Problems in defence funding
6 Nov 2012 11:04 PM GMT
Recently the prime minister conducted a cabinet reshuffle prior to the much slated next general elections, wherein, this was the last time for the government to come clear with their stand on a host of issues affecting defence forces and also the functioning of the defence ministry. The government has sent clear signals regarding some burning issues, such as, pay and allowances of serving personnel and other issues. The forces have been deprived of essential war equipment, ammunition has been in short supply and there are critical deficiencies which affect war preparedness, yet a Nelson’s eye has been turned on matters of defence. The signal is very clear that the party preaches love for defence forces but implements policies that clearly show lack of civilian leadership in matters of defence and that such issues regarding forces are less important than the oil ministry and can thus continue to be on the back burner. The team at the ministry of defence saw some churning moments but wished to stay in oblivion and were accordingly rewarded, silence and loyalty pays. All ministers dealing with the defence have been upgraded, who has been given an independent charge. The Congress is satisfied with its policy on defence and strategic matters, therefore, the defence minister has been promoted to number two position in the cabinet and the issues listed above do not matter.
One of the biggest problems which has really affected functioning in the forces is the trust deficit between the government and the forces. This has been at a shocking low although the army in particular and the other two sister services are also a part of the problem. There is lack of integration at the level of the Integrated Ministry of Defence and rather than play one service against the other, the minister could play a sterling role and show decisiveness and exercise his authority, which is sadly lacking.
The stand taken by the government regarding the repeated violations by the Chinese on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have never been explained, and at last tally it was more than 500 violations about six months ago. The government is silent on the case of a nexus between China and Pakistan. In fact, the chief vision of our PM is to see a treaty between India and Pakistan as an act of legacy that he bequeaths to the nation. There is also the case of Track 2 diplomacy talks with Pakistan over Siachen, regarding demilitarisation which places Pakistan in an advantageous position as they are not in Siachen and by talking we accept this fact, which over looks the sacrifices of the Indian soldier. The government is also silent on the question of American drawdown post 2014. Well in India elections are stated that year, all eyes will be first on the elections, than going by the current scenario. There will be most likely a hung parliament than all eyes will be on government formation, in the meanwhile the Taliban would have occupied Afghanistan and all those fighters will be free to infiltrate to Kashmir, that is why they are called strategic assets by Pakistan, but we want peace with Pakistan. This 50th year the Indian nation needs to do some soul searching regarding China. The common perception is that China will not attack India, if that be the case why have they got 35 divisions in Tibet? Why has China got Short border disputes as it in built military strategy? Why has China got deceit as a national psyche inbuilt in their military plans? Are we as the Indian nation being lulled to a sense of complacency? If so, who is responsible? The proposal for mountain strike corps has been shot down or delayed and Arunachal continues to have poor border infrastructure.
Over a period of time a lot of media bashing of the forces has been done take the latest, wherein, a section of the media has blamed the Army Commanders for not correctly spending 100 crores plus from their special discretionary funds. All these funds are spent with the concurrence of the Integrated Financial Authorities (IFA), who oversee before, after and during the spending of these funds. There was also the case during his tenure when a leading English paper accused the Indian Army of having coup like intentions which was a figment of imagination and one of the wildest dreams. The honourable minister was in a position to defend the forces as he works with them and knows their ethos. In fact when he appeared on the television he rather than appear serious seemed amused and that really hurt the sentiments of a lot of us. A mobile column to be effective has to be armed and able to communicate. What has not emerged clearly, is were these BMP’s loaded with ammunition and was electronic silence broken? Any mobile column has to be armed and communicating in order to be battle worthy. In doing so, it leaves enough electronic signatures and a chain of paper trail regarding ammunition withdrawal for investigation regarding its intent; and all this has been missing from public domain, while the Army’s intentions has been questioned. These machines on which a whole nation panicked could not fire, nor could they communicate, and if this be the sort of intelligence that the highest in the land accept and act, than God help the nation. Intelligence failures have become an amused part of Indian defence preparedness.
The defence minister has black listed a lot of companies, but at the cost of defence preparedness. If that be the case what has happened to some issues we do not hear off? One does not hear of the Tatra case, the war room leak case and the Scorpene submarine deal have all vanished from our memory. The helicopter case too needs to be throughly investigated. The bottom line is very simple ‘It was a Congress dream for self reliance and self sufficiency’, we will make every thing in India. Why has this dream and vision been thrown to the dust bin? This dream would get India 75 thousand jobs and all these huge sums of money would come to Indian citizens. Do we spot an ulterior motive by all in buying arms and ammunition from foreign sources much against the stated government policy of indigenisation?
It will be worth recalling that this was the first time in the tenure of the current team that an army chief rebelled and continues to do so. This clearly shows that how badly the defence ministry handled the case. Could the case have been handled in a better way? These are questions that remain unanswered.
During the last general elections close to voting dates in the northern states some issues were discussed as bait. Two parliament committees have recommended the same, yet this is denied.
C S Thappa is a retired brigadier
One of the biggest problems which has really affected functioning in the forces is the trust deficit between the government and the forces. This has been at a shocking low although the army in particular and the other two sister services are also a part of the problem. There is lack of integration at the level of the Integrated Ministry of Defence and rather than play one service against the other, the minister could play a sterling role and show decisiveness and exercise his authority, which is sadly lacking.
The stand taken by the government regarding the repeated violations by the Chinese on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have never been explained, and at last tally it was more than 500 violations about six months ago. The government is silent on the case of a nexus between China and Pakistan. In fact, the chief vision of our PM is to see a treaty between India and Pakistan as an act of legacy that he bequeaths to the nation. There is also the case of Track 2 diplomacy talks with Pakistan over Siachen, regarding demilitarisation which places Pakistan in an advantageous position as they are not in Siachen and by talking we accept this fact, which over looks the sacrifices of the Indian soldier. The government is also silent on the question of American drawdown post 2014. Well in India elections are stated that year, all eyes will be first on the elections, than going by the current scenario. There will be most likely a hung parliament than all eyes will be on government formation, in the meanwhile the Taliban would have occupied Afghanistan and all those fighters will be free to infiltrate to Kashmir, that is why they are called strategic assets by Pakistan, but we want peace with Pakistan. This 50th year the Indian nation needs to do some soul searching regarding China. The common perception is that China will not attack India, if that be the case why have they got 35 divisions in Tibet? Why has China got Short border disputes as it in built military strategy? Why has China got deceit as a national psyche inbuilt in their military plans? Are we as the Indian nation being lulled to a sense of complacency? If so, who is responsible? The proposal for mountain strike corps has been shot down or delayed and Arunachal continues to have poor border infrastructure.
Over a period of time a lot of media bashing of the forces has been done take the latest, wherein, a section of the media has blamed the Army Commanders for not correctly spending 100 crores plus from their special discretionary funds. All these funds are spent with the concurrence of the Integrated Financial Authorities (IFA), who oversee before, after and during the spending of these funds. There was also the case during his tenure when a leading English paper accused the Indian Army of having coup like intentions which was a figment of imagination and one of the wildest dreams. The honourable minister was in a position to defend the forces as he works with them and knows their ethos. In fact when he appeared on the television he rather than appear serious seemed amused and that really hurt the sentiments of a lot of us. A mobile column to be effective has to be armed and able to communicate. What has not emerged clearly, is were these BMP’s loaded with ammunition and was electronic silence broken? Any mobile column has to be armed and communicating in order to be battle worthy. In doing so, it leaves enough electronic signatures and a chain of paper trail regarding ammunition withdrawal for investigation regarding its intent; and all this has been missing from public domain, while the Army’s intentions has been questioned. These machines on which a whole nation panicked could not fire, nor could they communicate, and if this be the sort of intelligence that the highest in the land accept and act, than God help the nation. Intelligence failures have become an amused part of Indian defence preparedness.
The defence minister has black listed a lot of companies, but at the cost of defence preparedness. If that be the case what has happened to some issues we do not hear off? One does not hear of the Tatra case, the war room leak case and the Scorpene submarine deal have all vanished from our memory. The helicopter case too needs to be throughly investigated. The bottom line is very simple ‘It was a Congress dream for self reliance and self sufficiency’, we will make every thing in India. Why has this dream and vision been thrown to the dust bin? This dream would get India 75 thousand jobs and all these huge sums of money would come to Indian citizens. Do we spot an ulterior motive by all in buying arms and ammunition from foreign sources much against the stated government policy of indigenisation?
It will be worth recalling that this was the first time in the tenure of the current team that an army chief rebelled and continues to do so. This clearly shows that how badly the defence ministry handled the case. Could the case have been handled in a better way? These are questions that remain unanswered.
During the last general elections close to voting dates in the northern states some issues were discussed as bait. Two parliament committees have recommended the same, yet this is denied.
C S Thappa is a retired brigadier
Next Story
