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Parrikar's biggest test: Make our armed forces fit for war

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Gaurav C Sawant
Gaurav C SawantNov 12, 2014 | 13:13

Parrikar's biggest test: Make our armed forces fit for war

Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar

A 17-year-old girl and a soldier were killed in unprovoked Pakistani mortar shelling in the Uri sector, north of Pir Panjal on Saturday (November 8). The Army responded "appropriately".

But ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the 770-kilometre-long line of control will be the least of Manohar Parrikar’s concerns as he walks through South Block’s Gate number 11 as the 36th defence minister (raksha mantri) of India. The raksha mantri has his task cut out for him. The three services, Army, Navy and Air Force desperately want a "full time" raksha mantri who has the prime minister’s ear to address the "critical hollowness" in equipment for national defence. The forces are also keen on real integration with the government and a say in decision making when it comes to "defence of India."

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The three services have a laundry list of weapons and other war-like stores that should have been purchased at least a decade ago if not earlier. Former chief of Army staff General VK Singh, current minister of state for external affairs and North ast was put in the dock for rightly pointing out this critical hollowness to then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Artillery that played a key role in winning the Kargil war of 1999 has not been upgraded since 1987 when Bofors howitzers were purchased. The air defence is obsolete; there is critical shortage of select ammunition, the submarine arm is depleting and lacks a punch now, the entire Su-30 fleet (200 plus aircraft, a third of IAF fighter fleet) had to be grounded on October 21 after a Su-30 crash. IAF fighter fleet too is depleting and it quickly needs its 126 new fighters and the navy its new submarines.

Indecision in procurement is something that Parrikar, finance minister Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to quickly address. Parrikar has been in Goa politics for two decades and is seen as Mr Clean. His spotless image, that even opposition compliments him for will perhaps spur bureaucrats to take speedy decisions on procurement.

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Allegations of corruption in the past led to arms majors being black listed but no corresponding action against those allegedly accepted bribes. Prosecuting those who allegedly took bribes will be a big challenge. From VVIP helicopter deal to Adarsh to Sukna land scam, the image of South Block and service headquarters has taken a major hit because of allegations of corruption in the past decade.

If it is allegations of corruption at the top, it is indiscipline in the ranks that Parrikar will have to address through top military leadership. Jawans and officers facing off whether it is an artillery regiment, cavalry regiment or even infantry battalions is unacceptable in any disciplined force and points to poor leadership at multiple levels. A clean, no nonsense approach is needed to address it.

Parrikar is an IIT Bombay alumnus and his technical bent of mind will help in addressing a key issue – the armed forces and DRDO & HAL at loggerheads. After Wing Commander S Kalia, a bright young fighter pilot took HAL to court for poor quality control following a MiG-21 crash, HAL is in the dock for lack of quality control. Make in India is PM Modi's key aim, Parrikar will play a key role if this dream has to become a reality in the defence sector, in a time bound manner. Quality control, zero tolerance for error and standardization is a must.

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Along with the Election Commission, J&K government and ministry of home affairs, as Raksha Mantri one of Parrikar's big challenges will be to create an environment free of terror for fair and transparent elections in J&K. It will also be in national interest for him to ensure Army conducts a transparent and time bound probe into the Budgam firing incident.

The higher direction both vis-à-vis Pakistan and China will come from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office. But it will be Raksha Mantri Parrikar’s responsibility through the three service chiefs to ensure the House is in order and both men and materiel available for those instructions to achieve the desired result in national interest. PM Modi addressing the combined Commanders conference in October said the next war will be short, the enemy invisible and challenges unpredictable.

With that scenario in mind it is clear that India today is not fit for war and making India fit for war will be Parrikar’s first and biggest challenge. 

Last updated: November 12, 2014 | 13:13
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