Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended an Eastern Naval Command Barakhana in Visakhapatnam on Monday and interacted with Indian Navy personnel and their families.

He commended the sailors for their commitment to safeguarding India's maritime interests and acknowledged the families whose support, he said, allows personnel to carry out their duties with dedication. The Barakhana gave him a chance to meet the naval fraternity, the Defence Minister said. He conveyed the Government's appreciation for their service, along with his continued support to the personnel and their families.

Navy recognised across the Indo-Pacific, says Rajnath Singh

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Minister described the Indian Navy as a powerful maritime force with a proven ability to respond decisively to challenges facing the nation.

Its capabilities are recognised across the Indo-Pacific, he said, commending personnel who secure India's maritime boundaries in all weather and operational conditions.

Operation Trident recalled

Rajnath Singh went back to the 1971 War, and in particular to Operation Trident, when Indian naval forces struck Karachi harbour. The operation showed the Navy could do more than guard India's maritime frontiers, he said. It could project power and take offensive action against an adversary when required. He paid tribute to the personnel whose courage and sacrifice continue to inspire generations.

The strike on Karachi, launched on the night of 4 December 1971, is marked every year as Navy Day.

Indigenous carriers and submarines cited at Eastern Naval Command Barakhana

India has kept pace with the changing security environment of the 21st century by developing and inducting advanced indigenous platforms, the Defence Minister said at the Eastern Naval Command Barakhana. He listed indigenous aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, stealth frigates and Scorpène-class submarines.

Visakhapatnam is home to the Eastern Fleet. In July, the Project 17A stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri was commissioned in the city in a ceremony the Defence Minister attended. The six Kalvari-class boats, built on the Scorpène design at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, are in service, and the Defence Secretary said last week that two additional Scorpènes are under consideration.

The Navy's strength goes beyond ships, submarines and technology, Rajnath Singh said, and rests on the professionalism, patriotism, courage and commitment of its personnel.

India's endeavour, he added, is for its waters to reflect the nation's maritime might, its warships to embody Indian technology and the Navy's operations to reflect the country's growing confidence and self-reliance.

Seas seen as a route to prosperity and power

He called for a broader maritime vision. India must move forward with the philosophy of 'advancing from the seas towards prosperity and power', he said, with the oceans viewed not merely as boundaries requiring protection but as an avenue for economic development, strategic influence and national prosperity. The Indian Navy runs its Eastern Fleet operations across the Bay of Bengal from Visakhapatnam.

He had also addressed naval personnel at a Barakhana in Visakhapatnam in July, on the eve of the INS Mahendragiri commissioning, and spoke at the Navy's Commanders' Conference in New Delhi last week.

Naval families described as a national asset

Rajnath Singh described naval personnel as heroes and an inspiration to the youth, saying they represent India's future, India's strength and India's pride. He expressed confidence that their dedication would help India emerge as a stronger, more prosperous and self-reliant nation.

While sailors remain deployed at sea in the service of the nation, their families shoulder responsibilities at home, he said, and provide the support and strength that personnel need to discharge their duties effectively. The Defence Minister called the service of the personnel and the sacrifices of their families, taken together, a valuable national asset.

Food is not merely a means of satisfying hunger, he observed, but a simple and profound expression of affection and togetherness. People traditionally invite those with whom they share a special bond to their homes for a meal.

The Barakhana, he said, symbolised the same bond between the Defence Forces and the nation, with everyone coming together as part of one larger defence family.