Defence manufacturing unit in Rajasthan on cards: Parrikar

Jaipur, Jan 16: A manufacturing unit in defence sector is likely to be set up in Rajasthan which would be located between Jaipur and Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here today.

"There is no manufacturing unit in defence sector in Rajasthan and at least one such unit should be set up in the state. We are considering setting up of a unit to manufacture helicopter or fighter plane's parts or something like that," Parrikar told reporters here.

He said that since the state shares border with Pakistan, the unit would be set up far from the border and close to Delhi though location has not been finalised yet.

"I had spoken to chief minister about it. There is land available with the state and the location of the unit will be decided later," he said. The defence minister while choosing to evade saying anything related with Pathankot attack said that the air bases have been asked to do security audit and to block any points, if any, from where security can be breached.

"First security audit is to be done by base commander and the second security audit will be done next month by special unit," he said at a media interaction here. About the One Rank One Pension scheme, Parrikarr said that tabulation work was going on and must complete within this month.

Prior to the media interaction, he visited BJP state headquarters here and addressed the party workers in the presence of the state party president Ashok Parnami and other senior leaders.

During the visit, the defence minister, also collected views from people for the union budget. "I am collecting people's views which is very important and helpful in preparing budget because some of the the inputs which come are very useful and clinching," he said. Earlier in the day, the minister inaugurated an Army recruitment rally near the city.

PTI