Patil creates history, sails in warship

After taking off in the frontline Sukhoi jet and riding a battle tank, President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday had a tryst with the Navy as she created history by becoming the first woman head of state to sail in a warship here and review an impressive naval steampast.Patil, 77, who reviewed a Naval fleet of 81 ships and 44 aircraft, said the Navy’s dominance in the region is set to grow with the induction of an aircraft carrier, new submarines and destroyers.“The Navy today is poised to achieve new milestones with the imminent induction of aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, the Kolkata class stealth destroyers, the follow-on frigates of the Talwar class, the indigenous ASW corvettes and an impressive number of submarines and aircraft.“Today, the Indian Navy is one of the most capable in the region and with its well thought out modernisation plans, is destined to grow even further,” Patil said while addressing Naval officers and personnel onboard INS Subhadra, a naval off shore patrol vessel.Patil, who was secured by the elite marine commandos (Marcos) and snipers on the ship, wore a Navy cap as she took salute from different class of ships and aircrafts of the Navy during the over two-hour “presidential fleet review” ceremony.A fleet review is conducted once in the tenure of a president to showcase to the supreme commander of the Armed Forces and the country, the naval prowess and its strike capabilities.“Safeguarding of our maritime borders is a major requirement for the social and economic well being of our country. The oil exploration activities off our coasts and at sea are of significant economic importance. Therefore, the protection of our coast our ‘sea lines of communications’ and the offshore development areas is a major pre-requisite of our nation’s development. These are major roles for the Indian Navy,” Patil said in her address.Defence Minister AK Antony, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju, Maharashtra Governor, the three service chiefs and four cabinet ministers on-board the warship accompanied the president.After the fleet review, Patil inaugurated a naval Museum, which displays the history of the water force and of the ship building enterprise.