Letters to the Editor: A boom in India's defence exports

For first-time-ever India has recorded Rs 13,000 crore of defence exports, according to a Ministry of Defence official. This figure is almost eight times what we had exported in the last 4-5 years. India has exported military equipment and components to the USA, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa leading to a rise of about 54% in net exports. Although due to Covid the defence export sector faced a setback now again it is back on track. Both the public and the private sector have played key roles in making this possible. Almost 70% of the exports have been accomplished by the private players and the rest 30% by the public sector enterprises. India has exported various military equipment, including missiles, a variety of radars, surveillance systems etc. Recently in January, India signed a $375 million deal with the Philippines regarding the purchase of BrahMos cruise missiles from India and also a deal with Malaysia is going on regarding the purchase of India's light combat aircraft Tejas. In December 2020, the Modi cabinet gave a green signal to the sale of Akash Missiles to India's friendly neighbours. The cabinet also created a high-power panel for swift approvals regarding military hardware exports resulting in almost granting a whopping thousand military export authorizations last year. To make India atmanirbhar in the defence sector and promote "Make in India", the Government of India imposed a phased ban on imports of around 310 defence equipment in the last two years. In 2021-22, India spent almost 65.5% of their capital acquisition budget on indigenous defence purchases boosting the domestic defence manufacturers. If India treads along this path then it will be able to achieve its 2024 target of achieving 5 billion dollars worth of defence exports and finally moving closer to becoming atmanirbhar in the defence sector.

Siddharth Roy,

Rehabari, Guwahati.

Rest in Peace!

Indeed, the assassination of the former Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe (67), Japan's longest-serving leader, is an irreparable loss to the Japanese and the southeast and far eastern nations. He was being shot while campaigning for the upcoming Upper House elections, near the Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara City. As per the media Tetsuyo Yamagami, who was dissatisfied with Shinzo Abe, opened fire with a homemade gun, whereas gun violence is extremely rare in Japan. In 2018, Japan, a country of 125 million people, only reported nine deaths from firearms.

With the death of Shinzo Abe, the world as such has lost the finest leader wedded to democracy and the welfare of humanity. He was considered to be a towering personality who immensely contributed a lot to Japan's economy during his long term as the prime minister.

He was a true statesman who catapulted Indo-Japanese brotherhood and trust to an all-time high. During the Doklam border stand-off with China in late 2017, Abe was the only world leader to have openly supported New Delhi. Who forget, that he financed the Bombay -Ahmedabad bullet train Rs 50,000 crore, repayable in 50 years or more with .01% interest? We are unable to understand how Tetsuyo Yamagami would benefit from this move? PM Narendra Modi mourns the death of Japan's Shinzo Abe and declares one-day national mourning, though as per media in Japan there is no holiday, national mourning and half-mast national flag. Yes, there will be a condolence meeting to be held in his honour within a week in Japan. At this hour of inexplicable distress, our prayers are with the afflicted nation and the bereaved family of the former prime member Abe. Om Shanthi. Rest in Peace!

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad 121005

Shinzo Abe

India shared a deep relationship with Japan, much of which must be credited to the personal bonding between Mr Shinzo Abe and Mr Narendra Modi. The picture-perfect frame of 'Modi-Abe Ganga-aarti' in Varanasi in December 2015 bore testimony to the ties between the two nations. Under Abe Japan became a vital investor in India and a major strategic ally. His knowledge and experience in international politics and strategic thinking were unparalleled in the Liberal Democratic Party. Abe will be remembered for boosting defence spending and pushing through the most dramatic shift in Japanese military policy in 70 years. Abe, who had a deep passion and love for his country and its people, once said: "Like the flowers of the plum tree blooming proudly in spring after the cold winter, I wish the people of Japan to bloom like individual flowers in the future."

Ranganathan Sivakumar,

Madipakkam, Chennai

Bakri Eid: An auspicious festival

Bakri Eid is an auspicious festival for Muslims. It is also called Bakri Eid, Eid Qurban, Eid-al-Adha or Qurban Bayarami. Muslims celebrate Bakri Eid by making a sacrifice of cattle. It can be a goat, a sheep, a camel or a buffalo, depending on what a person can afford.

This religious holiday serves as a reminder that Judaism, Christianity and Islam share a common religious forefather in the figure of the prophet Abraham.

Traditionally on this day, a Muslim family sacrifices an animal, half of which goes to the poor, and half to one's neighbour. Thus, Muslims are also required to remember and help the less fortunate as a part of the celebrations.

Jubel D'Cruz,

Mumbai