Kargil panel chief blasts `political elite’

“In which other country is the nuclear doctrine waiting to be discussed in Parliament? It has been ready since last August…in which other country, despite the multi-fold increase in the Defence budget, it’s not even discussed in the House,” he added.

“What are the political elite of this country doing?” he asked. On the action taken after the submission of his report, he said it had only been five months and a study group had already been set up. “But the study group too needs to work harder and should not take more than three to four months to submit their recommendations. And then they can be acted upon,” he said.

On the revamping of the intelligence agencies, Subrahmanyam said the committee (which also included journalist B.G. Verghese and retired Lt Gen K K Hazari) had recommended “complete root and branch change in the intelligence agencies”.

“And that cannot be done in a short time. The government’s pace is so far alright but it is the elite political class which has to take genuine interest in national security and not just ask who is guilty and who should be hanged,” he added.