Modi commissions INS Kolkata, India’s largest destroyer warship

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Aug 16, 2014: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commissioned the country’s largest indigenously-built destroyer warship INS Kolkata into the Indian Navy.

 

 

"INS Kolkata is going to the Indian Navy. This is also a testing time for Indian scientists and engineers. INS Kolkata proves India’s indigenous capability," Modi said at commissioning of the warship into Indian Navy in Mumbai. Addressing naval officers and sailors at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai after commissioning the warship, the Prime Minister described INS Kolkata as a proof of India’s "buddhi bal" (mental prowess).

He said that with changing times, the importance of prowess which came out of buddhi (intelligence) is as important for the Armed Forces as "baahu bal" (physical prowess).

"As we dedicate this ship to the nation, we display to the world, our ’buddhi bal’ and our manufacturing capabilities," he said.

He said India’s aim was to achieve such prowess in its defence capabilities that no one dared to cast an evil glance on the country.

"INS Kolkata is a symbol of self-reliance and will boost the confidence of armed forces and inspire the youth at the same time," he said.

The Prime Minister mentioned provisions made in the Union Budget for defence offsets and said the world’s best arms and equipment manufacturers would be invited to set up manufacturing facilities in India, and a day would come when India would be completely self-reliant in defence production.

"Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day, but it is our Armed Forces that are protecting free India...The entire nation may not be in uniform but we stand firmly behind you and are proud of you," Modi said.

He said the building of the warship was the biggest indigenous "nirman karya".

Modi also remembered Chhatrapati Shivaji. "When I talk about the Navy from here in Maharashtra, it is natural to remember Chhatrapati Shivaji. He understood the importance of securing the seas for increasing trade," he said.

Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Chief of Army Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur, and senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister also visited various facilities onboard INS Kolkata and wrote in the Visitor’s Book.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley congratulated the Navy on the commissioning of INS Kolkata.

The warship is fitted with the most advanced weapon systems including anti-submarine technology.


Courtesy:IndiaToday