Port Blair: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Indira Point, the southernmost tip of the country, on the final day of his two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday.
He was accompanied by Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command’s (CINCAN) Lieutenant General Ajai Singh.
Singh took stock of the defence preparedness and encouraged the troops to continue protecting the national interests in the region.
Indira Point is along the Great Channel, popularly referred to as the “Six Degree Channel,” which is a major shipping lane for international traffic. A strong presence of the armed forces equips India to better discharge its responsibility as a net security provider in the region.
The Defense Minister stopped en route at Car Nicobar Island and Campbell Bay to get an update on the ground situation.
He also interacted with the joint service troops of the Andaman and Nicobar Command there, lauding them for serving the country with unmatched bravery and commitment.
Singh was familiarised with the terrain of the southern group of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He also paid a visit to INS Baaz and interacted with troops.
On Thursday, the Defense Minister paid a visit to the headquarters of the Andaman and Nicobar Command in Port Blair, where he reviewed the command’s operational readiness and infrastructure development in operational areas.
This is the Defense Minister’s first visit to Indira Point since January 2019. Apart from the strategic signalling in view of the proximity of these far-flung islands to the Indo-Pacific, the visit of Singh’s visit to A&N Command motivated the troops deployed in these distant and remote islands.
It is pertinent to mention that A&N Command is a 21-year-old successful Integrated Theater Command, which is now being planned at the national level.
