Probe NDA defence deals: Pranab Mukherjee

THE NEW TEAM'S FIRST DAY

New Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee today held out an implicit threat to the NDA government by saying that some defence deals signed by the previous government might be investigated if it was so warranted.

"If specific charges come up regarding defence deals concluded by the BJP-led government, these would be looked into" he said.

Mukherjee said one of his priorities would be to ensure money allocated for defence expenditure was spent and did not lapse as was happening earlier.

He also made light of his predecessor George Fernandes' frequent visits to Siachen glacier, saying he would not indulge in any such "self projection"

"My aim in the defence ministry is to strive to get things done and not for self projection", he told reporters as he took charge of his ministry.

He was asked whether, like his predecessor, he too would visit to Siachen frequently, stay in submarines and fly in accident prone MiG-21 fighters. Fernandes paid 33 visits to the world's highest battlefield during his tenure as minister.

Mukherjee said the new government had an open mind on the appointment of country's first ever Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Simultaneously, he said the government would accord top most priority to push for real time integration of the three services.

The minister also said the new government wanted to ensure that institutional arrangement for arms procurement was made transparent and these cover both emergency and well as regular purchases.

The new government, he said, was committed to bringing about total transparency in defence purchases.

Spelling out the priorities of the new government on security issues, he said the ongoing modernisation and upgradation of weaponary and training of the armed forces would be carried out with redoubled vigour and emphasis would be to ensure that all allocated funds for strategic systems were utilised and not not allowed to lapse as was happening earlier.

"The budget resources of the country are scarce and efforts have to be made that they are optimally spent.Whatever is required for security of the nation would be made available", he said.

Mukherjee contested the charge that the Congress was less interested in security matters and that the sharpestt fall in the defence budget was when Congress was the ruling party at the centre.

He said his party had always had a bold and consistent stand on issues relating to security of the country.