Former PMs compromised India’s deep assets: Parrikar
24 Jan 2015 12:36 AM GMT
While refraining from revealing names of former Prime Ministers and on the context of Coast Guard operation involving a boat coming from Pakistan, Parrikar, said, “I did not give details about the incident as the ‘source (of information) might be compromised’.
“After all, you have to build deep assets. Deep assets are created over 20-30 years. Sadly, there were some Prime Ministers who compromised deep assets. I am not going to disclose names. Many people know,” he said after releasing a special issue of the Hindi weekly Vivek, on national security.
Meanwhile, Congress on Friday slammed Parrikar for his remark and demanded an unconditional public apology. “It is a serious charge and he should reveal names of former PMs. What is preventing him from disclosing names. The minister should put all such facts and evidence in public domain immediately,” Congress leader Manish Tewari said. Another senior Congress leader PC Chacko demanded that Parrikar should substantiate his allegations. “He should be more ‘straight-forward’ if there have been any lapses in national security,” he added.
Reacting to the Congress criticism of the minister, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Defence Minister is an extremely responsible leader and his statement certainly has a lot of context and one should wait for further details. “But I think it is a known fact that many Congress Prime Ministers have compromised on national security,” he alleged.
Another BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the minister speaks in the interest of India and there would be some ‘gravitas’ or reason behind it. Recently, Parrikar landed in to controversy over the removal of DRDO Chief Avinash Chander.
Then he clarified that the move was an attempt to bring a young scientist to head the organisation. Ruling out any controversy amid media reports, he admitted that it was because of his recommendation that Chander was removed. “Yes, it was my recommendation. The DRDO chief’s post should be held by a young person and not by someone on contract,” he had said.
“After all, you have to build deep assets. Deep assets are created over 20-30 years. Sadly, there were some Prime Ministers who compromised deep assets. I am not going to disclose names. Many people know,” he said after releasing a special issue of the Hindi weekly Vivek, on national security.
Meanwhile, Congress on Friday slammed Parrikar for his remark and demanded an unconditional public apology. “It is a serious charge and he should reveal names of former PMs. What is preventing him from disclosing names. The minister should put all such facts and evidence in public domain immediately,” Congress leader Manish Tewari said. Another senior Congress leader PC Chacko demanded that Parrikar should substantiate his allegations. “He should be more ‘straight-forward’ if there have been any lapses in national security,” he added.
Reacting to the Congress criticism of the minister, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Defence Minister is an extremely responsible leader and his statement certainly has a lot of context and one should wait for further details. “But I think it is a known fact that many Congress Prime Ministers have compromised on national security,” he alleged.
Another BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the minister speaks in the interest of India and there would be some ‘gravitas’ or reason behind it. Recently, Parrikar landed in to controversy over the removal of DRDO Chief Avinash Chander.
Then he clarified that the move was an attempt to bring a young scientist to head the organisation. Ruling out any controversy amid media reports, he admitted that it was because of his recommendation that Chander was removed. “Yes, it was my recommendation. The DRDO chief’s post should be held by a young person and not by someone on contract,” he had said.
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