Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday commissioned indigenous patrol vessel Vigraha and lauded the growth trajectory of India’s naval sector, highlighting the improvements and advancements in the maritime sector over the past few years.
“Friends, the journey that started from ‘Vikram’ between the Ministry of Defence, Coast Guard and L&T has reached ‘Vigraha’ today through ‘Vijay’, ‘Veer’, ‘Varaha’, ‘Varad’ and ‘Vajra’,” the Raksha Mantri said at the commissioning the Indian Coast Guard’s offshore patrol vessel Vigraha in Chennai today..
"This applies all the more to a country like ours, being a country whose interests are directly linked to the Indian Ocean. Changes happening around the world often become a matter of concern for us. We, as a nation, must keep our guards high during these times of uncertainties and upheavals around the world,” the Defence Minister said.
Singh noted that the Coast Guard has always been ready to extend “help our neighbouring countries” in line with its spirit of inclusiveness. During the fire on the tanker ‘New Diamond’ last year, and the cargo ship ‘Express Pearl’ this year, “you have provided active and timely assistance to Sri Lanka”, he said.
