, saying that it was the sense of national pride at the heart of their ideals that guarded India’s unity and integrity.
He talked about the sole aim of the NDA government and stated that the government has taken a number of initiatives to establish a self-reliant defence ecosystem that offers indigenous state-of-the-art defence capabilities to the armed forces to be well equipped for wars in the future.
He said, “Our priority is to achieve Aatmanirbharta in Defence as it is central to developing a robust security apparatus for the safety and security of the nation. To realise this vision, 68 per cent of the defence budget has been earmarked for the procurement of defence equipment from domestic sources. From a net importer, we have now become a net exporter, which not only caters to our own needs but also fulfils the requirements of our friendly countries, in line with the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision.”
He further added, “Due to the recent measures taken by the government, India today finds itself among the top 25 exporters in the world of defence items. We have set a target to achieve Rs 35,000 crore worth of exports by 2025 and become a top exporter in the years to come. Our aim is to make India a global superpower. This will be a fitting tribute to our fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice while dreaming of an India that is strong, prosperous, self-reliant, and victorious. “
The entire region of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh became the “Main War Theatre” during the 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1999 wars, when enemies tried to cast an evil eye but whose plans were thwarted by the valiant Indian soldiers, Rajnath Singh said this in sharing his views on the numerous challenges faced by India after independence. He mentioned the valour of Major Shaitan Singh in 1962, Brigadier Usman’s and Major Somnath Sharma’s bravery in 1948, India’s historic victory in the war of 1971, and the contributions of Captain Vikram Batra and Captain Manoj Pandey from the Kargil bravehearts, who gave their lives to preserve India’s unity and integrity and continue to serve as an example to the public, particularly the young.
The Defence Minister further added, “After tasting defeats in the direct wars of 1965 and 1971, Pakistan adopted the path of proxy war. For over two decades, it has tried to ‘Bleed India with a Thousand Cuts’. But, time and again, our brave soldiers have shown that no one can disturb the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of India.”
Rajnath Singh recalled the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who served as prime minister at the time, for his inspiring leadership and words of support for the military forces during the Kargil conflict in spite of many obstacles and external pressure. He described the victory as a shining illustration of the three services’ cooperation and coordination with the government, which preserved the nation’s integrity and sovereignty in trying times.
The Defence Minister declared that PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that an Indian resolution to free them has been voted by the Indian Parliament with no disagreement. Several active-duty military members and veterans, including Captain Bana Singh, who received the Param Vir Chakra award, were there.