The overdependence on overseas technology was the biggest danger the country was facing. Particularly in matters of national security, the country could ill afford to lag behind the technological revolution in defence sector. “We must develop technology to keep pace with the rapid evolution of defence doctrines and strategies,” said Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan.
He was addressing the valedictory function of the national seminar on ‘Self-reliance in defence manufacturing’ organised by the Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS) here on Sunday evening. National security, Mr. Narasimhan said, had undergone a sea change today and included components of economic, health, cyber and internal security. But unfortunately in India the different departments did not work in tandem. “The left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing. And that’s the problem,” he remarked.
He favoured self-reliance in critical infrastructure areas as a foreign supplier could choke the nation in times of crisis. Today the country was importing things from everyone and in times of crisis they would have control over us. Sectors like telecom, power, seaports and airports were being opened up to all kinds of people. “How safe is this?” the Governor asked and wondered why India had not developed a native encryption code yet.
