CaPtAiN_pLaNeT
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
International
Leaked letter reveals India's military weaknesses
Army chief's message to PM sparks row
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=228189
Gen V K Singh
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
The face-off between Indian Army Chief Gen V K Singh and the government worsened yesterday with the leak of his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh listing the shortcoming of the armed forces.
According to a newspaper report, the army chief has contended in the letter that India's entire tank fleet is "devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks," the air defence is "97 per cent obsolete" and the infantry is crippled with "deficiencies of crew served weapon" and lacks night-fighting capability.
The contents of the letter rocked Rajya Sabha with the members terming it as "disturbing" and "serious" and demanded the government take action against those responsible. Several political parties also demanded sacking the army chief.
Responding to members' concerns, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "I have made a serious note of the observations.... After consulting the prime minister and colleagues, we will take appropriate action."
He confirmed the army chief had written the letter to Manmohan Singh on March 12 drawing his "attention to issues related to national defence and security."
"These issues are under the consideration of the Ministry of Defence. By very nature of these issues, they cannot be a matter of public debate," insisted Antony.
Earlier the defence minister met the prime minister over the issue. Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma were present.
This new row over leak of the letter arises a couple of days after the army chief disclosed in a newspaper interview that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore by an equipment lobbyist to buy 600 sub-standard vehicles for the army.
The government has already ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into Gen Singh's allegation.
He was caught in a dispute with the government over his age and had dragged the latter to the Supreme Court. He retires in May this year.
International
Leaked letter reveals India's military weaknesses
Army chief's message to PM sparks row
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=228189
Gen V K Singh
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
The face-off between Indian Army Chief Gen V K Singh and the government worsened yesterday with the leak of his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh listing the shortcoming of the armed forces.
According to a newspaper report, the army chief has contended in the letter that India's entire tank fleet is "devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks," the air defence is "97 per cent obsolete" and the infantry is crippled with "deficiencies of crew served weapon" and lacks night-fighting capability.
The contents of the letter rocked Rajya Sabha with the members terming it as "disturbing" and "serious" and demanded the government take action against those responsible. Several political parties also demanded sacking the army chief.
Responding to members' concerns, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "I have made a serious note of the observations.... After consulting the prime minister and colleagues, we will take appropriate action."
He confirmed the army chief had written the letter to Manmohan Singh on March 12 drawing his "attention to issues related to national defence and security."
"These issues are under the consideration of the Ministry of Defence. By very nature of these issues, they cannot be a matter of public debate," insisted Antony.
Earlier the defence minister met the prime minister over the issue. Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma were present.
This new row over leak of the letter arises a couple of days after the army chief disclosed in a newspaper interview that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore by an equipment lobbyist to buy 600 sub-standard vehicles for the army.
The government has already ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into Gen Singh's allegation.
He was caught in a dispute with the government over his age and had dragged the latter to the Supreme Court. He retires in May this year.
Another way of justifying 17% hike in defence budget. Hope it cross $ 50 B mark next year
).
