India’s defence needs to be strengthened
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral D.K. Joshi’s
resignation following the tragic accident on INS Sindhuratna is appreciated.
In recent years, each military chief has told
Defence Minister A.K. Antony of the growing danger that India might prove
unable to fight future wars since acquisitions of desperately needed armour and
artillery systems have been endlessly delayed. The Air Force is warning that its combat
fleet will start shrinking from 2017. The
Navy is well below strength. All three services face large-scale deficits of
officers, because the armed forces’ pay scales and service conditions are too
poor to attract the skilled young people modern militaries need.
Antony has
done little to address the looming crisis in Indian defence. The depreciation of the rupee against the
dollar, and India’s slowing growth, have stripped him of resources badly needed
for modernisation. One after the
other our Service chiefs have brought into notice the urgency for dealing with
our aging Army, Navy and Air force hardware. Are our political leaders able to
do anything about this serious problem that the country faces?
AK Anthony has achieved only one thing in office -
maintain his reputation as honest politician. What he hasn't done is his job as
Defence Minister. He has not done the following: approve and push modernization
plans, ensure that forces get replacement parts quickly and without red tape, develop
strategic plans for the military, ensure submariners get the latest and not
just 1980s Kilo subs, ensure that MoD trusts and works with military and listen
to his defense chiefs.
Our armed forces are at the receiving end, in an
environment which is highly politically charged and purchases take years to be
decided, with Second World War equipment. It's high time that a very great
degree of autonomy and protection for taking decisions in the country's genuine
interest, are provided to our armed forces to save this country from the
enemies without, while the siege from within from inimical, negative, self seeking
forces continues.
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