Modi claims 'humble beginning' in building defence industry, slams UPA rule

The PM pointedly charged the previous government with apathy towards the jawan, contrasting the BJP's actions with its predecessors

Three years ago in Bengaluru, on February 18, 2015, while inaugurating Aero India 2015 – the first defence exhibition of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government – Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined an ambitious “Make in India” agenda for defence production.

“We have the reputation as the largest importer of defence equipment in the world. That may be music to the ears of (foreign defence vendors) here. But, this is one area where we would not like to be Number One!” he quipped.

Three years later, inaugurating Defexpo 2018 in Chennai on Thursday, a more sombre Modi would have been