PANAJI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India has emerged as the first responder and preferred security partner in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
He was speaking after inaugurating the new Administrative & Training building at the Naval War College (NWC) at Verem, which has been named the ‘Chola’ to pay homage to the mighty maritime empire of the Chola dynasty of ancient India.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officers Commanding in Chief, Western and Southern Naval Commands and Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS were also present on the occasion.
Singh lauded the Navy for creating a world-class state-of-the-art training facility that resonates with India’s stature among the maritime powers of the world.
He described Chola Bhawan as a symbol of the aspirations of the Navy and India’s legacy of maritime excellence.
“It is also a reflection of India’s new mindset of coming out of the mentality of slavery and feeling proud of our rich historical heritage “ a clarion call made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort,” he said.
“In view of the increased movement of our adversaries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the commercial importance of the region, it was necessary to re-assess our threat perception and accordingly re-balance our military resources and strategic attention. We not only re-imagined India’s role in the IOR, but also strengthened it. Due to these efforts, India has today emerged as the first responder and preferred security partner in the IOR,” he said.
Singh highlighted that due to the Navy’s readiness, India is fulfilling its responsibility in the IOR by providing full assistance to the littoral countries. He stated that the Navy is ensuring that no country, with its overwhelming economic and military power, is able to assert dominance over friendly countries or threaten their sovereignty.
The defence minister pointed out that through the mantra of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India has given to the world the unique value of taking everyone together.
“If India becomes stronger, not only the areas around it will progress, but democracy and rule of law will also be strengthened,” he said.
He exuded confidence that the new building at NWC, Goa will go a long way in training the officers on the growing and crucial role of the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific Region.
He hoped that the NWC, through its innovative training, will not only enhance the military capability of the trainees, but also make them aware of the new perspective and focus on the country’s economic interest.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar drew the attention of the audience to the evolving security challenges, particularly in the maritime domain.
He highlighted the indispensable role of higher military education in countering these challenges. He expressed confidence that the new training facility will serve as an icon of the country’s resurgence as a maritime power by serving as a Gurukul for learning and sharing maritime perspectives, not only for the officers of Indian forces but also for maritime neighbours.
