Increase defence allocation, fight arms lobbies: BJP to government

[Ignited Mind]

Increase defence allocation, fight arms lobbies: BJP to government
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NEW DELHI: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday urged the government to increase the defence budget to at least three percent of the GDP.

Initiating a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the functioning of the defence ministry, BJP leader Balbir Punj urged the defence minister to fight arms seller lobbies to make India self-sufficient in the field of arms.

"Why doesn't the government choose PPP (public private partnership) mode for production of indigenous arms? It is because arms import lobbies are very strong and they will never allow domestic production... the patrons of these lobbies are very highly placed," Punj said.

"The defence minister, like a soldier, should fight them up front, fight the lobbies if you want the country to be self-sufficient, even though it will not be easy," he said.

He also pitched for higher budgetary allocation for the defence ministry.

"The government is claiming 17 percent increase in defence budget but it is only a numbers game. If we see the figures, the allocation for defence is less than last year's," Punj said.

"Pakistan spends three percent of its GDP (gross domestic product) on defence. Our defence allocation should also be at least three percent of the GDP," he said. The allocation to defence in the current budget is about 2.3 percent of GDP.

The BJP leader questioned the government on the Tatra trucks deals and asked why no action was taken until the matter became public. He directly attacked Defence Minister A.K. Antony, saying "no work, no mistake and clean image is a dangerous policy".


Increase defence allocation, fight arms lobbies: BJP to government - The Economic Times

 

[The enlightened]

Let them first take care of the economy and then the defense budget.

The BJP leader questioned the government on the Tatra trucks deals and asked why no action was taken until the matter became public. He directly attacked Defence Minister A.K. Antony, saying "no work, no mistake and clean image is a dangerous policy".

Awesome. He/They should do it more often.

 

[arp2041]

Let them first take care of the economy and then the defense budget.

Economy can only be managed when we have sufficient defenses of our borders, jst answer me what will we manage if we loose parts of our country to our adversary in a war. Pakistan, a nation which knows that its economy is in jitters also spend at least 3 % of gdp on defense, taking account of what happened in 1971. 3% of GDP is what our economy can manage.

 

[The enlightened]

Economy can only be managed when we have sufficient defenses of our borders, jst answer me what will we manage if we loose parts of our country to our adversary in a war. Pakistan, a nation which knows that its economy is in jitters also spend at least 3 % of gdp on defense, taking account of what happened in 1971. 3% of GDP is what our economy can manage.

Are you aware of the two words 'policy paralysis' and the grave impact they are having on our country.
3% of GDP is not required. Not for Pakistan anyway. We need to make our economy stronger first then military.
Look at how China did it. They faced a much bigger threat than us but still managed to focus on their economy and look at them now, how rich dividends they are getting and will get in the future.

 

[Boobytrap]

Increasing defense budget should be done in a systematic order.. with the current allocations for capital expenditure not being fully spent, the argument about increasing defense budget is purely populist and baseless... kind of like congressi sickularist rants...

And as far as policy paralysis and fighting arms lobbies is concerned, that is totally valid.

I mean, wtf are we still not producing Arjun MK-II tanks in large nos, what happened to F-INSAS ? Why is there an acute crisis in Jet trainers ?
India is purchasing all big bang products latest SIGINT/COMINT platforms, Poseidons, RAFALE, AEWACs, C-17 globemasters etc etc but when it comes to making simple battle critical components, we are lacking far behind even wastelands like somalia etc in terms of indigenization ?

Also, why didn't BJP suggest some alternatives rather than simply complaining ?

 

[arp2041]

Are you aware of the two words 'policy paralysis' and the grave impact they are having on our country.
3% of GDP is not required. Not for Pakistan anyway. We need to make our economy stronger first then military.
Look at how China did it. They faced a much bigger threat than us but still managed to focus on their economy and look at them now, how rich dividends they are getting and will get in the future.

This shows very narrow focus of we Indians, we are talking of becoming world power but every time we talk of our military it is only & only about Pakistan (we have more planes than Pakistan, we have more ships than Pakistan, etc.). Yes i know 3 % of gdp is not required for Pakistan, but to become a power to reckon with we have to be more focused on our military affairs. Believe it or not Russia is still a major power just because of its military, its economy is even less than us.

 

[SamantK]

More than increasing the defence budget we need to increase the R&D budget which directly will help reduce the imports. Research has always helped all the spheres not just defence.

What DRDO gets for research is a pittance, Israel would be a wondedul example to follow, which allocates highest in R&D, no doubt US also wants some of it's technology.