Dedicating INS Vikramaditya to nation, Modi says security is top priority

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya to the nation, and said that the country's security is his government's top priority.

"Country's security is our top priority," said Modi.

"We want to see eye-to-eye with the world. We don't wish to threaten others, neither do we wish to bow down before others," he added.

He also asserted that the government in committed to giving 'One-rank, One-pension' to the armed forces, and added that there were many promises on it, but no action was ever taken.

He said that India should be self-sufficient in defense. "Why should we import defence equipment? We must be self sufficient. Why can't we send our defence equipment to other nations?" he asked.

"We need to give immense importance to latest technology. This will help the nation," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi boarded a MiG-29K aircraft while on visiting INS Vikramaditya.

He also met many naval personnel on the carrier and shook hands with aircraft pilots.

The prime minister was first flown to the INS Hansa (naval air station in Goa) after which he boarded a flight to reach the INS Vikramaditya.

Modi is on a visit to see the air power demonstration of the Indian aircraft carrier off the Goa coast in the Arabian Sea today.

The 44,500-tonne warship, which was earlier named Admiral Gorshkov, was acquired from Russia, and was commissioned in the Navy by former defence minister A.K. Antony in November.