BrahMos Missile Reflects Unbroken Governance Legacy: Jairam Ramesh

Congress Highlights Role of Past Leadership in Defence Achievements​

New Delhi, May 12 – Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday described the BrahMos missile as a "remarkable proof of continuity in governance," asserting that its development and deployment are testaments to the efforts of previous Indian governments that cannot be erased by the current ruling establishment.

In a post on X, Ramesh emphasized that the BrahMos missile, named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, stands as a stellar example of Indo-Russian collaboration and strategic defence advancement. Taking a veiled swipe at the Narendra Modi-led government, he remarked that “continuity in governance” is often overlooked by those currently in power.

Key Milestones Traced to Past Prime Ministers​

Ramesh outlined a detailed timeline to underscore the multi-administration efforts that led to the BrahMos missile’s success:

• February 1998: The foundational inter-governmental agreement was signed during the tenure of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, who had earlier served as India’s Ambassador to the USSR.
• July 1999: The first contract was signed under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• June 2001: The missile achieved its first successful launch.
• December 2004: Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated the BrahMos headquarters complex in New Delhi.

The Congress general secretary also highlighted the tenure of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, under whom several critical milestones occurred:

• 2005: BrahMos was inducted into the Indian Navy.
• 2007: Induction into the Indian Army.
• 2012: Air-launched variant introduced.

He credited Dr. Singh’s leadership for achieving the Indo-US nuclear agreement in 2005, which later facilitated India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016. It was during Singh’s administration that the BrahMos Integration Complex in Hyderabad and BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited were established.

Historical Roots and Vision of Scientists​

Ramesh also recalled that India’s Integrated Missile Development Programme, launched in 1983, laid the foundation for BrahMos. In the mid-1990s, prominent scientists like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. Sivathanu Pillai saw the need to partner with Russia to develop supersonic cruise missiles, leading to the BrahMos initiative.

Context of Remarks​

Ramesh’s comments come amid heightened attention on India's defence capabilities, following a recent understanding between India and Pakistan to cease all cross-border hostilities. His statement positions BrahMos not just as a symbol of military strength, but also as a product of cross-government vision and scientific excellence.

By highlighting the bipartisan legacy behind BrahMos, Congress seeks to reaffirm the importance of continuity and collective effort in building India’s strategic defence infrastructure.