RS members enraged at middlemen’s role in defence procurement

NEW DELHI, DEC 24: Rajya Sabha members led by industrialist Jayant Malhotra on Thursday expressed concern over the role of middlemen in de...

NEW DELHI, DEC 24: Rajya Sabha members led by industrialist Jayant Malhotra on Thursday expressed concern over the role of middlemen in defence procurement deals, which, they said, was seriously jeopardising the national security.

Malhotra named about a dozen middlemen, who, he alleged, were manipulating crucial defence procurement and burdening the defence forces with outdated and sub-standard equipment. He said arms and equipment worth about Rs 30,000 crore were lying in a state of disuse with the country’s defence establishments as a result of manipulations by the middlemen.

Malhoutra alleged some defence officers had links with the middlemen in arms deals. A senior Army officer, he said, had even enjoyed the hospitality of one arms dealer in London.

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Defence Minister George Fernandes said that in spite of his efforts, he had not been able to lay his hands on any concrete proof to nab the middlemen. He announced all the allegations raised by the members would be investigated.Senior BJP leader K RMalkani asked the government to convene a special secret session of Parliament to discuss the defence procurement policy and also the members’ concerns over Indian’s position on CTBT and its relationship with the USA.

Malkani, whose remarks were greeted with applause by the Opposition, said in spite of Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh’s assurances about his talks with US Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, disturbing signals were emanating from that country.

Malkani asked the government to explain wether USA’s “dictatorial tone on the CTBT” was indicative of “your being ready to yield the ground”. He asked why had the government has given up the option of submarine missiles.Congress member Kapil Sibal asked the government to formulate a comprehensive defence procurement policy and involve the Members of Parliament into the procurement system and make it more transparent.

Members asked the government to utilise the full potential of the ordnance factories and reduce the country’s dependence on foreignpurchases. “Why can’t we utilise the idle sitting leather manufacturing units of Kanpur for making the snow shoes for jawans deployed in Kargil,” asked Jayant Malhotra, who claimed the debate on “sensitive issue like defence” was the result of his two years of persistent efforts.

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Replying to the debate, Fernandes said in spite of the resource constraint, all efforts were being made to update India’s defence preparedness. He said the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was being developed for about 20 years by Indian scientists and would be tested within a fortnight. He denied allegations that the government had placed orders for the Russian T-90 tanks and had shelved the plan to manufacture the indigenously-built Arjun tanks.Fernandes also announced the government’s decision to purchase the Russian Smerch multi-barrel rocket system urgently. “We had to buy it in view of our Kargil experience,” he claimed.