Having taken serious cognisance of the recent drone attacks on the two Indian ships in the high seas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Thursday that the perpetrators of these attacks would soon be brought to justice and dealt with sternly.
Speaking after commissioning stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal in Mumbai, the Defence Minister said that since India is playing the role of a Net Security Provider for the entire Indian Ocean Region, the Government would not spare the perpetrators of the recent drone attacks on two Indian ships in the high seas.
“India plays the role of a Net Security Provider in the entire Indian Ocean Region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region touches greater heights. For this, together with our friendly countries, we will keep the sea lanes secure. We have full confidence in the ability and strength of our Navy,” Rajnath said.
Alluding to the recent drone attacks on Merchant Vessel (MV) Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea and the attack on ‘MV Sai Baba’ in the Red Sea, the Defence Minister said,”We have taken the attacks very seriously and the Navy has increased its surveillance. The perpetrators of these attacks will soon be brought to justice and strict action will be taken against them”.
Rajnath said India’s growing economic and strategic power had filled some forces with jealousy and hatred, he reiterated the Government’s resolve to lay equal emphasis on the modernisation of all the three Services to safeguard national interests.
“The earlier governments focussed only on protecting the country from land-based threats,” he said.
Describing INS Imphal as a shining example of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence, he said it was a reflection of the commitment of Indian Navy, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuikders Limited (MDL) and other stakeholders towards national security.
“INS Imphal is a symbol of India’s growing maritime power and it will strengthen it further. It will bolster our principle of ‘Jalmev Yasya, Balmev Tasya’ (One Who Controls the Sea is All Powerful) in the Indo-Pacific region,” the defence minister said.
The ship measures 163m in length, 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and is amongst the most potent warships built in India. It is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas & Gas configuration, and is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The Raksha Mantri said that INS IMPHAL was a conglomeration of different strengths of the nation.
“With 75 per cent indigenous content, enhanced stealth features & state-of-the-art equipment, the ship will further strengthen India’s maritime power & safeguard national interests, he said.
He stressed on the need to continuously develop the Navy’s capabilities as global trade is of great importance to India to secure its national interests.
Rajnath said that wiith the Himalayas in the north and the hostile behavior of Pakistan in the west, most of India’s goods trade comes through sea, which made it an island country from ‘trade’ perspective.
In his address, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said that INS Imphal possessed the distinction of being a shining symbol of Indian Navy’s unflinching commitment towards achieving the vision of self-reliance in defence.
He said that he ship woukd not only tackle physical threats that emanate from the seas, but will also demonstrate the strength of an integrated country.
“INS Imphal will deter the various designs that try to harm national unity. It will breath fire upon the enemy and demonstrate unflinching resolve in the face of adversity,” he said.
The commissioning ofINS Imphal marked the formal induction of the third of four indigenous ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, being designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by MDL, Mumbai.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Flag Officer Commanding -in-Chief, Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Director (Finance) with Additional Charge of Chairman & Managing Director, MDL Sanjeev Singhal were among those present at the ship commissioning ceremony.
