Nirmala Sitharaman: Indian Navy will soon be a force to figure with in India-Pacific Maritime

New Delhi, May 8 Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that the undertakings of the Indian Government to feature the qualities of the Indian Navy have brought a positive change.

She said that she could see a positive energy in the Commanders in view of the manners by which the Government of India has been featuring the sea qualities of the nation. "Ït will be a power to figure with in the India-Pacific Maritime zone," she said.

Addressing the Naval Commanders' Conference she said that the Conference started on a positive note and all the vital issues concerning the Navy have been discussed.

"The Conference started exceptionally well. We have had an exceptionally pointed dialog on issues raised by the Commanders, and the Navy Chief. We will have a reasonable arrangement of the Navy," she said.

"An extensive piece of the Navy's ask for in the vicinity of 2017 and 2018 have been taken to a legitimate conclusion. A reasonable arrangement of naval force demands has been dealt with. In the vicinity of 2018 and 2019, the demand of the Navy, both here and now and long haul are in effect generally welcomed," she included.

As to consideration of women in the Armed Forces, the Defence Minister stated, "We have talked about it in subtle elements at a few levels. This has been talked about in the Ministry. I really need more ladies to be part of the armed forces.."

"I will attempt that every one of the powers in a brought together way choose how more ladies can be a piece of the military," the Defence Minister guaranteed.

The bi-annual Naval Commanders Conference started on Tuesday and will focus on the Navy's "Mission-Based Deployments", bigger issues of geo-insights in the Indian Ocean among others as indicated by the Navy Chief Sunil Lanba.