New Delhi: With nuclear-capable submarine INS Arihant successfully completing its deterrence patrol, India on Monday, November 5, completed its nuclear triad as it achieved nuclear strike capabilities in air, land and sea.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said, “As the name suggests, ‘Arihant’ is indeed a ‘destroyer’. This is a massive success against the ‘Nuclear blackmailers’ and a befitting reply to our enemies.”
“Today is historic because it marks the completing of the successful establishment of the nuclear triad. India’s nuclear triad will be an important pillar of global peace and stability,” Modi tweeted.
Meanwhile, he also said that it was important to remember the two great leaders who contributed towards this field immensely- former prime minister Attal Bihari Vajpayee and former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
“The success of INS Arihant enhances India’s security needs. It is a major achievement for our entire nation. In an era such as this, a credible nuclear deterrence is the need of the hour,” he said.
He said the successful completion of its deterrence patrol “gives a fitting response to those who indulge in nuclear blackmail”.
He said INS Arihant will “contribute” to the atmosphere of peace in the region and that its success would help in strengthening the Indo-Pacific relations.
“India is a land of peace. Values of togetherness are enshrined in our culture. Peace is our strength, not our weakness. Our nuclear programme must be seen with regard to India’s efforts to further world peace and stability,” Modi said.
The PM also congratulated the crew of Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN) and all the contributors who worked tirelessly for a month to make this a success.
The 6,000-tonne Arihant was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre at Visakhapatnam.
Launched on July 26, 2009 by the then PM Manmohan Singh, the submarine was commissioned in August 2016, after a series of extensive sea trials.
With inputs from IANS
