August 11, 2025

In a lively and bold speech, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday called India's economy the most "dashing and dynamic" in the world. His words came with a twist of spice as he hinted that some people with an attitude of "we are everyone's boss" are not happy with India's rapid rise. This cutting remark comes at a time when US President Donald Trump had announced high tariffs on goods imported from India. Speaking after performing the bhoomi pujan of a huge rail coach manufacturing unit of Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, Singh said, "Today, if any country has a dashing and dynamic economy, it is India's economy." Without naming anyone directly, Singh added, "They think that we are everyone's boss and how is India moving forward so fast? Many people are trying to do something, so that when things made by the hands of Indians in India go to countries of the world, they become more expensive than the things made in those countries, and they become so expensive that the people of the world do not buy them." He proudly noted India's growth from 11th to being among the top four economies globally since 2014. "If any country has a rapidly growing economy, it is our India," he said. "It means that the country is moving forward and its people are also moving ahead, because if the countrymen do not move forward, India cannot move forward." Singh also highlighted a dramatic shift in India's defense industry. Earlier, India depended on foreign-made defense products, but now, "many of these things are being made on Indian soil, by the hands of Indians," with the country not just meeting its own needs but also exporting abroad. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge in 2014, defense exports were just Rs 600 crore. Now, they have soared to over Rs 24,000 crore. Singh called this "the power of India" and "the new defence sector of the new India." Turning serious, Singh referenced the horrific terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam where 26 people were killed in April. He said India responded strongly with Operation Sindoor, adding, "People were killed (by terrorists) after being asked to identify their religion. We cannot kill people after asking their religion. We do not believe in murder. We do not even kill ants. We have resolved that we will kill people (terrorists) not by looking at their religion, but by looking at their deeds." He made India's firm stance clear: "We will not spare anyone who instigates us." Back to the event, Singh called the new rail coach unit a "big gift" for the Raisen and Vidisha region that will create jobs for 5,000 people. With Madhya Pradesh recently attracting investment proposals worth over Rs 30 lakh crore, Singh predicted, "I think that after a few years, people will start calling Madhya Pradesh a modern state." The BEML Rail Hub for Manufacturing (BRAHMA) project will cost Rs 1,800 crore. Officials said its initial production capacity will be between 125 to 200 coaches per year, with an aim to reach 1,100 coaches annually within five years. The bhoomi pujan at Umaria village was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and other guests. A video message from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also inspired the gathering. In short, Singh’s speech was a fiery mix of pride, progress, and a warning shot to those uneasy with India's soaring presence on the world stage – all while celebrating a landmark step in India's industrial future!

Read More at Economictimes →

Tags: Rajnath singh, Indian economy, Defense exports, Beml rail coach unit, India-us tariffs, Madhya pradesh development,