The defence portfolio is the most important portfolio for India when on both the sides India is surrounded by the hostile neighbours; Pakistan is the worst as it came into being to oppose India. Hence, India needs a well versed defense minister to handle the most complicated defensive system. In the history of independent India, only once India lost its war against China because of the amateur defense minister Krishna Menon who was smart in some other field but never in defense. Then Y.B. Chawan came to head this ministry and while taking up this portfolio, he said “I am going to Delhi from Maharastra to get back the thousands of acres of land China captured from us in that war”. But in the end, what has happened? China subsequently captured more Indian land because our defense system was weak and not capable to face the onslaught neither of China nor currently of Pskistan. In such a situation, India cannot afford to leave the task of protecting the nation’s borders into the hands of amateur person like Manohar Parricar who may be good in some other field.
Before the starting of Gulf War for the liberation of Kuwait, The US President George Bush Sr. brought in the expert in defense and armament system, Dick Chenney under whose leadership USA fought the war and liberated Kuwait. I still remember one eyed man Moshe Dayan of Israel who as defense strategist of Israel made the entire Arab world headed by Gamal Nasser of Egypt eat a humble pie in the Arab-Israeli war of 1965 when Nasser arrogantly vowed to dump tiny Israel into the sea.
Parricar is no doubt a smart man but surely not in the defense. He is a big risk in India’s defense system. His knowledge of modern complicated war system is nil, I don’t know whether he fired at least a shot from Airgun. Besides, his interest revolved more around Goan politics. He is known to apply his mind more for Goan politics than for defense. In the current Pathankot terrorist attack his leadership failed the nation very much. When the situation was so dangerous he instead of confining himself to the danger zone to monitor the situation he was seen spending time in Goa lecturing his partymen on Goan politics. This does not suit a responsible person who is the guardian of country’s borders. In the end he will prove to be a shame for Goa.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.