PM Modi warns of disinformation against India

Highlighting the challenges of national security and new forms of warfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as India is establishing itself on the global stage, there are constant attacks through misinformation, disinformation and false propaganda.

Addressing the gathering at Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) Seminar 'Swavlamban', Modi said, "Now the threats to national security have also become widespread, the methods of warfare are also changing. Earlier we used to imagine our defence only till land, sea and sky. Now the circle is moving towards space, moving towards cyberspace, moving towards economic, social space."

In such a scenario, the Prime Minister said that the country has to move anticipating the future challenges and bringing changes accordingly. He said self-reliance will help the country a great deal in this regard. He emphasised that the goal of self-reliance in the Indian defence forces is very important for the India of the 21st century.

The Prime Minister said that the resolution of creating 75 indigenous technologies in this period of making new resolutions for India is inspiring in itself and he expressed the confidence that it will be fulfilled very soon. Still, he said that this is kind of the first step.

"We have to work to continuously increase the number of indigenous technologies. Your goal should be that when India celebrates 100 years of its independence, at that time our Navy should be at an unprecedented height", he added.

Warning against the emerging dangers, Modi said, "We also have to intensify our war against forces challenging India's self-confidence, our self-reliance. As India is establishing itself on the global stage, there are constant attacks through misinformation, disinformation and false propaganda. Keeping the faith, the forces that are harming India's interests, whether in the country or abroad, have to be thwarted in their every effort. National defence is no longer limited to borders but is much broader. Therefore it is equally necessary to make every citizen aware about it."

Referring to the importance of oceans and coasts in India's economy, the Prime Minister said that the role of the Indian Navy is continuously increasing and therefore self-reliance of the Navy is of critical importance.
Recalling the glorious maritime tradition of the country, the Prime Minister said that the defence sector of India used to be very strong even before independence. At the time of independence, there were 18 ordnance factories in the country, where many types of military equipment including artillery guns, were made in the country. India was an important supplier of defence equipment in World War II.

(ANI)