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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Vijay files nomination from Perambur in Chennai, appeals to people to give chance to 'whistle'
Chennai (PTI): TVK chief, actor-politician Vijay on Monday filed his nomination to contest Assembly polls from Perambur constituency in Chennai and appealed to the people to give an opportunity to his party TVK and vote for the party's whistle symbol on April 23.
After filing his papers, Vijay, addressing the people from his open-top campaign vehicle, reiterated his allegation that the DMK was an evil force.
He slammed the DMK regime alleging there was no safety for women and hit out at the government over the degraded law and order situation and for the alleged prevalence of drugs.
"We have to save Tamil Nadu. Who is responsible for this plight? The evil force DMK is the reason for this situation, Stalin sir is the reason," he alleged.
The 2026 Assembly polls is the debut polls for Vijay and he has chosen to fight from Perambur in north Chennai, which has a sizable population of the working classes. Also, he is contesting from Tiruchirappalli-East in central Tamil Nadu, a key part of the fertile Cauvery delta region.
Vijay said he quit his comfortable life and joined politics just for the sake of the people, to pay his debt of gratitude to them. "I have endured all the pain and came (joined politics) only for you. I will never lie, never deceive you."
He reiterated that the poll fight was confined between the ruling DMK and the debutant challenger TVK and denounced the 4-cornered contest.
"Do you want Stalin sir, who runs an anti-people government? Or do you want Vijay, who loves people? Please give an opportunity and vote for the whistle symbol. This should be a whistle revolution election.
The actor-turned politician wondered how people could live without having "basic amenities" and alleged that even elderly women did not have safety.
Alleging violent attacks due to consumption of "intoxicants," he asked, "Is this a country or a jungle. Does a government exist? Does it function?
Furthermore, he asked, "Is there safety in the regime of this evil force DMK? Did children have safety? Did you live peacefully?
Stalin is not concerned about the people and for him and his government, what mattered and important was "loot" alongwith the family during the past 5 years.
The TVK chief alleged Rs 1,000 crore corruption in state-run liquor corporation TASMAC. He also alleged a scandal involving a similar sum in the municipal administration department and a cash for jobs scam.
He asked the 'Gen z kids' to pick the whistle symbol on the day of polls in the electronic voting machine and support TVK.
He asked: "What can be done with this evil force, the DMK government, which offers no security and no employment? Shall we throw it away? Next, they will have piles of money and won't know what to do with it, so they'll give it to all of you, dreaming of winning somehow. As I said before, take everything. Take it and blow the whistle in their ears and send them away."
Vijay was presented by his party workers a 'Vel,' a spear-like weapon seen in the hands of Lord Muruga.
