‘New def procurement norms will take time’

Parrikar, who had earlier said that DPP, the framework for defence procurement, will be out by May, admitted that it will take some more time.

“I have put in a lot of effort. My officers have put in a lot of <g data-gr-id="78">effort</g>. CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM have also given lots of inputs. I underestimated the previous government. It has messed it to such an extent....I thought I would be able to prepare in 3-4 months. I accept my defeat. Some more time is required,” he said addressing a seminar organised here by the Vivekananda International Foundation.

Parrikar said he has decided to for the “jugular” and will “completely change” the concept of defence procurement.

“We have inherited a British system. Everyone in the government distrusts everybody. There is an atmosphere of question marks and doubt. Of course, defence is the biggest place where even speaking out was considered as a taboo,” he said.

The minister said that the atmosphere is being changed slowly.

He said the first change he wants to bring in the procurement process is to treat vendors as partners. 

“That atmosphere of suspicion has to go at least for those vendors who have performed earlier,” he said.

Citing the example of ordinance factories and even defence PSUs, he said sometimes they “treat the supplier as dirt”. He stressed that he was not criticising defence PSUs but merely <g data-gr-id="42">emphasizing</g> that the firms need to take along suppliers who are developing systems at their initiative.

Parrikar also spoke about the long-pending demand of “one rank one pension” of ex-servicemen and asked them to be patient.

“It is not stuck. I can only say that the issue is progressing very rapidly but some patience is required,” he said speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the seminar on ‘Design and Make In India-Electronics’.

Referring to the recent encounter in Tangdhar in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district in which 

four terrorists were killed, Parrikar said the Indian army was on alert for stopping infiltration.

Told by a journalist that his recent comment on using terrorists to kill terrorists has spooked Pakistan (‘unko <g data-gr-id="70">mirchi</g> <g data-gr-id="71">lagi</g> hai’), Parrikar replied, “I will not go into what Pakistan feels about that but <g data-gr-id="72">mirchi</g>, <g data-gr-id="73">woh</g> <g data-gr-id="74">bhi</g> Andhra ki, <g data-gr-id="75">lagi</g> <g data-gr-id="76">hai</g>.”