KS Nagarajan
Atmanirbharta—self-reliance—is not a slogan, nor a decorative policy phrase. It is a civilisational aspiration. And it is only under a leadership rooted in national pride and purpose that this vision has begun to translate into real, measurable outcomes. Over the past decade, India has entered a league once thought out of reach: we now deliver Rafale-standard fighter capability through our LCA-Mk1A, build world-class indigenous warships and submarines, manufacture BrahMos missiles, and construct expressways, airports, and ports at a pace comparable to global leaders. This acceleration is not accidental; it flows from conviction, discipline, and an unambiguous belief in India’s capabilities.
While defence manufacturing is a powerful symbol of self-reliance, Atmanirbharta must permeate other sectors as well. Consider agriculture. Our farmers today receive direct financial support, but what they truly need is infrastructure. We build expressways in record time; why can we not create FCI-grade storage yards in every district with the same urgency? Every monsoon, tonnes of grains are lost to rain simply because storage structures are inadequate. “Enough is enough” should no longer be a slogan—it must be a mission.
Our soldiers—whether fighter pilots, infantrymen, artillery personnel, or sailors—protect our borders with unwavering dedication. Yet, the internal security forces like the CRPF, who face Maoist extremism and urban unrest daily, deserve equal appreciation. These men and women stand between citizens and chaos, often at the risk of their lives. Remembering their sacrifices is not optional; it is a national responsibility.
For India to sustain its rise, institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau and CBI must function with the same urgency and precision as NDRF, fire services, or rapid action forces. There can be no tolerance for “Tukde-Tukde” gangs, extremist networks, or institutions that covertly indoctrinate vulnerable individuals into violence. These must be dealt with swiftly and firmly. National security cannot be compromised in the name of political activism or academic freedom abused by malicious actors.
The loud brigade that demonises India’s economic rise, that parrots foreign narratives calling a rising economy “dead”, that signs dubious secret MoUs with hostile nations, and that systematically undermines Constitutional institutions must face decisive action under the National Security Act and Defence of India Rules. This is not vindictiveness—it is safeguarding the nation.
The victims of delayed justice—whether from the Bhopal gas tragedy, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, or even political assassinations—stand as reminders of why national security cannot be treated casually. If even Nepal, once the sole Hindu kingdom, could witness palace massacres, Bharat too must remain alert to internal conspiracies. The tragedies of Col. Purohit, R.V.B. S. Manian, and scientist Nambi Narayanan—wrongly targeted and dragged through years of humiliation—must never repeat. Modi-era governance must ensure such abuse stops forever.
If Artificial Intelligence can transform industries, why can it not help unclog our justice system? Final-year students and research labs can be assigned supervised judicial AI projects to identify root causes of delays, especially in cases involving government versus citizens. Increasing the number of judges is not the only solution; diagnosing systemic failures is equally important. Justice delayed erodes public faith, and no democracy can afford that.
The Government has taken welcome steps in promoting Fundamental Duties and offering reservations for ex-servicemen in civilian posts. But the next logical step is political representation. Constituencies or legislative quotas reserved for ex-servicemen—as MLAs, MPs, or at least Ministers of State—must be institutionalised. Their discipline and sense of duty are invaluable for critical ministries such as defence preparedness, disaster management, internal security, and education.
Whether cleaning Ma Ganga or rebuilding critical national infrastructure, success only comes when leadership is driven by sincerity and national pride—not the hollow claims of those who once spent crores “cleaning” rivers like Chennai’s Cooum only to let public money disappear into drains.
In this spirit, it is only fair that my appeals—CIC/PRSEC/A/2025/100192 and 100232—be placed before the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff for early, positive consideration. National interest must always take precedence over bureaucratic limbo.
