Panaji, Nov 7: President Droupadi Murmu boarded the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy at sea on Thursday.

Droupadi Murmu arrived at INS Hansa, the Naval Air Station in Goa, on Thursday, where she was received by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. A ceremonial 'Guard of Honour' comprising 150 personnel was paraded in her honour upon arrival.

Murmu subsequently embarked on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at sea, off the coast of Goa, accompanied by 15 frontline warships and submarines of the Indian Navy.

This marked President Droupadi Murmu's maiden visit to Indian Navy ships at sea.

The President received a briefing on the Indian Navy's role and operational strategies before observing several naval exercises, including deck-based fighter take-offs and landings, missile firing drills, submarine manoeuvres, flypasts by over 30 aircraft, and a traditional steam-past of warships.

In her address, President Murmu praised the Indian Navy's capabilities and strategic reach.

"The Indian Navy units are deployed across vast areas for extended durations, showcasing their capabilities and strategic influence. Your positive, proactive, and swift actions have saved countless lives at sea. It was a special moment for me when the President of Bulgaria called to express gratitude for rescuing the Bulgarian crew from a hijacked vessel earlier this year."

In March, President Murmu received a call from her Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev, who expressed his gratitude for the successful rescue of the Bulgarian vessel MV Ruen by the Indian Navy.

In that operation, INS Kolkata, deployed in the Arabian Sea, intercepted the hijacked merchant vessel MV Ruen after a 40-hour pursuit, thwarting Somali pirates who had seized the ship in December 2023.

Discussing the induction of women in the Indian Navy through the Agnipath Scheme, Murmu stated, "The Indian Navy is implementing transformative measures with the Agnipath scheme and the induction of women. The Navy was the first service to open recruitment for women Agniveers. Beyond their induction across all ranks and roles, the Navy's proactive steps are harnessing the full combat potential of our women sea warriors."

"The Indian Navy has appointed its first woman commanding officer on board. It has also decided that women will pilot naval aircraft. Recently, the Navy welcomed its first female helicopter pilot. These steps are fostering gender inclusivity," Murmu said.

President Murmu also met female Agniveers of the Indian Navy serving on INS Vikrant, the Navy's largest indigenous warship.

Admiral Tripathi highlighted India's achievement of building and operating both SSBNs (nuclear ballistic missile submarines) and aircraft carriers indigenously.

"It is a matter of pride that India is one of only six countries globally, and the only non-P5 nation, capable of building and operating both SSBNs and aircraft carriers indigenously," Tripathi said.

The Indian Navy showcased six of its conventional submarines to President Murmu during the demonstration. These included submarines from the latest Kalvari class, Russian-origin Kilo class, and German-origin Shishumar class.

The President also interacted with the crew of INS Vikrant over lunch, following which she delivered an address to the fleet, broadcast to all units at sea. (ANI)

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