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Journalism of Courage
Chennai, April 22: Union Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the Government expected Pakistan to create more problems in Jammu and Kashmir once the snow starts melting this summer.
“Indications on these lines are there in some form or the other”. However the Government had taken adequate precautions to deal with the situation and the armed forces would give a fitting reply.
The Minister, talking to mediapersons during a day’s visit to Chennai, said reports about suicide squads trying to sneak into the country from Pakistan have come in, and even three months ago there were substantial evidence to prove that a number of mercenaries had lined up on the other side of the border.
Referring to the Pakistani leadership’s statement now and then creating more Kargil like situations, the Minister said there were lots of development in Jammu and Kashmir and across the border. “So when you make such statements and notice the developments in Jammu and Kashmir and across the border, one has to take the requisite precaution”.
The Defence Minister said “there were no indications on the ground” that US President Bill Clinton’s recent warning to Pakistan against creating tension in the continent had any effect. He did not think Pakistan was prepared to listen to the friendly advice of its long term friend (US).
DEFENCE PRODUCTION: George Fernandes said at least three per cent of the GDP had to be allocatted in the budget for Defence purposes. In the last nine years, there had not been adequate allocation for Defence adversely affecting the country’s preparedness. After he became the Defence Minister, the total allocation made for the defence was 11 per cent in 1998 and 10 per cent in 1999. This year, there was an overall increase of 28 per cent, and much of it was to meet the bills for paying the cost of the Defence materials that were ordered during the Kargil war.
LTTE: On the proposals for extending the ban on the LTTE which is expiring next month, he said he would convey his opinion to the Cabinet. The minister denied knowlege of what transpired between Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, when the latter called on Vajpayee at New Delhi recently to discuss the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.
On the frequent attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan naval personnel on the high seas, he said steps had been taken to protect them. On the demand for retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka, he said he could not make any comment now as the matter relates to two countries.
SEMINAR: Earlier, participating in a seminar and industrial exhibition on Acceleartion of Defence Production Through Joint Sector’ under the auspices of the Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA), the Minister said Vietnam and Poland had evinced keen interest in having joint venture with India to produce defence equipment. If the venture succeeds, it would provide good market in South Asia and African countries. He advised the SSIs to capitalise on the opportunity and called for having a consortium of industries along with the ordinance factories to decide the production and marketing strategy.
He advised the SSIs not to encourage corruption at any level and not to compromise the quality when engaged in production for defence supplies.
Among others, Union Secretary for Defence Production and Supplies Prabir Sengupta, State Small Industries Secretary O P Sosamma, SIDCO CMD A Balraj, Director General (QA) in Ministry of Defence Lt.Gen. Amarjit Singh, National Confederation of Small Industries president M S Parthasarathy, and TANSTIA president P V Sambandan participated.
