HYDERABAD: The Indian Navy is the "biggest guarantee of peace in the entire Indian Ocean Region , including the Bay of Bengal ", defence minister Rajnath Singh said Tuesday while laying the foundation stone of the navy's very low frequency (VLF) radar station in Vikarabad in Telangana.
"The countries with which India shares its maritime boundaries should understand that maritime security is a collective effort. Summoning external forces at your doorstep hurts this effort," Singh said, in the backdrop of Chinese warships visiting Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
In a message to some of India's neighbours, he said maintaining peace and order in the Bay of Bengal and the IOR "should be the top priority of all of us". "The support of all friendly countries is necessary in this endeavour of India as, even if one country is left out, the entire security wheel snaps. India believes in uniting rather than dividing," he added.
Beyond its military significance, the VLF station will help in the growth of Vikarabad district by creating job opportunities and spurring infrastructure development, Singh asserted.
CM A Revanth Reddy, who also addressed the gathering, appealed to Singh to secure benefits for local residents. "I urge the minister to ensure that students from the local community have a quota in the schools that will be built, and that healthcare facilities are accessible to locals. If the people can benefit from these developments, this project will serve the dual purpose of enhancing national security and improving the welfare of our citizens," Reddy said.
(Inputs from New Delhi)
"The countries with which India shares its maritime boundaries should understand that maritime security is a collective effort. Summoning external forces at your doorstep hurts this effort," Singh said, in the backdrop of Chinese warships visiting Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
In a message to some of India's neighbours, he said maintaining peace and order in the Bay of Bengal and the IOR "should be the top priority of all of us". "The support of all friendly countries is necessary in this endeavour of India as, even if one country is left out, the entire security wheel snaps. India believes in uniting rather than dividing," he added.
Beyond its military significance, the VLF station will help in the growth of Vikarabad district by creating job opportunities and spurring infrastructure development, Singh asserted.
CM A Revanth Reddy, who also addressed the gathering, appealed to Singh to secure benefits for local residents. "I urge the minister to ensure that students from the local community have a quota in the schools that will be built, and that healthcare facilities are accessible to locals. If the people can benefit from these developments, this project will serve the dual purpose of enhancing national security and improving the welfare of our citizens," Reddy said.
(Inputs from New Delhi)
You may also like
'Gap in action and words': India slams Canada for inaction against Lawrence Bishnoi gang, other extradition requests
Sabrina Ionescu issues perfect response after WNBA snub in favour of Caitlin Clark
Government aims to increase productivity and ease NHS strain with 'radical' weight loss injection plans
Nepal's Sherpas deserve more, says teenager who scaled world's 14 tallest peaks
Trevor McDonald blasts Mrs Brown's Boys racist 'joke' - but says show should not be cancelled