By Ankit Panda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the formal induction of India’s largest naval asset: the INS Vikramaditya.
On Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s largest warship to date, the INS Vikramaditya, in Goa. Modi’s trip to Goa represents his first major outing on defense matters. Modi has called for India to actively improve its defense procurement system and has condemned the long string of disasters that gripped the Indian navy last year. Modi described the addition of the INS Vikramaditya to the Indian navy as a “historic” step in India’s defense modernization. Modi additionally toured the aircraft carrier in what marked his first visit to any Indian defense facility as prime minister.
“It is an important day for our nation. It is a golden day in Indian Navy’s history. For me, it is a matter of pride and happiness that INS Vikramaditya is joining the Navy. It is a historic step,” he said according to the Indian Express. Modi reiterated his emphasis on India developing a great indigenous defense manufacturing capability — something he stressed repeatedly during his campaign for prime minister. “We need to give immense importance to latest technology. This will help the nation. Why should we import defence equipment? We must be self sufficient. Why can’t we send our defence equipment to other nations,” he noted.
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