Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 11 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday lauded the establishment of the BrahMos Missile Integration Unit in Lucknow, calling it a landmark step for India's defense capability adding that weapons made in Lucknow 'will shake the enemy'.

The facility, set up under the Defence Industrial Corridor initiative, will manufacture BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, boosting India's defense capabilities and reducing dependence on imports.

Addressing a public gathering in Gorakhpur, CM Yogi said,'... The biggest terror state is Pakistan. Brahmos is a missile that targeted a Pakistani aircraft recently and it will now be manufactured in Lucknow... Weapons will be made that will shake the enemy...'

Adityanath's comments come amid ongoing Operation Sindoor, India's military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The BrahMos facility aligns with the Make-in-India initiative, promoting self-reliance in defense production and positioning Lucknow as a defense manufacturing hub

He also urged citizens to remain alert against 'anti-national' elements and boycott anyone who speaks against India's interests.

'We are secure when our country is secure, and that happens when we all keep the nation first... Public should be aware of anyone who makes any statement that is anti-national and boycott them,' he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya echoed the sentiment, emphasising the significance of the BrahMos unit as part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor.

'Under the defence corridor, the historic unit for integration of BrahMos missile is an important step towards making India a superpower. This is a huge achievement for PM Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and double-engine Government and the more it is appreciated, the less it is. I express gratitude to all scientists and engineers of DRDO,' said, extending his gratitude to the scientists and engineers of DRDO.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the event virtually and expressed his happiness of attending the event. He said that he wanted to attend the event in person but due to ongoing situations it was necessary for him to stay in Delhi.

'At the inauguration of BrahMos Integration & Testing Facility Center today, I feel delighted to speak with you. I wanted to attend in person. But you know why I couldn't come. Looking at the situation we are facing, it was important for me to be in Delhi. So, I am joining you via video conferencing', Rajnath Singh said.

Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the Defence Technology & Test Centre and BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre, established by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on December 26, 2021.

According to an official release, a first-of-its-kind Defence Technologies & Test Centre (DTTC), over approximately 22 acres, is set up to accelerate the growth of the defence and aerospace manufacturing clusters in Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC).

The BRAHMOS Manufacturing Centre, announced by BrahMos Aerospace, is a modern, state-of-the-art facility in the Lucknow node of UP DIC. It covers over 200 acres and produces the new BRAHMOS-NG (Next Generation) variant, which carries forward the lineage of the BRAHMOS weapons system. (ANI)