Govt Safeguards Both Borders and Cultural Identity: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh

Addressing the Convocation ceremony at Tezpur University, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to bolstering India’s domestic defense industrial ecosystem. He noted a significant surge in defense exports, from ₹1521 crore in 2016-17 to ₹16,000 crore in 2022-23, with domestic defense production reaching ₹180,000 crore. Singh highlighted the issuance of positive indigenization lists, identifying 509 defense equipment and 4,666 items from Defense Public Sector Undertakings for domestic manufacturing.

Singh stressed that safeguarding cultural identity is as crucial as protecting borders. While acknowledging global figures like Nelson Mandela, he emphasized drawing inspiration from Indian icons such as Ramkrishna, Buddha, Kabir, and Sankardev. Singh cautioned against blindly adopting ideologies like Karl Marx, advocating for preserving India’s rich heritage and values.

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Encouraging students to prioritize the nation, Singh endorsed establishing a Center for Defense Studies at Tezpur University named after Lachit Barphukan. Responding to media queries, he asserted that the Ram temple in Ayodhya transcends political motives, stating, “It is not our political topic and not a way to gain votes. Ram Janmabhoomi is about our culture, and everyone in the country is celebrating.