The
Defence Minister, Shri George Fernandes today congratulated
the Indian Navy for the manner in which it was mobilised for
Op Parakram. While addressing the week long Naval Senior Officers
Conference being
held at Naval Headquarters,
he stated that the speed and the competence displayed by the
Navy during the mobilisation was most commendable, and had been
taken note of by
both
friends and
enemies.
The
Minister underscored that where national security and defence
requirements are concerned,
the Government’s position has always
been that there would be no dearth of money. He said
that the 15 year
ship building programme of the Navy needs
to be expedited by all the agencies
dealing with the project. He assured
the senior naval officers present that it would be his personal
endeavour to see that this project
gets
underway without any problems.
The
Minister expressed satisfaction at the speedy progress of
the work on Karwar Project which was ahead of schedule. He
also hoped that work
on the Naval Academy, Ezhimala would be
speeded up and completed on
schedule.
The
Defence minister emphasised that in view of
the developments that have emerged in India’s
maritime neighbourhood and the way that the world was going,
he believed that India
should have at least two operational aircraft carriers and
another one as a standby.
Later,
the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral
Madhvendra Singh, while delivering the closing
address, said that while
redeployment
of forces
was in
progress,
the Navy
must keep its guard
up.
All
the Flag Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the three Naval Commands
and the tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command, Principal
Staff Officers and other senior officers
of the Navy attended the Conference.
