India will always be ready if anyone tries to cast an evil eye, Rajnath Singh said

Commending the Indian Army for showing unmatched bravery during the Galwan and Tawang incidents, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India will always be ready to face such situations.

The comment by Defence Minister Singh came just over a week after Indian troops prevented Chinese PLA soldiers from crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh.

He was speaking at the 95th Annual Convention of Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi on Saturday.

Chinese PLA forces had attempted to cross the LAC in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh's Yangtse region on December 9 in an effort to change the status quo, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The Indian military had, however, sent the Chinese troops back.

The incident along the LAC in Tawang sector took place nearly 30 months after a standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. Multiple rounds of talks since then have led to a disengagement at several points in that region.

Speaking in New Delhi on Saturday, Defence Minister Singh asserted that India has no intention to capture the land of other countries, but will always be ready if anyone tries to cast an evil eye. He added that India aims to become a superpower which works for the welfare of the world.

Singh pointed out that defence exports have registered a seven-fold increase in the last six years and efforts are being made to increase defence production from $US 12 billion to $US 22 billion by 2025.

"It is a golden period for the defence sector as it has demonstrated its capabilities by manufacturing fighter aircraft, aircraft carriers, Main Battle Tanks and attack helicopters. Indian defence industry is growing by leaps and bounds and is making its global presence felt," he noted.

In this context, he highlighted a number of reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Defence to strengthen the Indian defence sector, including simplifying FDI norms and increasing the limit to 74% under automatic route and 100% under government route.

He added that 68% of the capital procurement budget has been earmarked for domestic industry in 2022-23 to promote the participation of the private sector.

During his address, Singh stated that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is touching newer heights of success and has entered the category of ‘fabulous five’ from ‘fragile five’, coined by investment firm Morgan Stanley, in 2014.

“India is now among the top five economies of the world. It took us 31 years from 1991 to become a $US three trillion economy. I am confident that the next three trillion dollars are going to be added in the next seven years,” he said.

According to the Defence Minister, India has now become an agenda setter on the world stage due to the Prime Minister’s credibility and decision making. India’s G-20 presidency is proof of India’s growing stature, he pointed out.