Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the nation on Tuesday that it is safe from any intrusion through waterways as the Indian Navy has maintained vigilance to ensure that incidents like 26/11 are not repeated.

“India has never been the aggressor but its armed forces are capable of giving a befitting reply to those who cast evil eyes on us,” the minister said while addressing the media at the three-day Naval Commanders conference in Delhi.

The Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2019 is a top-level biannual event for interaction between the Naval Commanders for deliberation and formulation of important policy decisions.

“India has never been offensive. We have never invaded anyone nor has India annexed an inch of territory from anyone. However, Indian armed forces are fully capable of giving a befitting reply to any evil designs against the country,” Singh said.

He said that the Indian Navy is capable of thwarting any threat from enemy country by making the Indian sea safe and secure.

Minister further appreciated the Navy for ensuring indigenisation and said, “Indian Navy has taken a great step by ensuring that all equipment and ships are made in India.”

During the three-day conference, the Chief of Naval Staff Karambir Singh along with the Commanders-in-Chief will review major operational, material, logistics, human resources, training and administrative activities undertaken during the previous six months and deliberate upon the course to be steered in the ensuing months.

The conference also provides a platform for the interaction of Naval Commanders with senior Government officials to discuss numerous inter-Ministerial initiatives for the development of a safe and secure maritime environment essential for the growth of the country.

The deliberations during the Conference will focus on addressing the contemporary security paradigms whilst seeking ways to enhance the combat potential of the Navy and to make the operations more efficient.

The theme of discussions will focus on the ‘Functional Reorganisation of the Indian Navy towards improving Operational Efficiency’ and ‘Optimal Manning’ wherein contemporary issues pertaining to operations, maintenance, op-logistics, data management and improvement of organisational practices are listed for deliberations.

“The event also provides an opportunity for the Commanders to undertake a detailed review of the performance of weapons/sensors, readiness of IN platforms,” said India Navy PRO Commander Vivek Madwal.

All future operations would be planned and executed jointly by the three Services and therefore the ways to optimise joint planning structures, Tri-Service Synergy and operational readiness will be deliberated during the interaction.