Navy holds war room brief for Jaitley on critical requirements

The briefing, which was attended by all Principal Staff Officers of the Navy, including Vice Chief Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, Deputy Chief RK Pattanaik and other three-star rank officers based here.

The Navy also stressed on providing additional budget for the construction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, which is being built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited there.  The force also stressed on the importance of inducting 16 multirole helicopters, which have been stuck for the last over two years due to one reasons or the other and frequent complaints filed by bidders who have been expelled from the tender.

The Minister was also briefed on the status of the salvage operations of the INS Sindhurakshak, which sunk on August 14 after an explosion killing all 18 persons on board.  Navy officials said the Kilo Class submarine has been lifted from the ground using jacks by an American firm and it is expected to surface above the sea level very soon.

Later on, the Navy chief also called upon Home Minister Rajnath Singh and briefed him on the security situation in the coastal areas of the country.

Minister of state for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh also met the Home Minister.