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While responses have been prepared explaining the impossibility of ascribing a time period to the threat or even speculating on what the situation will be two years from now, sources said, the political understanding is that the finance ministry is probably not keen to clear such a high-cost plan this financial year.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given in-principle clearance last year to a five-year expansion plan, which involves fresh accretion of 89,000 troops with 400 officers — one of India’s biggest one-time military expansion efforts.
The plan includes setting up a new strike corps in Panagarh, West Bengal, along with two more divisions. An independent armoured brigade along with an artillery division will be part of the set-up. These plans were fast tracked after the Army conveyed to the PM that according to available intelligence, China has been rehearsing military action during a limited local offensive.
It was in this context that the proposal for a new mountain strike corps, pending for over a year with the defence ministry, suddenly acquired momentum with the PMO promptly clearing it.
Sources said the finance ministry has also blocked the second stage of expansion of India’s first Navy-only bases, INS Kadamba in Karwar along the Karnataka coast. This Rs 13,000-crore plan involves creating more than a dozen piers and more berths which will host, among other ships, India’s next aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, better known as Admiral Gorshkov, which is now being refurbished in Russia.
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Sad that the govt don't see money being looted by various Schemes, various ministers, flawed policies leading to extreme wastage, irresponsible ministers. Above all the govt want to put on hold defence that is meant to provide protection to the people, so that the money can be looted by Politicians. i will rather say, raid all politicians and we can unearth amount that's enough to run our defenses for the next 20 years.
When we follow day to day devpts in Arunachal ,we feel threatened by the Chinese Amy. Even on the seafront,the situation is threatening. Does the Fin Min thinks that we should submit meekly to china or is he scared of the chinese criticism of measures the Ind Govt is taking to strengthen the defense.
Respected Finance Minister, Please don't take India's security lightly. The safety and security of India is of highest priority. Even this means high cost. If something happens then we won't get time to react. Don't allow History to repeat. Rest people in power are wiser to understand the implications. Think strategically and in the Country's interest.
China has been our no.1 enemy and will remain so until India gifts Arunachal Pradesh to China as in the case of portion of POK girted to china by Pakistan. It is too late to get rid of people like Pranab who could not recollect 1962 aggression of China
FM is behaving like pigion who by putting his head in sand feels cat has gone.Congress is always detrimental for the armed forces preparedness of the country.In the light of China presence in POK only fool can deny the money to armed forces.Ruling party will once again surrender to chinese and gift Arunachal as they did with Tibbet in 1962 shamelessly.To hell with economy if you can not spend for your security.
Defence of borders should not be compromised at any cost particurlay when we have neighbouring Countries like China and Pakistan.We must learn from past mistakes.A powerful army increases the clout of the country in world politics.
China is modernising its armed forces 100 times faster than India along our Border with main Aim of taking back Arunachal Pradesh with Kargil like intrusion, more than 70 air fields along our border have been activated , Inida has yet to decide , I think Pranab mukherjee is busy in blocking Lokpal Bill when will be our so called leaders will wake up be proactive rather reactive , god save India and Jai Hind
POLITICIANS AND BABUS WILL RUIN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE NOT LEARNT ANY LESSONS FROM CHINESE AGGRESSION OF YEAR 1962. OUR COUNTRY NEEDS A STRONG ARMY MATCHING WITH CHINA.
What is the basis for the Finance ministry to say, chinese threat may not last more than 2 years.? We cannot take that risk..given the experience we had with China in 1962..they are not trustworthy..more so because of the way they are expanding their influence surrounding India and establishing their army base all around.
In the 1950s, Indian intelligence repeatedly warned of Chinese expanisionist plans. Morarji Desai, as Finance Minister, refused to allocate necessary funds for defence purposes. The result - China attacked India in 1962 & took away a few million square km of Indian territory. Now, Pranab Mukherjee is doing the same. Nehru talked of Hindi Chini bhai bhai. MMS is easily bullied & we can be sure he will not intervene. After all, this government is good for US, China, Pakistan & many other countries but a catastrophe for India.
India can not afford to stall the army modernisation process. China is just waiting for right time to strike india and take the shell oil rich tawang area from Arunachal. Some time I really doubt whether people sitting at the helm are serious about the security of India.
Red Fox can not be an ally to an Elephant Seal..do understand that please. Think as Lanner Falcon, as White Shark and as Leopard Seal to tackle that cunning Fox. Seal must keep closer and react in the same way...
The Finance Minister is correct to question such expenditure as his department has to find the money. The ministry has to balance the budget and that includes prioritizing amongst several competing demands such as poverty reduction, education improvement, infrastructure build-out, the military, etc. At the end of the day, it's the strength of a country's economy that allows for higher expenditure across all these aims.
Adding manpower in defence at least create some employment opportunity. But amassing equipments is really wastage. India can not keep a blank eye if China is doing offensive formula. We need resources to meet the challenge. All this costs the development of the country. We should produce maximum arms and ammunition at our own thereby utilising the fund in our country itself.
Are these the speed breakers in our ambition to super power-dom?
the problem with current govt. is that it only looks at votebanks, and not at country. We wish for a strong willed leadership like indira gandhi or atal bihari vajpayee to show the outsiders what we are actually made of. manmohan/sonia/rahul are busy minting a fortune for themselves
Is Pranab joking or some hidden agenda here. Dont tell me Pranab is hand in glove with the leftists (CPI/M) who were eager to welcome their comrades to Delhi in 1962! The congress is one hell of an Anti-National party. They are spending incredible resources and time in finding ways to divide India across communal lines and keep to power for foreseeable future. But they have no resources to protect the boundaries. Shame on them.
Nice to hear that government is not spending foolishly on defense. It is stupid to spend such huge amounts based on speculations. What if China, taking a cue from India further increases its defense funding. India should then do the same to feel secure. It is a never ending vicious circle. And that too when the PM is worried about the undernourishment of Indian children. Providing food should be the first priority.
FM must explain the nation his views on it. Shut the NREGS scheme and divert that money to defence reasearch and upgradation. This money should then be diverted to into small business sector. It will be more diciplined investment than just throwing money into blackhole schemes like NREGS.
FM and the whole of congress leadership has lost their mind. Military plans and expansion should not be stopped even if you morons have to take half pay.
Even India can not attack small Pakistan.Forget about attacking China or even China attack India.That is the importance of atom bomb. India should make more atom bombs and precision missiles to stop any fear enemies. India should focus on poverty eradication,health and education for future.Major portion of defence spending is eating away by generals and commission on arms dealings.
To win an election, the government is willing to pay any cost. To defend this country, the Congress government is asking questions! This shows the priority of those in power! This shows their true patriotism! Off with their heads! Young jawans are prepared to sacrifice their lives but the Congress party is not willing to sacrifice its election year bonanza schemes to defend this nation. Madam Gandhi is willing to spend lakhs of crores on the bogus Food Security Scam Scheme but to defend this nation, Pranab Mukerjee is asking questions? Pranab Mukherjee was there when Nehru humiliated India in 1962. Fifty years later Madam Mussolini and her puppet Manmohan Singh plan to do a repeat of Congress cowardice, weakness and defeat!
China's 'threat' is both economic and military, the former bolstering the latter. The threat is not just to India but to the entire Asian region. Not interpreted perversely, it is actually the competitive stimulus for the rest of Asia, most especially India, to wake up, amd not to fritter away time and energies in pointless, anti-people wordy pursuits of political and academic diversions. The threat that Pronob ji must be worried about is whether the present endless saga of scams selling away India can last more than two years, if India is to take note of China's stimulus and act.
If congress asks its ally DMK, they can fund 2 such military expansions with the 2G money they have.
It is not difference of opinion or any lame reason for not allowing military expansion. - The reason is the cold war between Pranab and Chidu!