Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: Training guns on Narendra Modi led BJP Govt at the Centre for effecting big reduction in the Defence budget of the country, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today said that with this decision all the three wings of the Defence forces have been affected while the unrest in Kashmir valley is the outcome of the big fraud committed with the mandate of Kashmiri people.
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Addressing a press conference here today, Manpreet Badal, a senior Congress leader and an important Minister in Amrinder Singh Government in Punjab, said that past three years of Modi Govt have proved disastrous for the country. He claimed during three years, the Modi Govt announced a sharp reduction in the Defence budget from Rs 1,32,597 crore to Rs 94,587 crore in first year while from the actual demand of Rs 1,04,399 crore to Rs 94,588 crore during the second year while in third it was against the actual demand of Rs 1,09,449 crore to Rs 79,370 crore. So, nearly 32,555 crore remained unspent during this period. During 2017-18, a cut in the Defence budget to the tune of Rs 8058 crore has been witnessed. It is unfortunate that IAF’s righter fleet has fallen to a record low of 32 squadrons against the Air Force demand of 45 Squadrons.
Badal pointed out that after cancelling UPA purchase of 126 Rafale aircrafts, BJP announced self purchase of 36 French Rafale aircrafts in 2016 but till date not a single delivery of the said aircraft has been seen, neither the rates have been decided, compromising air power of the IAF. Not only this, Armed Forces are facing massive shortage of 9242 officers, 25,472 JCOs and 52,000 jawans. Congress led UPA Govt raised Mountain Strike Corps along the China border with 90,274 traditional soldiers at the cost of Rs 64,678 crore but under BJP Govt, it lies in the lurch.
Referring to the security situation, Punjab Finance Minister said last three years of Modi Govt has witnessed an endangered national security and various failures on the foreign policy, specially lack of any policy to deal with Pakistan and the neighbouring countries. He said, there has been rise in incidents of ceasefire violations, killings of the civilians and security forces along borders and also in militancy related incidents. Under Modi regime country witnessed 172 terror strikes including 12 major attacks including that of Pathankote and Uri. He said 578 jawans and 871 civilians were killed in three years, out of which 203 soldiers were martyred in J&K.
Replying to a question, Badal said unrest in Kashmir was the outcome of the fraud with the mandate of people there. The people voted against BJP and tried to keep this party out of power in Valley but PDP joined hands with BJP to frame Govt and now Jammu is also simmering with discontent due to policies of BJP. These people are feeling cheated now.
On the issue revival of militancy in Punjab, Badal said it is not the case. There may be a few mad people raising the bogey. But, rest assure militancy will not be revived in Punjab. Punjabis have already suffered a lot now they can not afford it any more. On Shahpur Kandi barrage and Ravi water sharing dispute, Punjab Minister said that issue is almost settled now and J&K Govt needs to ratify the agreement. Punjab is willing to settle it at any cost now, Badal said.
Senior PCC leaders, Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, Ravinder Sharma, Manjit Singh, Manmohan Singh, Namrata Sharma, Vikram Malhotra, Anil Chopra and Indu Pawar also accompanied Badal.
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