Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 29: The shortage of ammunition and some equipment with Army will figure prominently at a high level meeting tomorrow the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Defence will have with the Army Commanders including Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda at Command Headquarters in Udhampur tomorrow.
This is first visit of the PSC on Defence in Jammu and Kashmir after takeover of Narendra Modi Government. The visit assumed significance with yesterday’s hard stance taken by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) had to stay if the Army had to operate in Jammu and Kashmir. The PSC will also visit Balidan Stambh in Jammu and return to New Delhi on May 31.
Official sources told the Excelsior that 28 members PSC on Defence headed by BJP MP from Uttarakhand Maj Gen BC Khanduri will visit Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur tomorrow morning for direct inter-action with top Army Commanders including Lt Gen Hooda, who will give detailed presentation to the Panel on operational preparedness of the Army and their short term and long term requirements on the frontiers.
“The shortage of ammunition, equipments and other items with the Army, which had already been pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of (CAG) of India and Defence experts, will be high on agenda of the Parliamentary Committee as Northern Command defends country’s frontiers with the two neighbours-China and Pakistan apart from fighting militancy on the Line of Control (LoC), backed by Pakistan and the militant commanders based there,” sources said.
Maj Gen Khanduri, a retired Army official, who had also served as Uttarakhand Chief Minister, which shares boundary with China and Nepal, had been strong votary of meeting all requirements of the Army including equipping them with ammunition and equipments not only to effectively meet challenges of enemy on the LoC but on the frontiers, if required.
“Though India has several times reiterated that it stand for peace with its all neighbours including Pakistan and China, it want to strengthen to troops to meet the might of China’s People’s Liberations Army (PLA), which has been trying to gain supremacy in the sub continent backed by infrastructure right up to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), bordering India,” sources said.
There had been reports that Indian Army’s ammunition might not last 20 days in case of conflict.
Sources said the Army was likely to strongly project its case of land for at least 10 Field Firing Ranges (FFRs) in Jammu and Kashmir as lease of land of some of the FFRs has expired and Army has been hit hard due to lack of training opportunities for its personnel within the State. It had to send its troops outside the State especially Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for training in the absence of FFRs.
The previous Government had refused to extend lease of Tosa Maidan and Kaleeth Army firing ranges. Army had taken up the issue of the FFRs with new Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at the Unified Headqua-rters meeting. The issue had subsequently been referred to Civil-Military Liaison Conference, which is yet to be held.
Sources said Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), strengthening of Counter-Insurgency Grid, anti-infiltration measures on the LoC, internal security situation and other issues pertaining to security on the borders with China and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir will also figure in the meeting.
“The panel would also be briefed on revamping of training of Defence personnel, state of operational preparedness of the Army, state of border roads, including strategic Ladakh region, major research and development by the DRDO and research and development by PSUs,” sources said.
While the Northern Army Commander along with other senior Army officers would brief the Parliamentary Committee, the Panel members including the Chairman would also like to acquaint themselves completely with the security situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir especially on the borders with Pakistan and China as they have to draft a detailed report on the situation.
Headed by Maj Gen BC Khanduri as Chairman, the Parliamentary Committee on Defence comprised Murli Manohar Joshi, Thupstan Chhewang, Ambika Soni, HD Deve Gowda, Vinod Khanna, Capt Amarinder Singh, Vinay Katiyar, Tarun Vijay, Madhusudan Mistry, Suresh C Angadi, Shrirang Appa Barne, Dharambir, Col Sonaram Choudhary, G Hari, Ramesh Jigajinag, Shoba Karandlaje, Dr Mriganka Mahato, Malla Reddy, Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah, AP Jithender Reddy, KR Arjunan, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, AU Singh Deo, Harivansh, Hishey Lachungpa and Narendra Budanro.
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