JOIN USDefence Minister A K Antony on Monday drew flak from Opposition members who blamed him for paying more attention in maintaining his clean image rather than focusing on India’s military preparedness, hampered by slow pace in modernisation for years.
Initiating a debate on defence issues, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj said Antony’s scheme of “no work, no mistake and clean image” was a dangerous policy as it hurts nation’s military.
Members cutting across party lines felt that Antony had created an impression that he did not take decisions and hesitant to act against corrupt officials. “Why everybody is suggesting that you take decision, we are with you. Does it mean that you are not taking any action,” wondered T Devendra Gaud of the Telugu Desam Party.
The discussions in the Rajya Sabha was taking place in the wake of Army Chief Gen V K Singh’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which the General had flagged certain crucial gap areas in Army’s arms and ammunition inventory.