New Delhi: The defence modernization had “slowed down” in the last few years and providing the required equipment to the armed forces in a speedy manner would be the top priority of the Modi government, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday.
He did not elaborate but was apparently referring to the delay in acquisition of modern equipment for the armed forces such as the 126 multirole combat aircraft, 197 light helicopters and a number of other acquisitions stuck up in the Ministry due to one reason or the other during his predecessor AK Antony’s regime.
“This is an issue, which in both limbs, would be dealt by both my departments. It has already come up in my preliminary discussions today and therefore I do not want to say anything more before I look deeply into the matter.”
He said if the 26 percent FDI in defence had been “introduced during the Vajpayee government… These are areas which I am personally willing to examine.”
Soon after taking over, Jaitley held a series of meetings with the various departments of the Defence Ministry. He held meetings with the three Services chiefs, the Defence Secretary, Secretary (Exservicemen Welfare) and Secretary (Defence Production) and all the officers above the rank of Joint Secretary in the Ministry.
Rao Inderjit Singh has also joined the Defence Ministry as the Minister of State for Defence.
