‘Indigenous aircraft carrier by 2014’ Defence Minister AK Antony has expressed the hope that the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard Limited, would be ready for the final launch in 2014. |
Kozhikode, January 4
Defence Minister AK Antony today said coastal security was the “immediate agenda” of the government in view of pirate attacks on ships and that the Navy and Coast Guard had intensified patrolling along vulnerable areas to check the menace.
“In earlier days, we considered our coastal region more secure. But that is history. Fourteen ships have been attacked by pirates off Lakshadweep. Such attacks will affect the peace and security of the nation. Coastal security has now become the immediate agenda of the government,” he said.
Antony said despite the presence of naval forces from nearly 18 countries, piracy incidents in the Indian ocean had not come down. “It is not possible to say that the Somalian pirates alone are behind these acts. There are certain forces that are helping these pirates…. However, it is not possible to pinpoint who these external forces are,” he opined.
During his visits abroad, said Antony, several other nations, too, had expressed the doubt regarding “some forces being behind these pirates”.
Antony was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 600 crore mega National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH) at nearby Chaliyam. — PTI
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