PANAJI, Nov 21:
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the armed forces in Kashmir have complete power to shoot at those wielding guns, instead of waiting for the terrorists to open fire and “getting martyred”.
“When I took over as the Defence Minister, the first thing I told them (soldiers) that if you see machine gun or pistol in anyone’s hand, don’t expect that he has come to say hello to you. Before you get martyred, you should eliminate him,” Parrikar said addressing BJP’s election rally at Vasco last evening.
“In Kashmir our Army was fighting with the terrorists. Congress Government had given them direction that till they (terrorist) fires bullet on you, you don’t retaliate,” he said, claiming that the morale of the Army has gone up since Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has come to power in the Centre.
In the backdrop of intense ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Parrikar said the Indian troops have complete power and they are giving apt reply to the enemy.
“Our soldiers now don’t need to seek permission from the Defence Ministry to fire at the person who fires at them. They have complete power and they are giving apt reply to our enemy. I feel bad that some of our soldiers are martyred,” the former Chief Minister said.
Parrikar said it took almost six to eight months for him to understand the functioning of the Ministry.
“I was initially not understanding how Defence Ministry works. It took 6-8 months for me after that I understood,” the former Goa Chief Minister said.
Parrikar said the recent surgical strike across the LoC has put forth the message that the Government will not be aggressive, but at the same time “will also not take things lying down”.
He also said the cross-border tension would ease if Pakistan stops violating ceasefire agreement.
“Surgical strike has given a message that Indian Government will not be aggressive but will also not take things lying down,” Parrikar said.
Responding to questions on the Army’s action against terror camps and the recent rise in ceasefire violations across the border, Parrikar said if the ‘timetable’ of such violations is observed, there is always some political angle to them.
“The tension between India and Pakistan would cool down only when Pakistan will stop violating ceasefire agreement,” he said.
Parrikar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to improve the relations between the two countries “but he was severely criticised”.
We welcome good relations always, but not at the cost of national interest,” he added.
When asked about growing indigenisation of technology in ship building and missiles, the Defence Minister said, “We want to achieve 75 per cent indigenisation of technology at least. One must not forget that 100 per cent indigenisation of such technology is not possible anywhere in the world.”
Parrikar also said that the need is to increase the speed to clear the backlog of projects.
“Most of the defence projects are streamlined and the waiting period for their commencement and completion has come down drastically. We need to increase the speed and focus on projects more so that we will complete the backlog. Synergy of various departments has helped to achieve it,” he said.
Earlier, the Minister commissioned ‘INS Chennai’, the third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class.
Built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, the ship’s construction also marks the end of the Project 15A to build Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers. (PTI)
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