Prime Minister I.K. Gujral yesterday asked scientists to take up the challenge to make India self-reliant in defence systems as certain powers were denying New Delhi technology in critical areas.
Some powers are going out of the way to dissuade those
who are willing to provide us the technology. Ultimately and in the last analysis, we have to be self-reliant, Gujral said while inaugurating the 23rd two-day Defence Research and Develop-ment Organisation (DRDO) directors conference here.
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Without naming the powers, the Prime Minister said no foreign policy could succeed when the country was not self-confident and depended for its critical needs on others.
Noting that India had learnt two lessons in its 50 years of Independence, he said first, if the country had ever lost it was because of lack of technology and not valour. The other was that technology became obsolete fast and research and development had to keep pace, the Prime Minister said.
Gujral presented awards for 1995, 1996 and 1997 to top DRDO scientists for their achievement in designing and development of surface-to-surface Prithvi missile system, Insas 5.56 mm calibre small arms, the main battle tank, Arjun and a variety of defence equipment.
The Prithvi missile, the Arjun tank, the Lakshya pilotless target aircraft, Nishant remotely piloted aircraft, Pinaka multibarrel rocket launcher and a large number of indigenously manufactured defence equipment were also displayed at a special show before the conference began. Voicing concern over the attempts by some powers to halt Indias efforts for self-reliance in defence systems, defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav declared that New Delhi would never succumb to any pressure and urged the Prime Minister to sanction necessary funds for defence research and development.
In a special word of honour for Army chief Gen. Shankar Roychowdhury, who is retiring on September 30, Gujral said, He deserves our compliment, our homage and our attention for his contribution towards achievement of self-reliance in defence equipment. He also presented a plaque on behalf of DRDO to Gen. Roychowdhury.
Regretting that outside powers were anxious over thecountrys achievements in critical defence areas and that they wanted to contain India, the Prime Minister said this is where the challenge lies. We have to achieve self-reliance so that we can feel more secure and proud.
He said one had to be patient to allow development of technology indigenously as impatience would lead to imports. At the same time, he said India would not shut itself by stopping to look out for new technology.
Complimenting the scientists for developing the super computer, cryogenic engines for rockets and a variety of defence systems Gujral said that in the golden jubilee year of Independence, India has to take the pledge to preserve its pride and Independence for all time to come.
Citing the 1962 conflict with China in which India was humbled, Gujral said the then defence minister Krishna Menon mooted the idea of self-reliance in defence equipment but cynics then thought we were doing a mistake. He said Our defence production was then limited to making uniforms and some rifles. Now I feel more confident and I pay my homage to those who built DRDO.