Govt's commitment to peace is just as strong as its commitment to protecting people of country: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that procedures for defence procurement has been made more simpler and his government's commitment to peace is just as strong as its commitment to protecting the people of the country & its territory.

Mr Modi said for this, government is ready to take all necessary measures to equip the Armed Forces. Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the tenth edition of the Defence Expo at Thiruvidanthai near Chennai.

Lauding the contribution of small and medium sector's contribution to defence production which has grown by 200% in the last 4 years, Prime Minister said government is committed to establish two defence industrial corridors, in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Modi said government has de-notified some items earlier made



exclusively by Ordnance Factories, so that private sector, especially MSMEs can enter this space.

PM said there was a time when the critical issue of defence preparedness was hampered by policy paralysis. He said we have seen the damage that such laziness, incompetence or perhaps some hidden motives, can cause to the nation. He said it will happen now.

The four-day event which began yesterday, showcases the strength of India's defence manufacturing capabilities to the world. It has 539 Indian exhibitors and 146 international exhibitors.

International companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Rolls Royce and domestic manufacturers like Tata, L&T, Mahindra are to name a few companies who are taking part in the expo.