Gogoi pleads Parrikar for major defence production unit in Assam

Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday requested the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to set up a major defence production unit in the state.

In a letter to the Defence Minister, Gogoi said the setting up of a defence production unit in Assam would not only enable the people of the State to get a share of employment opportunities like other parts of the country but also strengthen the growing emotional bond of the local people with the armed forces.

The Assam CM pointed out that in spite of the sizeable deployment of armed forces for protecting the nation from foreign aggression and in combating insurgency through the Unified Command structure, there is no major defence production unit in the State for development and production of arms, ammunition and defence equipment.

“It is felt that a major defence production unit should be set up in our State so that Assam is not left out of the purview of the Make in India policy as well as the policies for Defence Procurement and Defence Production which are aimed at establishing a vibrant domestic defence manufacturing sector,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi, while pleading Parrikar to consider the setting up of the major defence production unit in the State favourably, said the State Government would provide all the necessary support on priority, including land for the purpose.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)