New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday, said that refugee influx and the presence of illegal immigrants are a threat to maritime security in the Bay of Bengal region.
“India keeps facing several challenges along the land borders. The actions of our neighbouring countries are not hidden from anyone. Another thing that we can see is instability in countries around us. These challenges affect our maritime region, especially the Bay of Bengal,” Singh said in his address at the Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference.
“Refugee influx, illegal migrants and their maritime activities make our coastal security challenging. We should not limit ourselves to routine surveillance, but keep an eye on a double front. Maritime security is not limited to our ships; rather, geopolitical awareness and preparedness are essential here,” the minister added.
Praising the efforts of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for its commitment towards the Atmanirbharta and Make in India initiatives, he said that the servicing and repair of its ships are now being done in India, and 90 per cent of the Coast Guard’s budget goes into the development of indigenous assets.
“The government is working to provide you with state-of-the-art platforms. We are focusing on both machine power and human power. We are trying to provide the Indian Coast Guard with all the modern facilities required. I am satisfied with the Coast Guard’s efforts under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Not just in defence, India is progressing towards economic self-reliance,” Singh said.
The three-day conference started on September 28 at the Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi.
