We stand for growth, not expansionism: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday dedicated to the nation three locally built combat platforms, two warships and a submarine, and said at the rare simultaneous induction that it was a significant step towards empowering the Indian Navy of the 21st century, stressing that the country does not believe in expansionism but operates with a spirit of development.

- Yogesh Naik

At the commissioning ceremony in the Naval Dockyard, he said India has always supported an open, secure, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, and the country is recognised as a reliable and responsible partner globally.

"It is for the first time that the tri-commissioning of a destroyer, frigate and submarine is being done. India does not follow expansionism (vistarwad) but works with the spirit of development (vikaswad). Be it land, water, air, the deep sea, or infinite space, India is safeguarding its interests everywhere," Modi said. Surat, a destroyer; and Nilgiri, a frigate; and Vaghsheer, the sixth and final Kalvari-class submarine — all built at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) — were commissioned on the same day; with the development highlighting India’s shipbuilding prowess and steps being taken to bolster its maritime posture in the vast IndianOcean Region (IOR), where China is seeking to boost its influence.

“The commissioning underscores India’s unwavering commitment to building a robust and self-reliant defence sector,” Modi said. The development also put the spotlight on the navy’s fastpaced indigenisation and how it is working on becoming fully self-reliant by 2047 when India celebrates 100 years of independence — 60 warships are under construction at various Indian shipyards. The way the Indian forces have embraced atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is commendable, the PM said. “In times of need, relying less on other nations boosts our confidence.