The defence allocation of 1.9 per cent of the GDP is well below the accepted safe level of three per cent. Given the instability in our neighbourhood and the fact that our seas are no longer safe, we need to be stronger to contain the nibbling of our land around unmarked borders.
Military modernisation must pick up and we must import urgently-needed items like artillery pieces and new-generation aircraft. However, our mantra for modernisation must be swadeshi since we cannot afford to depend on imported weaponry to defend our country. Thus, members of both the Houses must press for higher allocations, especially for defence modernisation.
Raghubir Singh Pune
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