Once Tejas project file was going to be closed, we ensured the fighter flew: PM Modi

In an indirect attack on the erstwhile Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that there was a time when India's indigenous fighter jet Tejas project file was to be closed but his government had believed in the project and today it was flying in the sky with glory. Anish Singh reports

Speaking at the webinar for effective implementation of Union Budget provisions for the defence sector to boost self-reliance, PM Modi said, "We have a century-old experience when it comes to making arms and ammunition. During World War I and II, India supplied weapons and defence equipment. But post-independence, due to many reasons situation deteriorated."
 

"Today, even for small arms we are relying on imports. Today we are one of the largest defence importers, which is not something to feel proud about," he said. 
 

Expressing faith in India's engineers, scientists, innovators and researchers, Prime Minister Modi said that today's India has prepared itself working on it to change the scenario of dependency on imports.

"India is aggressively working on enhancing its capabilities and capacities. There was a time when our own fighter jet Tejas project file was being closed. But my government believed in the engineers, scientists and Tejas' capabilities and today it is flying in the sky with glory."
 

On February 3, the government awarded a contract worth Rs 48,000 crore to State-owned aircraft-maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the supply of 73 MK-1A Tejas jets and 10 MK-1 trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
 

In order to boost the domestic defence manufacturing sector, the government has put an embargo on the import of 100 items till 2024.
 

"The Centre has made a list of 100 items for import embargo. It makes us 'Aatmanirbhar' as our manufacturing capability will improve, reliance on other countries will reduce and there will be job creation," he said.

Talking about the private sector, PM Modi said that without the private sector the defence manufacturing ecosystem cannot flourish in the 21st century.
 

"I understand that it is better and people in the government are also now understanding this thing."
 

Urging the defence sector to come forward in design and development along with manufacturing, the prime minister said, "Our government has taken many measures one after the other, including de-licensing and de-regulation, export promotion and foreign investment liberalisation. We have simplified the ease of doing business."