Appreciating the efforts of the Indian Navy to acquire indigenous technology, chief justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta has said self-sufficiency in defence technology will make the country stronger.
Speaking at a Navy Day function at the Navy House, Bolaram, here on Wednesday, justice Sengupta said the Navy started focusing on indigenous technology in mid-80s and was able to achieve it to a large extent.
Due to the efforts of the Navy, the country’s coasts are secure and its defence capability has increased, he said.
Recalling the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he said, “I still remember as a college student how on December 4, 1971, missile boats of the Indian Navy carried out an attack on Karachi harbour and how our college students celebrated the achievement.” The attack changed the course of the war and gave India victory, he said.
Station commander of Indian Navy, Rear Admiral K Srinivas, said the Navy Day is observed on December 4 every year to commemorate the attack on Karachi harbour. On this day, the Navy remembers the war heroes who have laid down their lives in defence of the country.
The Navy has started working on indigenous technology long ago and today it has indigenously built ships to a large extent, he said. Indian industry is supporting the Navy in achieving its goals and the DRDO is working in sink with the Navy in developing indigenous technology, he added. Justice Sengupta released a Navy Day brochure on the occasion and a photo exhibition depicting the operations of the Navy was arranged. Serving and retired defence personnel participated.