Rajnath Singh visits Indira Point to review preparedness

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday visited Indira Point, the southernmost part of India, to review the operational preparedness of Andaman and Nicobar Command and infrastructure development at operational areas.

Defence Minister was accompanied by Lieutenant General Ajai Singh AVSM, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) visited Campbell Bay.

En route to Campbell Bay, he was familiarised with the terrain of the Southern Group of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and on arrival at Campbell Bay he visited Indira Point, the southernmost tip of the country.

Thereafter, he visited INS Baaz and interacted with joint services troops of Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Defence Minister thereafter visited the Air Force Station at Car Nicobar and interacted with the troops, prior to return to Delhi.

He was briefed about the geo-strategic potential of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and about the role they can play towards enhancing India's influence and support to military operations in the area. Singh was on a two-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

This is the first visit of the Defence Minister to Indira Point since January 2019. Apart from the Strategic Signalling in view of the proximity of these far-flung islands to the Indo-Pacific, the visit of the Defence Minister to Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) also motivated the troops deployed in these distant and remote islands.

The visit assumes special significance in view of ANC being the only integrated Quad-Services Command. It is also important to mention that ANC is a 21-year-old successful 'Integrated Theatre Command' which is now being planned at the national level.