Situation in neighbourhood worrying, says Manmohan

While conceding that there had been no major terrorist attack against India since the November 26 attacks last year in Mumbai, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the situation in the neighbourhood was worrying.

Speaking to a combined defence commanders’ conference in Delhi, the prime minister reminded the armed forces that while they had earned the kudos and respect of the entire nation for their bravery, they too had a responsibility.

“I am aware that the procedures for defence acquisitions and procurement are a matter of concern to the Armed Forces. This is an area which requires collective action on all sides. We must ensure a balance between the needs of timely modernisation and the necessity of conforming to the highest standards of transparency, probity and public accountability. Outlays on defence expenditure have gone up, but they also have to be used judiciously and efficiently,” the PM said in the context of the frequent complaint of the armed forces that they are hamstrung by regulations and red tape in spending money. The PM addressed another important concern — of manpower. “We will take all measures necessary to ensure that the Armed Forces continue to attract the brightest and the best of our youth,” he said, against a background of worries that young people no longer found a career in the defence forces attractive.

Unexpectedly at a meeting where the defence brass were present, the PM opted to root for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and lauded its work. He said import substitution was going to be the norm in a world where technology denial was growing.“There are both state and non-state actors involved in the business of terrorism. India is a democracy and an open society and is, therefore, sometimes highly vulnerable. We have, therefore, to improve our defensive mechanisms against all forms of terrorism, asymmetric warfare and aggravated militancy. We need to be prepared to face onslaughts of this kind, but we should avoid knee-jerk reactions,” the PM pointedly observed against the background of a demand that India undertake tit-for-tat actions against neighbours which attack it.