Gogoi pitches for defence production unit in State

GUWAHATI, Feb 15: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today requested Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to set up a major defence production unit in the State, a press communiqué stated.

In a letter to the Defence Minister today, Chief Minister Gogoi said the setting up of a defence production unit in Assam would not only eble the people of the State to get a share of employment opportunities like other parts of the country but also strengthen the growing emotiol bond of the local people with the armed forces.

The Chief Minister pointed out that in spite of the sizeable deployment of armed forces for protecting the tion from foreign aggression and in combating insurgency through the Unified Command structure, there is no major defence production unit in the State for development and production of arms, ammunition and defence equipment. “It is felt that a major defence production unit should be set up in our State so that Assam is not left out of the purview of the Make in India policy as well as the policies for Defence Procurement and Defence Production which are aimed at establishing a vibrant domestic defence manufacturing sector,” he said.

Gogoi, while requesting Parrikar to consider the setting up of the major defence production unit in the State favourably, said the State Government would provide all the necessary support on priority, including land for the purpose, the statement said.