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News

Def Min: Will Hit Back At Unprovoked Attacks


Date:- 06 Jun 2018


Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Army will honour the ongoing suspension of anti-militancy operations in Jammu & Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan, but it has the freedom to hit back in case of unprovoked attack. She also stressed that there is no shortage of funds for the modernisation of armed forces and for ammunition for them.

Asserting that terror and talks cannot go on with Pakistan, the Minister said the Army was consulted before the ceasefire was announced on May 17 by the Home Ministry. She revealed Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also talked to her.

Addressing a Press conference to highlight the achievements of the Defence Ministry in the last four years of the NDA Government, Sitharaman said the Army was given the right to adequately respond to any cross border attacks or unprovoked attack.

Her assurance came against the backdrop of Pakistan continuing to violate ceasefire even after the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of two countries last week agreed to abide by the 2003 ceasefire understanding in letter and spirit. Moreover, at least 12 grenade attacks on security forces and innocent civilians took place in the last one week despite the ongoing halting of operations against terrorists during the Ramzan.

“It is our duty to keep our borders safe. We shall be alert and ensure that no unprovoked attacks go without us responding. It is the duty of the Defence Ministry and the forces to keep India safe,” Sitharaman said.

Asked if cessation of anti-terrorist operations will be extended after Ramzan, she said, “It is only announced for Ramzan.” Fielding another question whether ongoing ceasefire is successful or not, Sitharaman said “the Defence Ministry’s role is not to assess” it.

On the possibility of engaging Pakistan in dialogue, the Minister reiterated External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s comments that talks and terror cannot go hand-in-hand.

As regards reports of shortage of funds impacting modernisation and critical paucity of ammunition to even fight a ten-day intense war, Sitharman stressed there was no such shortage now and adequate funds in capital and revenue outlay were provided during the last four year of the NDA Government. She claimed the shortages were a legacy of the previous regime from 2004 onwards.

Backing her assertion with figures, the Defence Minister said capital outlay of Rs 90,640 crore for procuring weapons and honour contractual obligations for the financial year 2017-18 was the highest since 2004. The second highest was in 2016-17. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Standing Committee of Parliament in the last few months had flagged concern over critical shortages.

On allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter deal worth over seven billion Euros, Sitharaman categorically rejected the charge and said there was absolutely “no scandal.”

Without naming the Congress, the Minister said “false comparisons” were made between the price at which India was procuring the jets and the price being negotiated by some other countries adding allegations very clear case of “motivated attacks.”

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Wednesday, 06 June 2018 | PNS | New Delhi