Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 22: The Centre has been planning to strengthen Orissa’s defence base in terms of employment and production, Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar said here Sunday.
The minister who was here in connection with an international conference told the media, “We will ensure a strong defence presence in Orissa, so that we can get more people trained…get more people employment and more production.”
Commenting on the state government’s proposal to raise a Kalinga regiment, the defence minister said, “You cannot raise a regiment on the basis of caste or region. But we can help set up a defence presence in the state.’’
Citing the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in building relationship with some foreign countries, the minister said India has created a positive atmosphere within the Indian Ocean countries.
“We had to wait for long to get our rightful position and we have been always treating everyone equally…..we will strengthen our position for which we are initiating various action plans for better security in the region.”
“At least 38 countries are sending their defence personnel to India for training and we are encouraging them. We are giving them more defence slots and space so that we can have a common ground for discussion,’’ he said.
India has been supplying defence materials to these countries so that they can depend on India for their defence requirements, the minister said.
Addressing the media along with organisers of the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Parrikar said, “Today’s threats are not traditional. Somali pirates, after being neutralised by various countries’ navies, are shifting their locations towards India. Because their (shipping) lanes are heavily guarded, they have moved 30-40 nautical miles, although they are still 450 nautical miles away from India. They may not be next to India but… We are watchful and careful.’’
Calling for greater cooperation between the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries, he said, ‘‘The Indian Ocean can be an enricher as well as a destroyer, hence we should be prepared for disaster and develop strong relationships with neighbouring countries to avoid any kind of disaster.”