Our Minister of Trade and Industries, Anand Sharma, from the
very outset, he took over the industries portfolio always liked to play to the
tunes of Prime Minister, Dr.ManMohan Singh. Mr.Sharma is like a court jester who
is more loyal than the king and he finds delight in it. The gentleman though
soft-spoken and mild-mannered since he assumed his new avatar, perhaps even
before that, is one of the foremost champions of neo-liberal reforms which
since 2009 has exposed itself its dark sides in the form of scams and scandals
which drained the exchequer of crores and crores of rupees. The opacity with
which the deals were implemented amounting to billions and billions of dollars
is known across the nation as a whole. While initiating neo-liberal reforms the
most significant steps which need be taken into account are the feasibility and
transparency of the deals signed with foreign countries so as not in any way
cause loss to the exchequer.
When it comes to the defence deals with other nations like
Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom and USA, the most cardinal steps need to
be observed are the exclusion of middle agents who are pastmasters in the art
of pocketing a sizeable chunk of money,thus depriving the nation of large
funds.
Even after so many instances of middle men siphoning off
large amounts to the tune of millions and millions of dollars as commission the
govt has so far not taken vital steps to stop this dirty practice.
Recently the story of massive fraud came into light by which
a former Air Marshal and his three relatives including a few other persons
reportedly got away with millions of money in a deal with an Italian based
defence firm. Fin Meccanica’s Augusta Westland helicopters numbering about
twelve and it is reported that only three Augusta Westland helicopters have been
delivered to India and the rest nine numbers are to be delivered in due course.
Our defence Ministry is handled by the ‘principled uncorrupt
gentleman’ in the Indian National Congress. Yes, he is none other than
A.K.Antony, under whom the murky deal with the Italian firm was signed without
keeping him aware of it, allegedly by the bureaucrats in his Ministry. On
coming to know about it he was reportedly shocked and without second thoughts
he ordered the cancellation of the contract with Fin Meccanica.
It is relevant at a moment like this, not signing deals with
other countries barring exceptional cases is to take vital steps to manufacture
indigenously developed weapons. Our nation is blessed with skilled-manpower and
the wherewithal to develop weapons indigenously which would benefit us a lot in
the long run.
But Anand Sharma, the esteemed ‘Industries Minister is not
yet convinced. He is still immersed in the make believe world of neo-liberal
reforms which he sees as the panacea for leading our defence sector to
self-sufficiency.
Day before yesterday, in a letter addressed to his Master Dr.
ManMohan Singh he was reported to have recommended to raise 26 percent to 74
percent FDI (Foreign Direct Investmet) in the Defence sector. What would be the
result in the event of raising 26 percent to 74
percent FDI in the Defence Sector
is inexplicable. Even without adhering to much needed transparency in FDIs especially
in a sensitive sector like Defence Sector is to put it simply is a Himalayan
blunder, it is worth remembering that India unlike US and Britain is still a
developing country. While we do have tremendous potential to develop and
manufacture indigenous weapons, why invite massive investments from other
nations?
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