NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday that “India’s journey over the last 12 years has been a progression from shortages to self-reliance, from self-reliance to self-confidence and from self-confidence towards building a Viksit Bharat .” Addressing the NBT Utsav programme as the chief guest on the occasion of Navbharat Times completing 79 years, Rajnath said that in its first term, PM Narendra Modi-led govt had addressed shortages, expanded opportunities and transformed the work culture; in the second term, it had turned aspirations into achievements and placed the country firmly on path of Aatmanirbharta; and in its third term, govt is laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat through the policy of “reform, perform, transform”. Highlighting key aspects of the country’s transformation over last 12 years, the defence minister said when ‘Make-in-India’ was launched in 2014, certain quarters labelled it a failure, but the scheme set new benchmarks of success. Confidence in ‘made-in-India’ defence platforms has especially got a boost after Op Sindoor. He said that defence production has crossed Rs 1.78 lakh crore, compared with just Rs 46,000 crore about 8-9 years ago. Defence exports, which stood at just Rs 686 crore in 2013-14, have crossed a record Rs 38,000 crore.Indirectly referring to the recent controversy over the Opposition’s allegations that he had lied in Parliament about the death of six soldiers during Op Sindoor, the defence minister said false narratives are spread at times in society that severely affect the morale of armed forces. He said he would not like to discuss those issues at the event but added that such statements create unnecessary confusion. Terming the media’s role in the present era of ‘communicative abundance’ as more crucial than ever, Rajnath said, “Especially when the subject concerns defence forces, national security or the honour of those who make the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation, every word becomes a matter of national responsibility. Media must always uphold the values of accuracy, objectivity and impartiality.”Talking about positive changes in India, the minister said, “There has been a transformational change in India’s global stature. While the world earlier paid little heed to our voice, today it listens attentively to India’s perspective on global issues.”Rajnath pointed out that abrogation of Article 370 in J&K and sustained efforts to eliminate Naxalism are shining examples of his govt’s resolve to address issues that were once considered beyond resolution. Despite scepticism over India’s semiconductor mission when it was launched in 2021, the nation produced its own semiconductor chips last year due to the establishment of semiconductor parks,? he added.He also highlighted India’s significant growth in manufacturing and technology, citing the expansion of mobile manufacturing, automobile exports, indigenous locomotive production and digital infrastructure under Make-in-India.
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