Parrikar is Goa CM: Why he will be dearly missed at his old charge

“For Make in India, FDI levels have to be increased to 49 per cent through the automatic route and an even higher percentage can be considered,” Parrikar had said, while announcing the amended Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) last year in Goa. He encouraged public sector units in the sector to have ties with private defence majors. And, exhorted the Ordinance Factory Boards (OFB) to ramp up production and reduce the shortage of ammunition. Parrikar is also credited with simplifying of industrial licensing rules and on cutting red tape.

He’d craftily handled the controversial appointment of General Bipin Rawat as new army chief. Rawat had superseded Lt General Praveen Bakshi and Lt Gen P M Hariz, both senior to him. Before that, Parrikar stood his ground during the 2015 visit of French President Francois Hollande by not signing the Rafale fighter deal. It is said he negotiated hard with the French before placing an order for 36 jets.

In sum, he ended the policy paralysis of the previous government and chaired meetings of the Defence Acquisition Council to review all procurement projects. The government has already cleared procurement of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. 

The biggest challenge for his successor would be getting clearance for a a similar amount in the near future.

The successor would also need to ensure  major Indian defence players invest in the country, as they’re still sceptical of getting large orders from the armed forces. The successor would also be under pressure because of increased terrorist attacks on defence installations and growing presence of Chinese might in the Indian Ocean region.

Sources also spoke of the “enormous” challenges ahead in UP after the stunning mandate. “We have to provide a semblance of governance, restore law and order, and balance the competing demands from castes,” a state MP said.

Not the least of the BJP’s tasks in UP will be accommodating the demands and wishes of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS and its affiliates formed the linchpin of the BJP’s ‘wrest UP’ project but typically lay low. Mandate won, BJP sources said, the Sangh’s presence could be “more visible” and the audio level “more vocal” on issues such as legislating a common civil code, shutting down slaughter houses and allocating more land for crematoriums.