Highlighting Atmanirbhar Bharat and India’s quest to possess modern indigenous weapons, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that all three sections of defence have decided to minimize dependence on foreign weapons and systems and pledged to be self-reliant.

“I admire our three armies, who have decided that more than 400 pieces of defence equipment will no longer be bought from abroad, and will now be made in India itself,” PM Modi said on Monday as he celebrated Diwali with the forces in Kargil.

Pointing out the benefits of using indigenous weapons, the Prime Minister said that when the jawans of India fight with the weapons made in the country, their faith will be at its peak and their attacks will come with a surprise element for the enemy while crushing the enemy’s morale.

He also gave the examples of Prachand Light Combat Helicopters, Tejas fighter jets, the colossal aircraft carrier Vikrant and also highlighted India’s missile strength in Arihant, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Pinaka and Arjun.

PM Modi mentioned that India has become an exporter of defence equipment while strengthening its missile defence system, and also working rapidly on modern and effective technology like drones.

Speaking about the advancement in technologies in modern warfare, the PM also remarked that the nature of future wars is going to change and in this new era, India is preparing the military strength of the country according to the new challenges, new methods and changing requirements of national defence.

He assured that all possible steps are being taken so that there is better coordination of forces to take swift action against every challenge.

“For this, an institute like CDS has been created. A network of modern infrastructure is being created on the border so that our jawans are more comfortable in performing their duty,” he said.

Addressing the jawans while keeping in with his tradition of spending Diwali with the armed forces, the PM said that the reverence for the soil of Kargil always draws him towards the brave sons and daughters of the armed forces.

“For years, you have been a part of my family,” he said underlining that there have been no such wars against Pakistan when Kargil did not hoist the tricolour after emerging victorious.

He recalled that he was a witness to the Kargil war and had watched it closely and also expressed gratitude towards the authorities for preserving and showing 23-year-old photographs of his visit when he had come to spend time with the jawans when they were giving a befitting reply to the enemies during the war.

“As an ordinary citizen, my Kartavya Path had led me to the battlefield,” the Prime Minister remarked remembering that he had come to drop off the supplies put together by the countrymen and said that it was a moment of worship for him.

“The India that we revere is not just a geographical territory but a living spirit, a constant consciousness, an immortal existence. When we speak of India, the eternal picture of India’s culture comes to the fore, the circle of legacy manufactures itself and the model of India’s might starts to grow,” he said.

The PM mentioned that the battlefield of Kargil is the shining proof of the courage of the Indian Army.

“Dras, Batalik and Tiger Hill are proof that enemies sitting on a mountaintop were dwarfed before the courage and valour of the Indian Armed Forces,” he remarked.

He explained that India has successfully fought against both external and internal enemies.

“You are standing as a shield on the border while strict action is being taken against the enemies within the country,” the PM said while pointing out that the country has made a successful attempt to uproot terrorism, Naxalism and extremism.

PM Modi also made it clear that India is always in favour of world peace and follows the traditions where war is considered the last option.

“We are against war, but peace is not possible without strength. Our armies have the capability and the strategy, and if someone looks at us, then our armies also know how to give a befitting reply to the enemy in their own language,” said PM Modi.

Prime Minister also mentioned that a country is secure only when its borders are secure, its economy is robust and the society is filled with self-confidence.

He also highlighted India’s recent achievement of becoming the fifth largest economy in the world from the 10th largest about 7-8 years ago besides speaking about the 80,000-plus startups that keep the innovation mill running. PM also spoke on the Ukraine war where the tricolour acted as a protective shield for Indians.

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