Defence being the most big-ticket corruption-prone ministry, a man like Parrikar, who has had impeccable run as chief minister of Goa, at the helm should help to keep the predators at the bay.
Ministry of defence under the previous UPA government became infamous for some of the worst kind of cases of corruption which came out of the closet. One involved a former chief of the air force, the other had the chief of army staff alleging that an attempt was made to bribe him in his office and so on, despite having a man of impeccable personal integrity at the helm.
What then defence minister AK Antony could best do was stop all acquisitions seriously compromising defence preparedness. The armed forces urgently need to refurbish their armaments and this would entail huge purchases largely from foreign companies with role of arms traders.
The NDA government has drawn a broad policy of domestic production of defence equipment but it would need a man like Parrikar at the helm to give up the lure of kickback and kickstart Indian defence industry.
Parrikar comes to Delhi with an unusual resume. He is a graduate from IIT but has also been a fulltime pracharak (volunteer) with the RSS. Some say in 2010, he was first choice of the Sangh for BJP president’s post before he lost out to another Brahmin Nitin Gadkari.
However, despite his RSS background, Parrikar has a decent fan following among the Christians in home state of Goa, where they dominate politics. Despite belonging to small state, Parrikar has shown the ability to perform at political big stage being the first among BJP leaders to call for end of reign of Lal Krishna Advani as party’s leader. Soon after 2009 debacle, he called Advani a rancid pickle which has lost its taste. It could not be just a matter of coincidence that prime minister Narendra Modi chose the party’s national executive held in Goa in 2013 for his anointment as BJP’s face for the 2014 polls.
As defence minister, Parrikar would be part of the powerful cabinet committees, where other than Narendra Modi he would be the second leader who has had nothing to do so far with Delhi politics. As somebody said, ‘Modi’s team is finally taking some shape.’
Ministry of defence under the previous UPA government became infamous for some of the worst kind of cases of corruption which came out of the closet. One involved a former chief of the air force, the other had the chief of army staff alleging that an attempt was made to bribe him in his office and so on, despite having a man of impeccable personal integrity at the helm.
What then defence minister AK Antony could best do was stop all acquisitions seriously compromising defence preparedness. The armed forces urgently need to refurbish their armaments and this would entail huge purchases largely from foreign companies with role of arms traders.
The NDA government has drawn a broad policy of domestic production of defence equipment but it would need a man like Parrikar at the helm to give up the lure of kickback and kickstart Indian defence industry.
Parrikar comes to Delhi with an unusual resume. He is a graduate from IIT but has also been a fulltime pracharak (volunteer) with the RSS. Some say in 2010, he was first choice of the Sangh for BJP president’s post before he lost out to another Brahmin Nitin Gadkari.
However, despite his RSS background, Parrikar has a decent fan following among the Christians in home state of Goa, where they dominate politics. Despite belonging to small state, Parrikar has shown the ability to perform at political big stage being the first among BJP leaders to call for end of reign of Lal Krishna Advani as party’s leader. Soon after 2009 debacle, he called Advani a rancid pickle which has lost its taste. It could not be just a matter of coincidence that prime minister Narendra Modi chose the party’s national executive held in Goa in 2013 for his anointment as BJP’s face for the 2014 polls.
As defence minister, Parrikar would be part of the powerful cabinet committees, where other than Narendra Modi he would be the second leader who has had nothing to do so far with Delhi politics. As somebody said, ‘Modi’s team is finally taking some shape.’