People have realised that for want of anything substantial, the Congress is using Rafale to question the government. But people are not responding or reacting positively to them. They've had enough of this muck-raking.
— Nirmala Sitharaman
India lived in hopelessness, as the government was not responsive. It did not know what the poor needed. There was complete policy paralysis. Corruption was rampant, and terrorists used to play havoc in the country.
There is something different between defence deal and deal in defence.
I will be the defence minister round-the-clock.
I respect the Forces... but civil services also have a contribution to make. They are there to bridge administration with Forces. They are critical, and I give credit to them. I don't claim to have done miracles in bridging it, but I have just said the two lines can go parallel.
Delhi was not completely a new place for me, but as a political worker, it was a new place.
In a multi-party democracy, many issues which you want - or do not want - will be raised. It is for us to make it relevant or not so relevant with our answers.
Guess 'Make in India' means I have to support India, whether private or public.
Obviously, defence is very sensitive and very challenging ministry.
The government doesn't go about refuting everything that floats around.
It's only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership that the country can foresee a bright future.
It will be a priority for me to ensure the smooth and speedy implementation of defence deals and projects.
Post globalisation, the debate has been, 'How much more are we going to liberalise?'
A new procurement policy had to be brought in 2016. Subsequent to it, procurement has gone up rapidly.
In defence, 'Make in India' is happening in a big way, and it is not happening without orders coming from the ministry.
On shipbuilding, on submarine building, warship building, coastal surveillance or small vessel building, we have both public and private sector. The capacities have really been scaled up, and the skill sets, hi-tech skill sets, have been acquired.
With South East Asian nations, ASEAN countries, with some of them, we do have defence cooperation, and we continue with them.
The language of any joint statement between two countries is mulled over many times before it becomes final.
Nobody has a right to call me or the prime minister a thief and a liar.
We will ensure that the important characters of what make 'Make in India' an important flagship programme for PM Modi is given full play for defence production. 'Make in India' needs to take over so we benefit from what is manufactured in India and finds an international market.
Most of the expressions we use in economics are relative terms. All of us are votaries of free trade.
Much to my surprise, not a moment have I been made to feel, 'Alright, a woman - probably the prime minister wanted to make a token gesture.' The ease with which people have taken this thought of a woman minister has been a great strength for me and has made my job far easier.
The narrative related to economics is, I think, very well understood even by the common man.
It's one thing to get the money apportioned in the budget; the other is to utilise it completely.
We have heard the Chinese refer to the Shangri-La Dialogue speech at various points. You have a lot of articulations about the top leadership itself about what is the spirit of India-China relations. There is a very clear understanding between the two countries about the defence relationship.
