PANAJI
The new INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier will put India in the elite club of countries that have continuously maintained carrier operations for more than sixty years, President of India Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday.
Kovind, who was in Goa to present the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Aviation, also lauded the Indian Navy for serving as a key instrument in India’s Covid outreach programme and the support programme to countries in the Indian Ocean region.
“It is a matter of great pride for the Indian Navy that the indigenously built aircraft carrier, the new Vikrant, has started sea trials. This gives a unique distinction to the Indian Navy of being the only Navy in the region and one of the three navies of the world, that has maintained continuous carrier operations over the last
six-and-a-half decades,” Kovind said.
He also said that the Indian Navy has invested significant effort in meeting all regional commitments and furthering diplomatic engagements with India’s friends and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
“While the natural tendency during Covid-19 pandemic was to look inwards, India and the Indian Navy have looked outwards. The Navy was a key instrument of India’s Covid outreach, delivering assistance and support to our maritime neighbours and partners in the Indian Ocean Region,” Kovind said.
“I have no doubt that the prompt and effective deployment of the Indian Navy in the time of crisis has underscored India’s vision of being the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in our region,” the President
said.
The Indian Navy, Kovind said, would play a key role in India’s march to becoming a five trillion dollar economy on account of the armed forces’ thrust on using indigenised equipment and technology.
“As we move towards becoming a five trillion dollar economy, we must remember that no country can aspire to become an economic or regional power house while being dependent on imports to defend itself,” he
said.
“The Indian Navy has been at the forefront of indigenisation and this is well-reflected in the Navy’s current and future acquisition plans which are powered by indigenisation,” Kovind added.
