New Delhi, October 20: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said India needs to become a global power, not to attack anyone but to defend itself. Addressing an event organised by industry body FICCI, he said India is not an expansionist power and does not intend to attack its smaller neighbours.

"We need to make India a global power...We need to become powerful but not to attack anyone," the road transport and highways minister said. Gadkari noted that India is becoming self-reliant in the defence sector. Also Read | Corporate Journey of Cyndie Martini, CEO of Member Access Processing.

"We are a rich nation with a poor population. We need to work to make India a rich nation with a rich population," he emphasised. Also Read | Exclusive Interview of Dan Hawkins, Founder & CEO, Summit Leadership Partners.

Gadkari further said freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose shook the British empire and his life and works still inspire people. He added that there is a need to educate India's new generation about the country's glorious past.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)