Page 22 - NIS English December1-15

Cover Story
Defence

thousands of years. This is our identity. We MODERNISATION OF DEFENCE FORCES
are the people who worship Lord Krishna POST 2014 WITH THE THOUGHT OF
who plays flute. We are also the same people
who follow Sudarshan Chakradhari Krishna Har Kaam Desh Ke Naam
as an ideal.”
This transformation of India’s security
establishment in the last six years has not
been easy. Coupled with this, makeover of
Indian forces as a mean fighting machine with
unity in purpose is palpable. Defence forces’
morale has been high. Under leadership of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the forces l To ensure a better coordination among the three
have been given the required nod to make wings of defence, Army, Air Force and Navy, the
right strategy and go out achieving that at a Government appointed Chief of Defence Staff
time and place of their choosing. (CDS) which was pending for long. General Bipin
From cutting edge technologies, know-how Rawat has been appointed as the first CDS of the
to defence equipment acquisitions, there is country. It is a 4-star rank
a renewed vigour in approaching an issue, l The Government took the initiative in honour of
as also in putting key defence infrastructure serving as well as retired soldiers by dedicating
projects on the ground. Building fighter jets National War Memorial to the nation on February
to warships has been put on top gear. 25, 2019. The memorial inaugurated by Prime
The Government’s announcement Minister Narendra Modi has names of 26,000
to completely phase out import of 101 soldiers on its 16 walls
key defence equipment while domestic l Women soldiers get representation in all three
capacities are built speaks volumes. From wings of defence forces
guns to missiles, a whole range of items' l Country developed a capacity to shot down any
imports are being phased out. satellite in the space
Evolving an integrated war-room, new
war theatres and doctrines to deal new age
conflicts based on technological innovations
seems to be put on fast lane. India’s shift in
strategy got adequately reflected when her
nasty western neighbour made repeated
moves to export terror modules repeatedly.
Expànsionist designs of an aggressive
neighbour was foiled by our forces. Political
leadership fully backed defence forces.
Prime Minister and Defence Minister visited
forward areas in Ladakh, which not only kept
morale of officers and men high but also sent
a message across. From Jammu & Kashmir,
Eastern Ladakh to North Eastern states,
zero tolerance towards adversaries was on Diwali PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI
full display on more than one occasion. Dare 2020 CELEBRATES FESTIVAL WITH SOLDIERS AT
not to provoke India. LONGEWALA BORDER POST IN RAJASTHAN

20 New India Samachar