India No Longer Weak, Now Builds Its Own Weapons: Rajnath Singh at Lucknow EV Plant Inauguration
Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that India is no longer a weak nation and is rapidly emerging as a global power that manufactures its own defence equipment. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said the world has witnessed the formidable capability of the BrahMos missile.
“This missile is no longer imported from abroad. It is now being manufactured in Lucknow,” he said, adding that the double-engine government in Uttar Pradesh has played a significant role in this transformation.
The Defence Minister said Uttar Pradesh has received investments worth ₹34,000 crore in the defence sector and continues to move forward as a major defence manufacturing hub.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state government has formulated the Aerospace and Defence Unit and Employment Promotion Policy, the benefits of which are now clearly visible on the ground.
Rajnath Singh was speaking at the inauguration of the new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing unit of Ashok Leyland in the state capital Lucknow. He described the new EV manufacturing facility as a milestone in Uttar Pradesh’s industrial journey.
He said the unit would not only strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s industrial development but would also position both the state and the country at the forefront of clean, green transportation and future technologies.
The facility, he added, will provide youth with employment opportunities within their own state while also enabling skill development in next-generation EV technologies.
Expressing confidence in the broader national vision, the Defence Minister said he firmly believes that the path to Viksit Bharat 2047, envisioned under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will pass through Uttar Pradesh.
“The road to a developed India goes through a developed Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s growing role in national security, Rajnath Singh said Uttar Pradesh is now manufacturing everything from ammunition for the armed forces to aircraft and advanced missiles like BrahMos.
He also lauded the speed with which the Ashok Leyland unit was completed, noting that while such a project would normally take around 60 months, it was accomplished in a record 18 months.
For this achievement, he said, the Hinduja Group, Ashok Leyland, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath deserve unequivocal praise.
Boost to Electric Mobility: Kumaraswamy
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister for Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy said the Ashok Leyland EV manufacturing plant would play a crucial role in accelerating electric mobility across the country.
He said the unit would help generate employment for the youth and further strengthen India’s EV ecosystem.
Kumaraswamy also praised the transformation witnessed in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and acknowledged the sharp rise in industrial investment in the state.
Rajnath Singh Praises CM Yogi
The Defence Minister also commended Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for changing Uttar Pradesh’s image.
He said a state that was once labelled as “BIMARU” and associated with criminals and lawlessness is today witnessing the establishment of major industrial units.
“For this transformation, I congratulate the dynamic Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” Rajnath Singh said, adding that the improved law-and-order situation and the positive environment created for industrial investment in the state are truly commendable.
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