Antony ‘too cautious’ for military’s liking

[kurup]

On January 16, 2012 afternoon the Cabinet Committee on Security under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and comprising among others defence minister AK Antony and finance mister Pranab Mukherjee met aimlessly for several tense hours. The Intelligence Bureau and other sources were filling them on the ‘unauthorised’ movement of army troops towards the national capital, coinciding with army chief General VK Singh’s decision to move the Supreme Court over his age issue.

At the meeting, and in consultations in the days before and after Gen Singh’s audacious and possibly trivial legal challenge, there was an overwhelming opinion among senior members of Manmohan Singh cabinet and most political leaders to sack Gen Singh. It was Antony who stood in the way of the unceremonious exit of the Army Chief. The defence minister was determined that UPA should not earn the bad name of sacking a military chief, like the NDA government over a decade ago when it dismissed navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat in December 1998.

However, a little over two years later, and weeks away from demitting office as India’s longest serving defence minister, Antony promptly accepted the resignation of navy chief Admiral DK Joshi without putting up the kind of resistance that he showed in the case of General Singh.

Alacrity shown by the government to accept Admiral Joshi’s resignation marks Antony’s own journey as a defence minister—from a minister who blindly stood by military chiefs to a man circumspect about many of their claims. Importantly, it also raises the question if the quick acceptance was partially prompted by the fact that a beleaguered UPA couldn’t afford another round of political mudslinging over a string of naval accidents.

Antony’s decision to accept Joshi’s resignation has also raised questions over his handling of the ministry, and a larger debate about deepening distrust between military leadership and the civilian—controlled ministry.

When Antony became the defence minister in October 2006, it was perceived as a move to ensure a clean image in a ministry plagued by corruption allegations. However, his seven years have seen repeated scandals rocking the ministry, exposing institutionalised corruption that won’t go away by the mere presence of a clean minister, or his repeated action against corrupt defence firms. Antony has acted tough, and has blacklisted half a dozen international defence firms for allegedly engaging middlemen. Solution to staggering corruption may not be in mere blacklisting, but in aggressively pursuing indigenisation, a realisation that came to Antony much late in his tenure.

Last of the scandals to hit the ministry has been the VVIP helicopter scandal, in which among issues is the complete faith Antony reportedly showed in the recommendations of air force, especially Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, especially over deviations. Over the years, Antony was repeatedly let down by several of his military top brass, including both Tyagi and Gen VK Singh. And this may have also influenced his quick decision when Admiral Joshi offered to resign.

While Antony may have grown cautious of the military top brass, there has been widespread unhappiness in the military circles over the minister’s cautious approach on military affairs. Many blame him for slow pace of modernisation, though he has spent the full defence budget during most of the years that he was in office. For an impatient, quickly expanding and modernising military, Antony may have been too cautious, and probably slow.

But as India’s longest serving defence minister demits office, his tenure would yet again underline a few critical factors that have actually plagued all other defence ministers before him too—of deep—rooted corruption, and mistrust between civilian and military establishment. Solutions to these can only come from a farsighted and bold political leadership, especially in dramatically reversing India’s dependence on military imports and in integrating the civilian ministry with more military officers at crucial decision—making levels. For now, such a political leadership is not in sight.

Antony ‘too cautious’ for military’s liking | idrw.org

 

[SarthakGanguly]

It's all right for Mr. Anthony. He can retire after a couple of months. A more active Government will take the necessary measures.

 

[Tshering22]

This man is the worst thing that ever happened to our armed forces. It pains me to imagine my fellow Indians actually have any respect for a fool like this who cannot take his own decisions, has no stand against hostile elements and can not even move his finger without the madam's nod.

 

[amitkriit]

This man will get credit for cleaning up the defence procurement process.