LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS of DEBATES (Proceedings Other Than
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LOK SABHA ___ SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______ Friday, March 17, 2017/ Phalguna 26, 1938 (Saka) ______ UNION BUDGET- 2017-2018 DEMANDS FOR GRANTS - 2017-2018 Ministry of Defence - Contd. SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: The citizens of our country are able to sleep peacefully because our soldiers are vigilant on border areas and ready to lay their lives in the security of the country. But this government has been found to be in deep slumber whenever the concerns of the soldiers of our armed forces are raised. Being a responsible Opposition it stands to be our responsibility to put the government on alert and to find fault with it so that the unity, integrity and security of the country cannot be jeopardised . We need to provide new weapons and to bring about modernization with the help of technology in order to shore up our military. But it is a matter of surprise that the capital expenditure, on the basis of which the future of armed forces is defined, has been pegged merely at Rs.86000 crore. Had you given three per cent of the GDP as capital expenditure, the Armed Forces would have got Rs.3 lakh crore enabling them to meet the shortage of arms and ammunitions. 90 per cent of Rs. 86000 crore will be defrayed only to meet the contracted liabilities which stands to mean that we will have only 10 per cent. Now, the House would like to know if Rs.10000 crore is enough for the modernization of the Army, the Navy and Air Force. Today, what to speak of the fire retardant tents, we don't have even storage facilities for fuel security in the forward bases. Fencing and peripheral boundary wall have not yet been constructed around our forward base army camps. Has the life of our armed forces now become so cheap. As regards equipments, we needed 3.5 lakh bullet proof jackets but we have been able to provide only 50000 during three years. Our snipers don't have modern sight. We should have war wastage reserve at least for 40 days but we have only for 10 days. The second largest army of the world is undergoing a pitiable condition. Despite the fact that, we are running short of 2 lakh assault rifles, 1.5 lakh carbines, 16000 guns, 3.5 thousand sniper rifles, the expenditure are being cut down day by day. The corpus of fund for modernization has been reduced by 6.5 per cent from Rs.21535 crore to Rs.20148 crore. The condition of air force is more pitiable. We need 42 Squadrons for the defence of our country but we have only 33 squadrons according to the Standing Committee on Defence. The UPA Government had struck a deal for 126 Rafael Fighter aircrafts but the present government has reduced the same to 36 aircrafts. Moreover, the price of a fighter aircrafts was decided Rs.715 crore during the UPA regime but the same has been increased to Rs.1615 crore by this Government. Coming to the Navy, we will be in need of 212 warships by the year 2017. Today we have the capacity of 138 warships whereas 458 aircrafts are required. Our scientists are working on the development of the advanced version of Tejas and Arjun tanks. But much more is required to be done in the field of research and at the same time more budgetary provisions are required to be made for the DRDO and PSUs. I would like to make a request to the hon. Finance Minister who is the incharge of Defence also that a proposal sent under lapsable fund by the defence ministry should be approved. It will send a message to the soldiers that the modernization of the armed forces cannot be compromised. THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, MINISTER OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY) intervening said: Security of the country, the preparedness of the armed forces of the country and the preparedness of the country for security - these are not political matters. These are not such matters that may prompt political parties to involve in criticism or counter-criticism. Even today, our armed forces are the largest one in the world. No one amongst us might remember any such example that our armed forces have ever failed to perform their designated duties whenever a crisis has loomed large over our country. There has been insurgency in different areas of the country and our soldiers have to play their role in these areas also. At the same time, natural calamities take place and sometimes all the internal machinery fails to deliver but different sorts of armed forces go there and discharge their duties. The terrorists infiltrate into our country from across the border and attack our soldiers or our para-military forces or innocent citizens - such incidents have been taking place for years. Our Defence forces have been performing their duties commendably to safeguard the borders of our country over the years. So, it would be better to develop a bipartisan approach towards the issues related to the security of the nation. In this regard I would like to submit few points about the whole economic system of our country. We have been making endeavours to provide more resources for the security of the nation. Whatever resources are provided for the security of the country, a major portion is spent on the salaries of soldiers and the pensions of ex-army men. With regard to the resources, I would like to say that whatever resources are available with the government and the country, one of the major and first priority is always the security of the nation. Therefore, whenever we take political positions on those issues we must realise that the size of the entire revenue has to increase. It is only then that the portion, which will be available for the national security will also increase. Ultimately, in each measure which we are taking, in some of which we are altogether and in some of which we may have different points of view, the intention of the government is to increase that base. Similarly, the choice is not between defence expenditure and skill development, India will need both. I would say that our effort whether through various measures that we have been taking in order to check black money, evasion, increase the tax base, GST, etc., ultimately a more resourceful State will always be able to spend more on its primary responsibility for the security of the country and that is one of our primary expenditures. Our defence forces are fully prepared and ready to face any challenge. In the last two years, 2014-15 to 2016-17 and till date , 147 contracts have been concluded of a total value of 200957.66 crore rupees. The equipment such as rockets, radars artillery guns, helicopters, aircrafts, missiles will be supply under these contracts which will meet the critical requirement of the Indian Armed Forces. Additionally, there is a large number of increased capability in many other areas. As far as Make in India is concerned, the objective behind Make in India, of which FDI is one of the components the objective was to start manufacturing indigenously through joint ventures initially instead of importing from other countries. In this regard 134 capital procurement cases have been approved of which 100 proposals worth 251000 crore rupees are of Buy and Make in India category whereas 34 proposals worth 19000 crore rupees are of Buy Global Category. Now, private parties have also been roped in after opening out of FDI policy by our government. In the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, time schedule has also been compressed. Our government has implemented OROP on 7th November, 2015. Two installments of total 4 installments due have been paid and now we are going to make third installment. Anomalies arising due to 7th Pay Commission have been referred to a committee and that Committee is in advance stage and necessary action would be taken by it in this regard. I would like to submit that there is a well established process of procurement on which preparedness depends. That system is doing its job and we are trying to expedite it. There is no question of any compromise with any critical requirement of our armed forces. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI: On behalf of the government, statements have been made on various issues but still I feel that I may give reply to certain points. One of the hon. Member has made mention about the Coco Island which was given to Burma by the then Government in 1950 which has been now leased out to China by Burma which is posing threat to the safety of our country. Similarly, PoK region was also illegally occupied during the earlier government. We all are aware that Kabuvalley of Manipur, Berubali of West Bengal were given to other countries during the period of earlier governments. Similarly, Kacchativu Island was given to Srilanka by the then Congress Government. In 1997, 95000 soldiers were released without going into any permanent resolution or any treaty. Hajipeer, Runn of Kutch, Tilhat Post, engagement of Indian Army with LTTE, and transfer of Teen Bigha to Bangladesh in 1993 are some of the instances when safety of India had been played with. Government has provided 395584 crore rupees as a defence budget of which almost 50 per cent amount would spent on account of pension and salary of defence forces. Defence budget of our country is more than 2 per cent of the GDP.