Arm deals, soldiers and more: Parrikar interacts with media

Panaji, 30 November 2014

Nation comes first in arms deals: Parrikar

India’s interests will be primary during arms purchases, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said Sunday, but added he was willing to consider “other issues”, when asked about objections from the Left against military deals with Israel.

Parrikar, in Goa on a non-official visit, was speaking to reporters when he was asked about Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury’s demand that India should stop buying arms from Israel because it was using the money to fund atrocities on Palestinians.

In response, Parrikar said: “I do not know exactly what Yechury said, therefore I will not comment. But my arms procurement will be in the interest of this country. The interests of my country will be primary. After this, if there are other issues, they can be considered… after that.”

Yechury, who also addressed the media in Panaji earlier Sunday, demanded that Parrikar should stop arms deals with Israel.

“The defence minister should immediately put an end to the ongoing defence deals with Israel because the same money is being used to attack Palestinians,” Yechury said.

‘Rs.3 crore bond from Korean defence firm confiscated’

After scrapping the deal for South Korean minesweeper warships, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Sunday said that his ministry has confiscated the Rs.3 crore integrity bond which was promised at the time of an agreement.

“Because agents were named, the tender has been called off. The Rs.3 crore given by the company by way of integrity bond has been confiscated,” Parrikar told reporters here Sunday.

South Korea-based firm Kangnam Corporation signed a deal with the defence ministry to sell two mine counter-measures vessels (MCMWs) for Rs.2,700 crore and sharing technology with the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a public sector shipyard a couple of years back.

The scrapping of the deal, over the issues of agents used by the company to negotiate the deal, was the first major decision take by Parrikar, after he was elevated as the defence minister earlier this month.

Parrikar said the defence ministry was considering that the GSL should be allowed to construct the MSMWs on its own, while at the most sourcing the required technology internationally.

“In principle, what we have worked out is that all the eight minesweepers should be given to the GSL to be built. That is the line of thinking,” Parrikar said.

“We do not have the technology to go completely indigenous. Collaboration will be restricted only to hi-tech items and technology transfer,” he said.

Soldiers more important than arms they carry: Parrikar

When it comes to the country’s defence, military personnel are more important than their weapons, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said Sunday, largely blaming man-management issues for the spate of suicides in India’s armed forces.

Parrikar, in Goa on a three-day visit, said while he had asked his ministry to explain the reasons behind the suicides, issues like prolonged deployment in remote areas, their welfare and quick redressal mechanisms were being worked out.

Ninety-nine soldiers committed suicide in 2014.

“I believe that more than armaments, the person behind it is a stronger defence for the country,” Parrikar told reporters here.

The former Goa chief minister largely blamed man-management conflict for suicides among military personnel.

“According to me, it is a man-management issue. I think it has to be resolved in two-three ways.

“One is counseling. The others are issues of service personnel (which) have to be addressed. Quick redressal mechanism is one of the solutions. More tribunals, more informal arrangements (have to be created) to solve the problems,” Parrikar said.

He said soldiers need to be supported better by providing them with family accommodation, which could resolve the issue of isolation, which soldiers feel when they are away from their family for long periods.

When pointed out that in case of suicide by soldiers, the finger often pointed to the possible harassment by his superior officer, Parrikar said that while one cannot intervene in inter-personal relationships at every point, “by making a redressal mechanism, it can be resolved”.

“There are many issues. My clear direction is to improve welfare measures for them (military personnel). Army’s welfare is one of the most important aspects which I am tackling,” Parrikar said.