THE biggest ever indigenous defence procurement programme, kickstarted with the Rs 48,000 crore deal to buy 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, is the new path that India is seeking to follow to shore up its defence. A contract was signed with State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the single-engine but highly agile multi-role supersonic aircraft to pave way for home production of defence equipment needed by the Armed Forces. Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh’s assertion that India could not remain dependent on other countries for its defence underlines the sentiment of the ruling dispensation on cranking up the domestic defence industry to contribute its might in the national cause. Indigenous defence equipment manufacturing is a necessity for India to calibrate its spending on defence budget. Importing cutting-edge weaponry is one part of the defence mechanism but it has to be backed by home-grown artillery and aircraft to maintain fiscal balance. The manufacturing of Tejas LCA is prime example of how a deft balance can be maintained on various quality parameters but at a comparatively cheaper expense.

 

IF THE allegations made by a physically-challenged widow in Kanpur district against police are found true in a free and fair enquiry then the case should act as a starting point for severe punishment to policemen behaving in a rogue manner with hapless public. The widow has alleged that local policemen demanded money from her to fill diesel in their vehicles so that they would search for her minor daughter who was kidnapped by a relative last month. The woman’s plight did move the top police brass who took a swift action to remove the police post in-charge but the missing daughter is yet to be traced. The episode highlights how some policemen use the sacred khakhi to exploit innocent citizens. The problem is widespread in police force across the country as each day one stumbles upon complaints of police high-handedness with complainants. The Ministry of Home Affairs initiated many programmes including courtesy week for better coordination between police and civilians but those seem to work only as cosmetic exercises, if the Kanpur incident is taken into consideration. Trust deficit still remains a big chasm between police and public. The sooner the problem is addressed the better it is for all.