Strict action necessary to check malpractices: Antony
7 Feb 2014 11:10 PM GMT
Though he will find many detractors to the efficiency part of his story, his integrity remains unquestioned and impeccable.
While addressing a press conference, Antony said, ‘There is no basis for any charge of a lack of focus on the part of the ministry of defence or the armed forces. We have taken strong action when required. There may have been some delay (in our actions). But we streamlined the system. We were able to send a strong signal to foreign suppliers that there is no need of lobbying. They will get their opportunity. We will have complete transparency.’
A strong pitch indeed from the longest serving defence minister – for eight years – that the country has ever had. With the general elections a few months away and his party’s return to power in serious doubt, Antony was clearly sending a message about his ostensible success.
But consider the scenario for a minute. The army was in search of a new artillery system before he took over in 2006; the service also wanted to transform the infantry soldier into a fully wired war machine (F-INSAS). None of those two dreams have been fulfilled. Antony has an answer for that too, ‘For the last three years the economy has not performed to expectation, as you all know. I don’t know how much money we will get this year. The army will have to prioritise what they want.’
He shrugs off the recent incidents the navy faced in the recent past when many of its important warships and logistics ships have had mishaps like the Kilo class submarine, INS Sindhurakshak having explosions when at the dock in Mumbai, with the ship sinking. This misfortune was followed by seven other occasions, when the ships have got either hitting unknown objects and becoming inoperable or hitting a fishing boat, or even running aground.
Still, Antony said, ‘Our naval capacity has increased enormously. It is considered one of the best in the world. Many countries want to engage with us in exercises.’
He, however, clearly indicated that the medium, multirole combat aircrafts deal for the French Rafale will not be signed in the remaining period of this fiscal year.
While addressing a press conference, Antony said, ‘There is no basis for any charge of a lack of focus on the part of the ministry of defence or the armed forces. We have taken strong action when required. There may have been some delay (in our actions). But we streamlined the system. We were able to send a strong signal to foreign suppliers that there is no need of lobbying. They will get their opportunity. We will have complete transparency.’
A strong pitch indeed from the longest serving defence minister – for eight years – that the country has ever had. With the general elections a few months away and his party’s return to power in serious doubt, Antony was clearly sending a message about his ostensible success.
But consider the scenario for a minute. The army was in search of a new artillery system before he took over in 2006; the service also wanted to transform the infantry soldier into a fully wired war machine (F-INSAS). None of those two dreams have been fulfilled. Antony has an answer for that too, ‘For the last three years the economy has not performed to expectation, as you all know. I don’t know how much money we will get this year. The army will have to prioritise what they want.’
He shrugs off the recent incidents the navy faced in the recent past when many of its important warships and logistics ships have had mishaps like the Kilo class submarine, INS Sindhurakshak having explosions when at the dock in Mumbai, with the ship sinking. This misfortune was followed by seven other occasions, when the ships have got either hitting unknown objects and becoming inoperable or hitting a fishing boat, or even running aground.
Still, Antony said, ‘Our naval capacity has increased enormously. It is considered one of the best in the world. Many countries want to engage with us in exercises.’
He, however, clearly indicated that the medium, multirole combat aircrafts deal for the French Rafale will not be signed in the remaining period of this fiscal year.
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