A made-in India gun was used for the ceremonial 21 shot salute to the tricolour at the historic Red Fort on Independence Day for the first time in 75 years.
British guns have been used for ceremonial salute so far. For the first time, MI-17 helicopters showedered flowers at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations.
After 75 years, we are hearing the sound that we always wanted to hear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the tricolour has received the ceremonial salute at the Red Fort for the first time from a made-in India gun after 75 years.
He said that all Indians will get inspired and feel empowered on hearing this made-in India gun roar.
The indigenous howitzer gun that was used for the ceremonial salute on Monday has been designed by the Centre-run Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO. Prime Minister Modi praised the armed forces personnel for adopting his vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat self-reliant India and taking steps towards realising it.
I want to salute the soldiers of this country from my heart. I can't salute them enough for the manner in which my vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat has been collectively adopted by the soldiers and officers of the armed forces. It is not a small resolution when a soldier decided to list 300 items that it won't import from other countries, Modi said.
He was referring to the Defence Ministry's decision to issue multiple positive indigenisation lists that list 300 plus items that will not be imported after a certain period of time.
Modi said that the seeds of Atmanirbhar Bharat are in that resolution that will lead to the birth of a big tree.