Will not hesitate to spend 5-6 percent of GDP on defense if needed: Rajnath Singh

Will not hesitate to spend 5-6 percent of GDP on defense if needed: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured that if five to six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had to be spent on the defense sector for the security of the country, the government would not back down from it. Along with this, he said that the country’s forces are ready for all types of warfare. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said this while replying to the discussion on the Inter-Services Organization (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill 2023. After his reply, the House passed the bill by voice vote. Lok Sabha has already passed it.

Even before the discussion on the bill, the opposition staged a walkout demanding a discussion on the Manipur issue and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement. Responding to the discussion on the bill, Singh said it was too early to say anything about the Army’s theater commands. He said that if ever a theater command is formed in future, the provisions of the existing bill will be applicable to that too through a notification. The Defense Minister assured the House that the country’s maritime interest is fully protected.

He also assured that “we are prepared for all types of warfare and this process of preparation is going on continuously.” There will be no shortage of financial resources. He said that not only three to four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but if needed, the government would not hesitate to spend five to six per cent of the GDP on the defense sector. He also assured the House that work on the National Security Strategy is going on at an appropriate level. He said that this comprehensive policy had not yet been made, but now work is going on.

Singh said that the Indian Navy is committed to protect the fishermen of the country. Participating in the discussion on the bill, Biju Janata Dal’s Sujit Kumar said that it is a very important bill from the security point of view, so his party supports it. He said that with the enactment of this bill, the efficiency of the inter-service organization would increase and disciplinary proceedings would be resolved quickly. Ayodhya Rami Reddy Ala of YSR Congress expressed hope that the bill would prove to be a guiding light in the matter of coordination among various commands.

He said that this would help in command control. BJP’s Ashok Vajpayee said that all stakeholders were consulted before making this bill. He said that with the enactment of this bill, discipline and a better working environment will be created in the forces. BJP’s Lt Gen (Retd) Dr DP Vats while participating in the discussion on the Bill supported the suggestion of the Theater Command. He said that as of now the strategy of our army is to protect our borders. He said that India is working towards becoming the third largest economy in the world in which theater command will play an important role.

GK Vasan of Tamil Maanila Congress (M), V Vijayasai Reddy of YSR Congress, M Thambidurai of AIADMK, Kanakamedla Ravindra Kumar of Telugu Desam Party, Kamakhya Prasad Tasa of BJP took part in the discussion on the bill and hoped that the bill The provisions of this will enable better co-ordination in the inter-service organization and will help in maintaining discipline. Earlier, presenting the Bill for discussion, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that till now the Army, Air Force and Navy are governed by their respective Acts. But in the case of inter-service organisations, difficulties arise in taking disciplinary action against personnel, he added.

He said that this bill has been prepared after taking information from all the three wings of the army and in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice. He said that this bill provides better disciplinary and administrative powers to the heads of inter-service organizations and this will enable them to bring effective command control and discipline in their organization. This will further strengthen our security infrastructure, he added. The Defense Minister said, “I want to assure the House that this Bill will prove to be a milestone in India’s military reforms.”

The reasons and objects of the bill states that at present the personnel of Indian Air Force, Army and Navy are working under Air Force Act 1950, Army Act 1950 and Navy Act 1957 respectively. According to this, the officers of these three forces have the right to take disciplinary action against the personnel of their service.