<p>"We are moving in the right direction. I am personally monitoring it. So are the Cabinet Secretary and Home Ministry. All of us are jointly doing it," Antony said when asked about delays in appointing a MSA.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Navy Commanders Conference that kicked off here, Antony said Marine Police was a new concept and all the Coastal States should a separate marine police wing.<br /><br />"All coastal states should strengthen the marine police. The Navy and Coast Guard will provide them training. It is a new force and they need all support," he said.<br /><br />He pointed out that the Navy Commanders Conference had discussed the maritime security issues and the coordination among various seafaring departments and enforcement agencies.<br />On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's warning of a possible terror threat, the Defence Minister said the former got information from various sources on security challenges the nation faced and that his observation was based on those intelligence inputs.<br /><br />Antony said the armed forces regularly reviewed their preparedness and the government had given support to strengthening the military whenever needed.<br /><br />"Our armed forces are ever ready to meet challenges to national security. With regard to the Navy, they are now in the process of equipping themselves. They are in a better position now to meet the challenges (of coastal security)," he said, assuring that the Navy had made all arrangements to meet the challenges from any quarters.<br /><br />The Navy Commanders, led by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma, will over the next four days review the coastal security issues in the backdrop of the 26/11 terror attacks, its procurement process and modernisation, apart from issues relating to personnel management and welfare.</p>
<p>"We are moving in the right direction. I am personally monitoring it. So are the Cabinet Secretary and Home Ministry. All of us are jointly doing it," Antony said when asked about delays in appointing a MSA.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Navy Commanders Conference that kicked off here, Antony said Marine Police was a new concept and all the Coastal States should a separate marine police wing.<br /><br />"All coastal states should strengthen the marine police. The Navy and Coast Guard will provide them training. It is a new force and they need all support," he said.<br /><br />He pointed out that the Navy Commanders Conference had discussed the maritime security issues and the coordination among various seafaring departments and enforcement agencies.<br />On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's warning of a possible terror threat, the Defence Minister said the former got information from various sources on security challenges the nation faced and that his observation was based on those intelligence inputs.<br /><br />Antony said the armed forces regularly reviewed their preparedness and the government had given support to strengthening the military whenever needed.<br /><br />"Our armed forces are ever ready to meet challenges to national security. With regard to the Navy, they are now in the process of equipping themselves. They are in a better position now to meet the challenges (of coastal security)," he said, assuring that the Navy had made all arrangements to meet the challenges from any quarters.<br /><br />The Navy Commanders, led by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma, will over the next four days review the coastal security issues in the backdrop of the 26/11 terror attacks, its procurement process and modernisation, apart from issues relating to personnel management and welfare.</p>
