India is rapidly becoming the world’s manufacturing hub: DM
Hyderabad, Oct 3:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that the NDA government has demonstrated, through 2016 surgical strike, 2019 Balakot airstrike and the recent Operation Sindoor, that the country can cross any border whenever necessary to protect citizens and safeguard India’s unity and integrity.
Speaking at ‘JITO Connect’ organised by Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) here, he said innocent people were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack by being identified by their religion, but India did not see religion when it conducted surgical strikes against Pakistan.
“The government only targeted terrorist centres to punish those responsible for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. We never attacked any military or civilian establishment there. If we wanted, we could have done that earlier, but we did not,” he said.
According to Singh, the central government’s focus on boosting military and economic power is not aimed at domination but to safeguard the ideals rooted in religion, faith and human values which are reflected in Bhagwan Mahavir’s teachings.
“When it comes to India’s glory and dignity, we never compromised. Whether it is 2016 surgical strike, 2019 airstrike or 2025 Operation Sindoor, we have proved that we will cross any borders, whenever there is a need, for the cause of India’s unity and integrity and for protecting the life of every citizen and the country.” On Defence exports, the Minister noted that when the NDA government assumed office 11 years ago, the country’s exports stood at approximately Rs 600 crore, which have now risen to more than Rs 24,000 crore.
By 2029, he projected the figure would surpass Rs 50,000 crore.
Highlighting the country’s strides towards self-reliance, Singh said dependence on foreign countries is declining continuously.
The government has already entered into an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 97 Light Combat Aircraft.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘local for global’ and ‘vocal for local’, he said the country is now producing a wide range of products “from toys to tank”.
“India is moving fast towards becoming the world’s
India will cross
manufacturing hub. The day is not far when India will emerge as factory of the world.” He also underscored that India is poised to become the third largest economy by 2030 with a projected GDP of USD 7.3 trillion.
Commending the Jain community for its contributions to national development, Singh said though the community constitutes just 0.5 per cent of the total Indian population, their tax contributions amount to approximately 24 per cent of the total tax collections.
“Whether in pharma, aviation or education sector, Jains are leading the way because of their disciplined and value-based life,” he said.
Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, state BJP president N Ramchander Rao attended the event.
Highlighting the rapid strides made in the defence sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Raksha Mantri said that India’s defence exports, which stood at approx. Rs 600 crore in 2014, have surged to over Rs 24,000 crore today. He expressed the confidence that defence exports would cross Rs 50,000 Crore by 2029. “From Tejas fighter jets to Akash missiles and Arjun tanks, our armed forces are increasingly being equipped with Made-in-India platforms,” he said.
Calling it a testimony of India’s journey towards Aatmanirbharta, Raksha Mantri spoke about the recent agreement to procure 97 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, with more than 64% indigenous content. “Today, India manufactures everything from toys to tanks. India is rapidly progressing towards becoming the world’s manufacturing hub. And the day is not far when India will emerge as the Factory of the World. And all this will be possible because the government’s intentions are clear and its policies are in the national interest,” he added.
In his address, Raksha Mantri also talked about the economic growth of India as the nation is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy. With an estimated GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030, it is on track to become the third-largest economy. Citing the International Monetary Fund reports, he stated that, based on average growth rates, India is on track to become the world’s second-largest economy by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) by 2038.
Raksha Mantri lauded the legacy of great Jain personalities such as Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr Dr. D.S. Kothari, Dr. Jagdish Chandra Jain, and Dr. Meenakshi Jain, whose work continues to inspire the nation. He also commended the government’s efforts to preserve India’s Jain heritage, including the repatriation of over 20 stolen idols of Tirthankaras from abroad, and the recognition of the Prakrit language – used in Jain scriptures – as a Classical Language of India. He urged the citizens to draw inspiration from the teachings of Lord Mahavira and the principles of Jain Dharma – especially non-violence, truth, and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) – as India marches towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
