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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on November 19, visited INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa to celebrate Diwali with the personnel on board. There, PM Modi had a very extensive set of engagements and interacted with the personnel.
While addressing the personnel of the Indian Navy on board INS Vikrant, PM Modi said that extraordinary coordination among the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) forced Pakistan to surrender during Operation Sindoor. Notably, the Operation was India's retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. Also, PM Modi hailed the valour and determination of security forces. He said India has eliminated "Maoist terrorism" due to them.
PM Modi said that INS Vikrant is more than just a warship and shows India's hard work, talent, impact and commitment in the 21st century. He added that the warship shows the might of India's armed forces and is a towering symbol of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.
PM Modi also remarked that India is almost free from Maoist violence and "this freedom is knocking at our doors." He revealed that the number of districts in the grip of Maoist terror has reduced from 125 to just 11.
He said, "While 90 per cent success has been achieved, I'm confident that police forces will succeed in eliminating Maoist violence." He added that the government is aiming to make India one of the world's top defence exporters, and the shipyards have built over 40 warships and submarines since 2014.
Hailing the Diwali celebration on board INS Vikrant as special, PM Modi said, "The night spent yesterday on INS Vikrant is hard to put into words. I saw the immense energy and enthusiasm you all were filled with. When I saw you singing patriotic songs yesterday, and the way you described Operation Sindoor in your songs, no words can ever fully convey the experience that a jawan feels standing on a battlefield."
PM Modi commissioned INS Vikrant to the Indian Navy in September 2022. This is an indigenous aircraft carrier, and is the largest warship indigenously constructed in India. It is the principal combatant which carries the entire naval aviation capabilities of Indian Navy, including the MiG 29 fighters.
The warships which took part in the Steampast include: INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya, INS Surat, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai, INS Imphal, INS Kolkata, INS Tushil, INS Tabar, INS Teg, INS Betwa, INS Deepak, INS Aditya. The Flypast included - Chetak, with flag and naval ensign, MH 60 R, Seaking, Kamov 31, Dornier and P8I and MiG 29K.
