It is the duty of the Defence Ministry and the forces to keep India safe.
— Nirmala Sitharaman
PM Modi believes in detailed planning through extensive consultation. He is an example as a listener - no interruptions, no urgent phone calls, no distractions; he absorbs every input. He doesn't hesitate to say he needs more inputs, another round of briefing, or more time to mull over.
Major reforms include optimisation of the Signals establishments, restructuring of repair echelons, redeployment of ordnance echelons, better utilisation of supply and transport echelons, besides closure of military farms, and Army postal establishments in peace locations.
The Rafale deal narrative that the Congress is setting is a propaganda that has international ramifications.
Rupee fluctuation is not so significant compared with the other currencies. Fluctuations in currencies has been fairly steady. As the finance minister often says, fluctuation is the new normal.
The challenge we face as a government is meeting expectations - not specific expectations, but the larger expectations: things that need to be changed and that Narendra Modi will do it as though he has a magic wand.
We value our relationship with U.S.A. and are engaged with them at various levels.
Unlike some of our neighbours, India does not believe in dirty bombs. We take non-proliferation very seriously.
Free trade agreements are never for one sector alone.
Issues related to investor-state disputes are a matter of serious concern. It is something which we have to apply our minds to.
Bilaterals are like building blocks for multilaterals.
We want our exports to perform better. We want more exports. We want to reach out to more countries selling our products, and for that, a weaker rupee will be anytime better.
For a country like India, which, unlike China, has domestic market for which manufacturing happens, manufacturing also happens for export.
Since when has the Congress become protector of judiciary? Do I have to remind how Indira Gandhi treat the judiciary when one verdict went against them? Rajeev Gandhi in 1988 almost brought the bill, and during that phase, how many cases were filed against the media? And their son and grandson is talking about press freedom.
Bofors was a scam. Rafale is not.
Even during negotiation with HAL, Dassault felt that the cost with which the HAL will produce will be far higher than the aircraft produced in France. That was the reality.
The first thing I have done for the Tejas is that their capacity to annually produce eight aircraft has now been increased to 16. I have doubled it. For which we have given enough support, we have told them that if they need additional space for testing and trials, we are willing to give it.
Bringing in timely laws that are the need of the hour requires nimbleness to get through the necessary legislative processes.
From the beginning of this century, for a decade as chief minister of Gujarat and for just over four years as India's PM, Modi has made an indelible mark in the annals of our history.
Having witnessed first-hand the prowess of the Western Fleet, I am confident that the Indian Navy is fully capable of defending the nation against any form of threat.
We look at gold from the view of the Indian market, which loves to buy more and more gold.
The BJP does not intend to use Parliament to project Congress's corruption.
A lot of discussions and debates happen in our party. Isn't it good to have a democratically run party rather than a dynastic one? So obviously, discussions do happen, and they are for the good.
A buyer can buy anything from wherever he gets it cheap. Where will the Indian trader or farmer go in this case? Are we ready to see people sitting with their product and no international retailer wanting to buy from them?
You can't hold the armed forces responsible for being firm with terrorists. We need to be firm with terrorists.
I don't think I have suffered for want of being a Cabinet minister. I don't have a Cabinet minister to whom I report. I report directly to the Prime Minister.
For me, representing India, as much as I can give, I need reciprocal things to be given to me. If I am willing to offer tariff concessions on goods, I want something to be offered by them to boost India's services.
WTO is the only multilateral system in which developed and developing countries sit together at par.
I understand that the rupee is fairly market determined.
Every year, I have given Rs 20,000 crore worth of projects to HAL. But the previous UPA government gave just Rs 10,000 crore projects.
There are several areas where the border is not completely defined and demarcated.
We are a party which believes that we work in the national interest, not just to please my opposition.
Dassault could not progress in the negotiations with HAL because if the aircraft were to be produced in India, a guarantee for the product to be produced was to be given. It is a big ticket item, and the IAF would want the guarantee for the jets. HAL was in no position to give the guarantee.
France has been maintaining a very special relationship with India on defence matters.
PM Modi's belief in Direct Benefit Transfer was force enough to give the necessary impetus for its efficient implementation.
The government took a decision to implement 'One Rank, One Pension' for defence personnel in 2015 and promised to pay arrears in four instalments. I can say that all OROP arrears have been cleared, with over Rs 10,788 crore being spent.
We should be proud of the soldiers who laid down their lives for our motherland. We should be proud of them.
In India, elections happen every year in at least a few states.
The government's intention is to function, to have debates in Parliament, and to work in the interest of the people.
We want to ensure that food is traded better, farmers get a better price, and consumers are able to access it at affordable prices.
Many countries which are no longer able to afford their public health systems, which have made certain promises within their countries to purchase from free market or from other economies, are approaching us seeking help with the supply of generic drugs, which is opening a very big room of opportunity for us.
I would love to help the textile sector, but at the same time, a big red flag is held by the automotive parts and automotive sector. They don't want to open up to the European Union.
Shouldn't India, too, like other countries, protect its national interests?
Our manufacturing in India has grown with a lot of indigenous strength.
The strategy of any party would be to see how best it can defeat the party in power.
If exporters are looking at various factors which influence the performance, the fluctuating rupee will certainly be a factor.
None of us should play party to any corporate warfare. We cannot become pawns in the hands of corporate giants' warfare to constantly bully the government, to throw misinformation to the public, tell part-truth and part-story to the public.
A border is a border. I have to be conscious of both my borders. I will also have be conscious of my sea. It is less talked about.
I am saying this with a certain sense of confidence and not arrogance. The defence ministry is being run without any middleman and in a transparent way. We have proved that defence procurement can happen without middlemen.
DRDO should introspect to make themselves more nimble towards innovation.
