Wrong To Say It's Entirely Post-2014 Achievement: Jairam Ramesh On INS Vikrant

Veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said INS Vikrant is a huge achievement but work on it was started 22 years ago — "Our PM never recognises continuity in governance".

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Source : ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday commissioned India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, into the Indian Navy. With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party patting its back for the big achievement, veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it is indeed a huge feat but saying that this is entirely a post-2014 achievement will be wrong.

Taking to Twitter, Jairam Ramesh posted: "India’s 1st indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant commissioned today is a collective effort of all govts since 1999. Will PM acknowledge?"

He added: "Let’s also recall original INS Vikrant that served us well in 1971 war. Much reviled Krishna Menon played a key role in getting it from UK." 

India’s 1st indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant commissioned today is a collective effort of all govts since 1999. Will PM acknowledge?

Let’s also recall original INS Vikrant that served us well in 1971 war. Much reviled Krishna Menon played a key role in getting it from UK.

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 2, 2022

Speaking to news agency ANI, the Congress leader said, "Our PM never recognises continuity in governance. INS Vikrant, commissioned today is a huge achievement but it was started 22 yrs ago - first Vajpayee Govt, then Manmohan Govt & then Modi Govt, there is continuity."

He added: "We appreciate the Indian Navy, engineers, officers, and workers but saying that this is entirely a post-2014 achievement is wrong. It took 22 years and credit goes to all the governments."

INS Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier to be constructed in India and the largest ship to be built in India. The commissioning of INS Vikrant will see India joining a select group of nations such as the US, the UK, Russia, China and France who have the capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.