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| Governor for rationalizing higher defence organisation | | Prepare for new security challenges: Tyagi | | JAMMU, JAN 12
Governor Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha today emphasised the need for a rational and modern higher defence organisation in India at par with other democracies of the world
Speaking at the 2nd General Zorawar Singh Memorial Lecture at University of Jammu this morning, the Governor said that such a mechanism is necessary for the three defence services to work in close cooperation, as today no war can be fought exclusively by a single defence service.
The key note lecture organised by Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies on ‘Changing scenario dynamics and the role of aerospace power’ was delivered by Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi.
General Sinha said that after India’s debacle in 1962 war with China, he had conducted a research on the reasons for the debacle and measures to be taken for overcoming our weaknesses exposed by that war. The Defence Services has been increasingly marginalized in the process of decision making in defence matters. He said, he had been a carrying out a crusade for reorganization of the country’s higher defence organisation. The need for such a mechanism was again felt after the Kargil war when the Union Government formed a working group under a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Arun Singh he said, adding that as Governor of Assam he was asked by the Study Group for a draft to be discussed for their report. He sent them the draft which was adopted in toto for the first volume of its report urging integration of Defence Services with Minister for Defence and appointment of Chief of Defences Staff. He said that this report was approved by the Group of Ministers but the implementation of recommendations has been very tardy. He said integration has been carried out in matter of not any consequence and there is a headless Integrated Defence Staff.
Dwelling on the importance of aerospace power, the Governor called for thinking, planning and preparing for space warfare by strengthening the air force, cutting delays in defence production capabilities and a suitable higher defence organisation. He also sought qualitative and quantitative increase in the air force to have and edge over the potential aggressor.
General Sinha sounded caution over dwindling strength of the air-force which had been planned to be of the size of 45 squadrons after 1962. However, on ground today its strength is 33 against 39 authorized. This is likely to drop further to 26 by 2015. While stressing the need for giving a big boost to indigenous defence production, he said this process had to be expedited particularly for 22 years India has been struggling with the production of light combat aircraft over which ‘we have spent a whopping Rs 6000 crore.’ He said that it is now stated that this aircraft will be introduced for services in the Air Force only in 2012
The Governor, however, painted rosy picture of achievements of Indians in space technology, saying that Sunita William, the young astronaut is going to remain in space for six months, exploring new vistas. ‘Our scientists have successfully launched PSLV with four satellites’, he added and hoped that when a satellite effects re-entry into the atmosphere and come down with a splash in Bay of Bengal, ‘we would have achieved a wonderful success at par with very few advanced nations of the world.
Underscoring the importance of strong defence for peaceful environs, the Governor said that India with political stability and economic development is poised to be a global power.’ We have to gear up for facing the challenges of the future’, he said. He also dwelt on the evolution of defence preparedness, saying that immediately after Independence there were second thoughts on giving adequate build up to armed forces with majority opining against it. ‘But for the invasion on Kashmir in 1947, we would have cut down our defence budget still further’, he said.
General Sinha endorsed the view of the Air Chief that in the changing scenario strategic boundaries are taking precedence over geographical limits of Indian nation state. India’s strategic boundaries were now from the Suez Canal and Malaccan straits and from Central Asian Republics to the Indian Ocean and the concept of nation state is fading away. ‘We have to rise to the changing scenario as a responsible and emerging economic power of tomorrow’, he declared.
In his key note lecture, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said that economic growth of a nation is not possible without military power as peace is imperative for stability and development.
He said that in the fast changing scenario, strategic boundaries are not confined to geographical lines and India has to see beyond the borders. He lauded the political stability in India but cautioned against instable political environment in the neighborhood. This calls for adequate preparedness and aerospace power will have to play an important role in the defence of the nation, he added. ‘In the new strategic scenario, new security challenges to protect trade, commerce and energy will have to be met forcefully’, he opined.
Referring to the importance of aerospace power, the Air Chief Marshal said that air force will be dominating the wars of tomorrow.
Vice Chancellor, Prof Amitab Mattoo introduced the Chief of Air Staff to the audience while Director of the Centre Mr P Stockdan spoke about the event. |
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