The Indian Navy has performed a "miracle" (karishma), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said, heaping wholehearted praise for the force's numerous operations in foreign waters where it assisted several merchant ships commandeered or threatened by pirates.
In an exclusive interview to PTI, Mr. Singh also dropped hints of the government's readiness to positively consider the Navy's proposal for construction of a second aircraft carrier.
The Navy has been making a strong pitch for having the second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II) with a displacement of 45,000 tonnes which is estimated to cost close to ₹40,000 crore with the envisaged specifications.
