Rahul to lay foundation for small arms factory

Lucknow, Nov 29: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi would lay the foundtion stone of country's 41st ordnance factory in his parliamentary constituency of Amethi on Sunday. The small arms factory (SAF), to come up in Korwa of Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, is likely to produce 5.56 mm INSAS carbine and assault rifles. The Field Gun Factory at Kanpur is the other ordnance unit working in the state.

Located in the Amethi tehsil of Sultanpur district, the factory is likely to give direct employment to over 1,500 people. Sources said the support industries, which would come up in the area, would provide additional employment facilities to the locals.

Defence Minister A K Antony had announced the government's decision to set up the SAF in Amethi recently.

Incidentally, this would be Rahul's first visit to Amethi after becoming the AICC general secretary.

The Indian Ordnance Factories organisation -- an umbrella of 40 Ordnance Factories under the aegis of its corporate headquarters Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata -- has the unique distinction of over 200 years experience in defence production. The factories are engaged in production, testing, logistics, research, development and marketing of a comprehensive product range in the area of land, sea and air systems.

UNI