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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, NOV 15: The Indian Navy’s first capital ship in nine years, the 6700-tonne guided missile destroyer INS Delhi was commissioned in a solemn ceremony at the naval dockyard on Saturday by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat.
The death of Minister of State for Defence, NVN Somu, on Friday, cast a pall of gloom over today’s ceremony. Rows of empty VIP chairs in the gaily decorated South Breakwater of the naval dockyard stood testimony to the event severely curtailed by the absence of the Prime Minister and senior defence dignitaries.
A message from NVN Somu, who held charge of defence production and was to be present at today’s function was included in a brochure released by the navy on the occasion: The commissioning of INS Delhi is a remarkable triumph for our indigenous shipbuilding programme. This powerful warship will set the foundation for future growth of our defence industry.’
In brief speeches marked by a one minute silence for the departed minister, naval top brass recited the self reliance through indigenisation’ mantra. “Delhi is the 75th and largest warship built to date in our country. It symbolises the will and determination of the nation and navy,” said Admiral Bhagwat.
Inside the ship, the metal plaque informing that the Prime Minister had commissioned Delhi was quickly updated by a hastily engraved metal plate with the CNS as having commissioned it.
The new destroyer, first in the series of three Project 15 destroyers, is named after the light cruiser INS Delhi which participated in historic World War II sea battles like River Plate and was later commissioned into the nascent Indian Navy half a century ago.
The new INS Delhi is the most powerful war machine in the country, carrying every type of naval ordinance ever invented. The destroyer can respond to three dimensional threats from the air, surface and undersea and will form the centre piece of the Indian Navy.
