Noida, Sept. 25 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that the production of BrahMos missiles and AK-203 assault rifles in Uttar Pradesh has strengthened India's defence capabilities and is giving Pakistan "sleepless nights".
Addressing an event in Greater Noida, Shah highlighted Uttar Pradesh's growing role in India's defence manufacturing ecosystem. He pointed to the production of advanced weapon systems in the state as an example of the country's increasing focus on indigenous defence production. Shah said the BrahMos missile, being manufactured in Uttar Pradesh, has added to India's military strength. He also referred to the AK-203 rifles being produced in the state, highlighting their role in strengthening the capabilities of the armed forces. The Home Minister linked these developments to the government's broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. He said the expansion of domestic production was reducing India's dependence on imports while creating a stronger industrial base for national security.
Referring to Pakistan, Shah said the country was closely watching India's growing defence capabilities and claimed that the production of BrahMos and AK-203 rifles in Uttar Pradesh was causing concern there. The comments came as Uttar Pradesh continues to emerge as a major destination for defence manufacturing and investment. The state has been developing defence-related industrial infrastructure with the aim of attracting manufacturers and strengthening domestic production. Shah also underlined the importance of manufacturing defence equipment within India as part of the broader objective of making the country more self-reliant in the security and defence sector.
The BrahMos missile programme is a major India-Russia defence collaboration, while the AK-203 rifles are being manufactured in India as part of efforts to equip the armed forces with domestically produced small arms. Shah's remarks in Greater Noida come amid the government's continued emphasis on indigenous defence production and the expansion of India's defence manufacturing capabilities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.