Decision to organise Aero India was not easy amid COVID: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Aero India takes off on Feb 3 amidst Covid, buzz around 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'
Bengaluru, Feb 2: The country's premier aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India 2021 takes off here on Wednesday amidst the COVID-19 pandemic with buzz around "AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan" and "Make in India" push.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the decision to organise Aero India amid COVID pandemic and security challenges along northern borders was "not easy", as the event, dubbed as Asia's largest military aviation exhibition, will kickstart in the city on February 3.
Crediting the country's soldiers unrelenting spirit along the borders for stabilisation of the situation, he said, India thereby showed its resolve to defend its sovereignty and integrity.
"The decision to organise Aero India in these testing times forced by the twin challenges of the COVID pandemic and also the security challenges thrust up on us along the northern borders was not easy," Singh said.
Speaking at the curtain raiser event of Aero India, he said he has no hesitation in saying that the country's robust stand, immediate and celebrated response and unrelenting spirit of the soldiers on the borders led to stabilisation of the situation.
"We showed our resolve to defend the sovereignty and integrity of our country," he said, adding that the resolve of the government led by the Prime Minister to put the country back on the path of revival combined with hard work of officials and other stakeholders besids Karnataka government's support has made it possible to organise Aero India 2021.
The three-day long event commences here on Wednesday amid the COVID-19 pandemic with buzz around "AatmaNirbhar Bharat" and "Make in India" push.
With a combination of both physical and virtual exhibition, the 13th edition of the biennial international event at Air Force Station Yelahanka will be the world's first hybrid aerospace show, according to sources.
The Defence Minister said Aero India this time, unlike many in the past, will witness the new initiatives of the new India that have begun to change "potential into reality".
He said the President of India has consented to attend the valedictory function.
"Aero India would spark a renewed sense of pride in India's defence manufacturing and take defence cooperation to the next level," he added.
Further noting that since 2014, the government of India has relentlessly pushed policy reforms to boost indigenous manufacturing, Singh said the world has now started to recognise India as a trusted defence investment destination.
He said conclave of Defence Ministers of Indian Ocean region, conclave of Chiefs of Air Staff of various countries, India Russia military industrial conference, Startup Manthan are some of the highlights of the Aero India event.
"More than 200 MoU partnership agreements are likely to be signed during the Bandhan event," he said, as he mentioned that the conclave of Defence Ministers of Indian Ocean region would reinforce the relevance of the region and its continued importance for stakeholders for trade, security and freedom of navigation.
Over 600 exhibitors, including 80 foreign companies, are expected to showcase their defence manufacturing prowess during the event.
Aero India will help forge enormous global engagement with Indian defence industry in the form of partnership and investment paving the path for transformation of the world's largest democracy into the world's most powerful defence economy, Singh added.
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Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan defiant after facing verbal missiles on Op Sindoor remarks
Mumbai (PTI): Despite facing criticism, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday stood by his controversial comments that India faced a "total defeat" in aerial fight with Pakistan on the first day of Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The former Union minister refused to apologise for his comments on the Indian military operation against terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK in aftermath of massacre of tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in April.
Talking to reporters in Pune on Tuesday, Chavan claimed India faced a "total defeat in the aerial fight (with Pakistan) on May 7 which lasted for half-an-hour".
"One may believe this or not. After that the Indian Air Force got grounded and not a single aircraft took flight that day.... be it Gwalior, Bhatinda or Sirsa, there was a possibility of aircraft being shot down, so our complete Air Force was grounded," the former Maharashtra chief minister had said.
Hitting out at Chavan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused the Congress of speaking the language of Pakistan. He said questioning the military action was akin to demoralising the morale of armed forces.
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"The criticism does not stem from the love of the nation, but love for Pakistan," said the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
Chavan, however, remained defiant.
"There is no question of apologising. The Constitution has given me the right to ask questions," the Congress veteran asserted.
Chavan also questioned the need of having a 12-lakh strong Army when future wars will be about aerial combats and missiles. "During Operation Sindoor we saw that there was no movement of the Army even for a kilometre," he had said.
BJP Lok Sabha MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said Chavan's remarks are loaded with sedition.
"He (Chavan) has refused to apologise. The Indian armed forces struck 100 kms inside the Pakistan territory and destroyed 11 air strips (of the Pakistani Air Force). He made remarks that the Indian Army did not even move an inch (during the military operation). This is nothing but a statement full of sedition, a statement of a traitor," Patra said, lashing out at the Congress leader.
The BJP spokesperson maintained the Congress appears to be standing with Chavan and alleged the Opposition party is playing into foreign hands.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should apologise for it, he added.
Union minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP insisted it was not right to devalue the valour of Indian armed forces.
Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh suggested that wherever armed forces are concerned, every Indian should be mindful of statements they make and ensure their comments do not demoralise the military.
Operation Sindoor was a result of "mistakes of politicians", he claimed.
TDP MP Krishna Devraylu said after the poll defeat in Bihar, the Congress is rattled and their leaders have been talking absurdly.
"Chavan's remarks are a prime example of this. This kind of disrespect to our armed forces is not necessary. If the Congress is angry with the NDA, it should show it in a different way and not drag armed forces into it," Devraylu opined.
AAP MP Ashok Mittal said such statements should not be made by any senior politician, especially by someone who has been a former chief minister.
The Indian armed forces registered a strong victory and destroyed terror launchpads in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Mittal added.
