Empower army in such a manner that no one dares stare at India: Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister

[ARPANET]

During the elections he claimed hard actions against border incursions from China and when that happended and the Chinese President was even in India, no show of strength at all.

First of all, since you are an expert please let me know what ACTION by the PM would had satisfied you? Did you wanted an all out war with China? & seriously, do you believe ONLY in the Media version of things everytime? today SL pardoned 5 Indian fishermen while Media was saying that GOI is completely silent on this issue but I saw one SL minister confess that Modi himself talked to Rajpaksa on the ISSUE & ensured there released. What if the chumar incident was totally opposite of what media was showing & maybe something of Indian interests.....just a speculation. The thing is i don't trust Indian MSM at all. I mean, how in the world you know what MODI did & din't did when you don't have the inside info of PMO?? But i know people have biases & i m ok with it. The problem i have is when people start TWISTING things on MERE speculations & Media reports.

BTW, I can name 100+ things which Congress Promised in 2004 & 2009 which it never fulfilled.

Also, please for godsake, tell me what "DEFENSE" Background did Mr.AK Antony had before he became Defense Minister?

 

[sancho]

First of all, since you are an expert please let me know what ACTION by the PM would had satisfied you?

Wrt defence, that he reduced and simplified bureaucracy, because that's what he promised and that makes it the benchmark.

Did you wanted an all out war with China?

There is a huuuuge gap, between a proper sign of military strength alongside your borders and a proper sign of strength form your PM about these incursions (especially when the Chinese president is in India) and an all out war! A simple statement on one of the media events alone could had made his stand clear and increased the pressure on the Chinese President to get his own forces in line. So when he had shown big speeches during elections makes a lot of show in PR events, is it that much to expect him to take a strong stand as he promised himself?
I even like if things will be dealt in a smart way, rather than with baseless rhetoric, but than act like that from the start and not promise things you either can't or even don't want to deliver.

Also, please for godsake, tell me what "DEFENSE" Background did Mr.AK Antony had before he became Defense Minister?

When did I said he had? I was not in favour of him getting DM for sure, but I disagree with the public perception that everything was bad under his term and that everything he did was wrong, but that's another topic.

 

[ARPANET]

When did I said he had?

Now I am wondering why did you ASKED for same when Parrikar was made the DM?

So no defence, defence industry or foreign relations back ground right?

 

[ARPANET]

A simple statement on one of the media events alone could had made his stand clear

Ok, so on such a CRUCIAL stage when two biggest armies are seeing eye to eye & any statement from the power corridors can AFFECT the relations b/w the two nations, you want the PM of India to make a "SIMPLE" statement to the media.......

Got It.

 

[sancho]

Now I am wondering why did you ASKED for same when Parrikar was made the DM?

LOL, to know more about a then candidate for the DM position, since I had no clue about him.

Ok, so on such a CRUCIAL stage when two biggest armies are seeing eye to eye & any statement from the power corridors can AFFECT the relations b/w the two nations, you want the PM of India to make a "SIMPLE" statement to the media.......

Got It.

First of all, there were only minor forces that crossed border, secondly, of course you use media, or public perception to put pressure, because that's safer than using actual force. That's what politicians do all over the world to avoid crisis situations getting worse. We see that constantly when Iran is a new issue and now with Russia and the Ukraine too. That doesn't stop the background talks at all! German chancellor Merkel yesterday took on Putin hard in front of the media, which is unusual for her but sent a message and he understood it and suddenly asked German foreign minister who was in Russia for a meeting too.

 

[JaiShriAllahNath]

Parrikar is RSS agent. This is RSS conspiracy. Angus Madison was RSS agent.

 

[Dash]

Which actually is a logical and good thing, but not necessarily in every interest, not to mention that many environment laws in India doesn't necessarily fit to the interests of Indian defence. That's however where the biggest difference is today, because the current government has on the one side simplified laws and bureaucracy, but also seems to have a much softer look on environment when it interferes with defence interests.

Its logical but not practical. It always has to be a balanced cohesive approach on national matters. He literally bulldozed each and every effort to expand industrial base, be it BRO, be it minerals or even power. The current govt is actually not going n soft on environment, but we can say the priorities are in place.

 

[HariPrasad]

The elephant will show the dragon its muscle!

India shupa-powa grows stronger the more starvation, poverty and filth it accumulates.

I think you are spelling Mao's legacy on the name of India when the 20 Million people were starved to death in 4 pest campaign. You are a natural disciple of Mao. Looking to your mentality, You have a great chance to success in China. From where did you get these awesome Ideas? In concentration sorry reeducation camp run by CPC for people like you?

 

[sancho]

Its logical but not practical. It always has to be a balanced cohesive approach on national matters. He literally bulldozed each and every effort to expand industrial base, be it BRO, be it minerals or even power.

Maybe, but he did what he thought is the best for his ministry or for what it stands for, he has no responsibility to take care about the industry (apart of the industry related to enviroment which is an constant growing market too), so you can't blame him to do his job as best as possible even if that creates problems in other ministries. To solve such problems then is the responsibility of the government heads, be it the PM or other high officials (in coalitions things are more difficult).
You can take the see the same problem now in the defence government, where we actually need a minister that is doing his job properly, only with his ministry and the forces in mind, while the government heads are pushing for economy and industry, since they think that is the "national matter".

The current govt is actually not going n soft on environment, but we can say the priorities are in place.

Can you explain why you think so? Would be interested in what measures they take on that regard.

 

[arbit]

@sancho No offence mate but while its informative to an extent to read you on tech issues, you go completely haywire when it comes to an analysis of policy and more specifically decisions & actions and as to where they fit in the scheme of things.
Don't miss forest for the trees my friend

 

[gubbi]

How do you view the recent intrusions on India-China border?
Let me understand the issue (of intrusions) from external affairs (ministry) and get the Prime Minister's guidance on it before I make any comment. My agenda is very clear: empower army in such a manner that doosra hamari taraf dekhe hi nahin (no one dares to even look in our direction). Empower the forces in such a way that their presence itself acts as a deterrent.

What exactly does the DM mean by this statement? Does he mean to give the forces powers which would allow them to act independently of the political machinery? Or does he mean that the forces need to be so efficient and modernized that opponents would not have the courage to take them on?

When hasn't a more 'powerful, empowered' army not been taken on by a ragtag team armed militants? When has any armed forces empowerment deterred any attacks on them or the areas they are guarding?

All in all, a very poor choice of words, IMHO. The DM's job is to manage the armed forces under the ministry's jurisdiction. See to it that their needs are met.

To actually deter the aggression the H'onable DM speaks of, one needs a strong political will. Do we have it? And that is the ultimate question.

Btw, why in the world are these officials making such stupid statements? Is power slowly going to their heads?

 

[Derolo]

Army can only be empowered by rapid acquisition of reliable equipment and weaponry.

Hoping, wishing and praying that failed indigenous projects ( Kaveri, Tejas, Sitara) will become functional is delusional.

Strategic and tactical airlift has been covered. Logistical base for the overweight most expensive tank in the world is a few years away but progress is being made. Attack helis should be delivered starting next year. Subs in 2016. Need to focus on infantry rifles ( INSAS jamming in 2014!!!!), LCH, more frigates and corvettes, Rafales and preparing logistics for Pak-Fa induction etc etc countless other things

 

[anant_s]

What exactly does the DM mean by this statement? Does he mean to give the forces powers which would allow them to act independently of the political machinery? Or does he mean that the forces need to be so efficient and modernized that opponents would not have the courage to take them on?

When hasn't a more 'powerful, empowered' army not been taken on by a ragtag team armed militants? When has any armed forces empowerment deterred any attacks on them or the areas they are guarding?

Well in a democracy like ours, armed forces have never gone against political establishment even in the worst of scenarios. They have done their business in the most professional manner and stuck to their task of soldering.

To actually deter the aggression the H'onable DM speaks of, one needs a strong political will. Do we have it? And that is the ultimate question.

Absolutely! This government atleast till now has given all the correct signals that it wants to tackle the problem head on. It has engaged neighbors in dialogue but has also shown guts to meet fire with fire.
I actually subscribe to the old school of thought that Diplomacy should be exhausted before the option of Force is resorted to in solving conflicts.
How this govt. tackles old pending issues like border disputes remains to be seen, but IMHO till now it is sending all the right signals.

 

[SQ8]

That was the problem with the Sukhoi-30MKI when it was ejecting the pilots on its own.

That must be the most humorous statement regarding what is a rather fine aircraft. Perhaps there is a sophisticated AI within the MKI that cannot be declared but it is tempramental and does not like certain pilots which it throws out of the aircraft.

In all seriousness, it cant be very popular with pilots transitioning from the excellent Mirage 2000 to find that their aircraft either shuts off all electrical power to the displays when it wants to or they suddenly find themselves being thrown out into the air at 500 knots wondering what did they do wrong. Those from the older Migs however, having been with the difficult fellows would probably be thinking "Not again!".

 

[Srinivas]

big mouth, brag, boasting, what else??? same rhetorics again and again.

India is not certainly China when it comes to rants, I think you are mistaken India for China.

The statement is directed at China !!