There is a possibility of escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, Dr. Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State for Defence cautioned on Thursday.
“Today we face a difficult neighbourhood with myriad security challanges. On the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the situation is sensitive and incidents of patrolling, transgression and stand-offs are a potential of escalation. While Confidence Building Measures (CBM) are enhanced, we shall take all actions as deemed necessary to endure the sanctity of the LAC,” Dr. Bhamre said addressing the annual Army seminar jointly organised by the Army and Centre for Land Warfare Studies.
Elaborating on it, he said there are so many things going on along all the borders and one of the things might trigger an escalation.
Since the 73-day standoff near the Doklam trijunction, China has beefed up its presence closer to the LAC.
What is the Doklam issue all about?
Contributes to nation building
A large part of our defence budget appears to be a burden on the exchequer but actually goes into nation building, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said addressing the seminar.
“There is always a concern amongst the citizenry and the people in uniform on the defence budget. In the Army Headquarters, we ordered a study on this and our preliminary reports suggest that anything between 35-37 per cent of the annual budget contributes to nation building,” he said.
Observing that local produce in a particular area is purchased by troops in the area giving back in kind, Gen. Rawat said, “We also contribute to taxes, especially income tax, in a very honest manner.”
The third aspect, Gen, Rawat said, was United Nations peacekeeping missions. He said while the services may be spending to maintain troops in U.N. missions, the returns go into the consolidated fund of India.
Gen. Rawat also said that economic development, military modernisation and the existence of the armed forces should go hand-in-hand.
“They cannot be divested from each other. Economic rise will take place if the nation is secure,” he added.
