..:: India Strategic ::. Navy: Arun Jaitley takes charge as India’s Defence Minister

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Editorial

Arun Jaitley takes charge as India’s Defence Minister

Published: May 2014

New Delhi. Distinguished lawyer and veteran politician Arun Jaitley took charge as India’s new Defence Minister May 27, but himself stated that it was temporary till a new full time minister would be appointed in the coming weeks.

Jaitley made two welcome announcements: that the Government would take speedy decisions to ensure a forward movement in the equipment acquisition process and that there should be no controversy about the next Army Chief, (Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag), who was appointed by the previous Government. “I firmly believe that there should be no controversy on appointment of the person concerned. Some comments may have been made regards the procedure of a person's appointment but there should be no reflection on the person concerned.”

There has been an unnecessary and vicious spat between some top army generals for a few years, and Jaitley's remarks indicated the maturity with which the new government is going to tackle it and calm the waters.

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The minister also flew to Mumbai along with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Robin Dhowan to visit the Western Naval Command June 7, and promised all support to modernise the naval fleets and shore facilities. Two serious submarine accidents recently in this Command have shaken the Navy as well as the country, leading to the resignation of Naval Chief Admiral DK Joshi on moral grounds in February this year.

Just as Jaitley took over, there was a grim reminder however to urgently modernise the Indian Air Force (IAF) combat aircraft; an upgraded MiG-21 Bis crashed in Kashmir while on a routine sortie, killing the young pilot. The minister offered condolences to his family. "Speeding up the (procurement of) equipment required for their (armed forces’) support are going to be priority areas as far as our government is concerned”, he observed, and promised that as Minister of Finance, he would pay due attention to the availability of funds.

As for raising the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) cap of 26 per cent in the defence industry, he said he would look into it.

Top officers of the Ministry, including Defence Secretary RK Mathur, DRDO chief and India’s top defence scientist Dr Avinash Chander, and the three Service Chiefs, General Bikram Singh, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Admiral Robin Dhowan called on him.