Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 6 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the flagging of the first batch of BrahMos missiles in Lucknow marks a ‘moment of accomplishment’ and reflects India’s growing ‘self-reliance’ in the defence sector.
Addressing the ceremony, the Chief Minister highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India vision, India has become capable of meeting its own security needs.
‘This is a moment of accomplishment for us, and especially for me, because we are fortunate to fulfil the Prime Minister’s pledge of Make in India and flag off the first batch of BrahMos missiles based on Swadeshi technology, in the presence of the Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh),’ he said.
‘This missile represents self-reliance in India’s defence needs. This means that through missiles like the BrahMos, India is now capable of meeting not only its own security needs but also the security needs of its friendly countries around the world,’ he added.
Adityanath underlined the state government’s partnership with the Centre in strengthening India’s defence manufacturing base and advancing the goal of a self-reliant India. He also noted the employment and economic opportunities created by the BrahMos production unit.
‘This is the foundation of a self-reliant India. So far, we have made available over 2,500 acres of land for this purpose in six nodes. Through this, over 15,000 youth in the state have found employment. DG BrahMos and the Defence Minister recently provided a GST cheque worth INR 40 crore to us,’ he said.
‘I told DRDO again, “Tell me how much land you need; we’ll provide it for you here.” When 100 BrahMos missiles are manufactured each year, and the capacity will increase to 150 in the future, the state government will receive INR 150 to 200 crore annually through GST from these missiles,’ he added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles at the BrahMos Aerospace Production Unit in Lucknow under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, accompanied by CM Adityanath.
This development comes months after Prime Minister Modi announced that BrahMos missiles would be manufactured in Lucknow.
(ANI)