Kollam, Mar 6: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that politics and international relations in current times were “running towards darkness” and away from knowledge. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, further said that there was no attempt to understand the other person, be it politics or international relations, and violence was resorted to over disagreements.

“Today, we see in our politics, in international relations, that everyone is running towards darkness and away from knowledge. There is no attempt to understand the other person, you just bomb and kill them.” “It is the same in our politics. You don’t agree with someone, you attack that person or become violent towards them,” he alleged.

He was speaking at an event here commemorating the centenary of a meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and reformist saint Sree Narayana Guru. He said that both Gandhi and Narayana Guru were against such violence and advocated love, respect, forgiveness and understanding between the people.

Kolkata, Mar 6: Emphasising the importance of strategic autonomy amid growing global uncertainties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said self-reliance is the only way for countries to remain prepared and relevant in an increasingly unpredictable global environment. Addressing the “Sagar Sankalp – Reclaiming India’s Maritime Glory” dialogue in Kolkata, jointly organised by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and a private media organisation, the minister said the evolving geopolitical situation and disruptions in global supply chains underline the need for India to strengthen indigenous capabilities, particularly in the defence and maritime sectors.

“The old global order and traditional perceptions are changing rapidly. The present global scenario is abnormal, and what is more worrying is that this abnormality is becoming the new normal,” Singh said.

He cited the ongoing tensions in West Asia and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf region for global energy security, noting that disturbances in the region directly impact oil and gas supplies and global trade.

The Defence Minister said technological dynamism is reshaping modern warfare and national security, making it essential for India to achieve self-reliance in defence technology. He highlighted several policy reforms aimed at strengthening the defence manufacturing ecosystem, including greater transparency, financial discipline, performance benchmarking and increased investment in research and development.

According to Singh, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) continue to play a crucial role in the government’s vision of building a self-reliant defence industry. Special emphasis has been placed on strengthening shipbuilding capabilities through companies such as GRSE and other domestic shipyards.

“The aim is to develop ships into technology hubs rather than merely production units. Infrastructure modernisation, digital ship design tools, modular construction techniques and integrated supply chains are being adopted to bring Indian shipyards up to global standards,” he said.

Rajnath Singh also underlined the government’s efforts to encourage greater participation by private industry in the defence sector. Measures include streamlined import-export processes, access to research facilities of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), green-channel certification and the development of defence industrial corridors.

These initiatives, he said, aim to create a level playing field between public and private sectors and unlock the full potential of domestic industry.

At present, private companies contribute roughly 25 per cent of the defence platforms, equipment and components manufactured in India. Singh expressed confidence that this share could increase to around 50 per cent in the coming years.

Highlighting the progress made in recent years, the Defence Minister said domestic defence production crossed a record Rs 1.50 lakh crore in the financial year 2024-25. Defence exports also reached an all-time high of about ₹24,000 crore during the same period. According to Singh, exports are expected to rise further to around ₹29,000 crore by April 2026. The government has set an ambitious target of exporting defence equipment worth Rs 50,000 crore by the financial year 2029-30.

Rajnath Singh noted that all warships and submarines currently on order for the Indian Navy are being constructed in Indian shipyards, covering design, engineering, construction and lifecycle support.

Describing this development as a major milestone, he said the country has effectively moved from being a buyer of naval platforms to becoming a builder of its own fleet.

“Self-reliance is no longer merely a slogan. It is becoming a practical reality. A ‘Builder’s Navy’ is now a ground reality,” he said.

The minister also acknowledged the growing contribution of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups and indigenous vendors in the construction of large naval platforms.

He described the collaborative nature of warship construction as a “conglomerate effect”, where multiple industries work together to create complex platforms while enhancing efficiency, innovation and risk mitigation.

Rajnath Singh said the government has introduced several financial and policy initiatives to strengthen India’s shipbuilding sector, including long-term funding mechanisms, liberalised foreign direct investment norms and promotion of the public-private partnership model.

Under the government’s maritime development roadmap, including the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, investments worth nearly Rs 3 lakh crore have been planned to develop world-class shipbuilding clusters in the country.

Reaffirming India’s maritime ambitions, Rajnath Singh said the government aims to position the country among the world’s top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and among the top five by 2047.

“The Indian Navy’s operational readiness, the success of missions such as Operation Sindoor and the push for self-reliance indicate that our defence sector is moving in the right direction,” he said. nHe added that with coordinated planning, technological adoption and stronger institutional collaboration, India’s maritime domain would become safer, more prosperous and globally competitive.

The conclave brought together senior naval officials, policymakers and industry leaders to deliberate on strengthening India’s maritime security architecture and shipbuilding ecosystem.

Discussions focused on aligning naval shipbuilding plans with emerging geopolitical realities, addressing grey-zone maritime threats, building resilient domestic supply chains and expanding shipbuilding capacity to meet global trade and energy transition demands.

Speakers also discussed ways to position India as a competitive global hub for shipbuilding and ship repair through progressive port policies, regulatory reforms and stronger industrial collaboration.