majesticpankaj
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New Delhi: As the ill-fated submarine INS Sindhuratna made its way to the Mumbai harbour it carried with it the news Indian Navy was dreading. The tragic news was the confirmation that its two officers "unaccounted for" during the mishap on board the Russian-built submarine had indeed suffocated to death in a chamber full of toxic smoke.
While seven officers were injured and airlifted, two officers - Lieutenant Commander Kapish Singh Muwal from Delhi and Lieutenant Manoranjan Kumar from Jamshedpur - were trapped for over 24 hours in a compartment filled with toxic smoke and died of asphyxiation.
LT commander Kapish Singh Muwal's brother gave a very emotional statement by saying that had his brother been alive, he would not have called himself a martyr as he died without fighting because of substandard equipments.
"There was a defect in the submarine, everyone knew that there was some defect with this submarine. These are sub standard submarines which have been used. What's the use of repairing a submarine when it's going to explode again,' asked the dead LT Commander's brother.
"I use to tell my brother that why you want to go on a submarine which has no respect for your life. He used to do it just for the love for the country. We should thank those who work for the nation, not make fun of their lives. It was a bad joke with them. When they knew that the submarine is not in proper condition they should not have sent them. We don't need financial help from the government. We pay you taxes, please use them for the upgradation of equipments. Had my brother been alive he would not have called himself a martyr. He died without fighting because of substandard equipments," he said.
However, after Indian Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi resigned on Wednesday evening taking onus for accidents involving warships during his term, there were reports that the relations between him and the Defence Minister AK Antony had become strained over the string of disasters under the former's watch.
The Defence Minister, however, tried to control the damage. Describing the Navy Chief as a 'very good Admiral' and a 'fine human being', the Defence Minister said he is sad about the whole development.
With over 11 major and minor incidents on warships and submarines over the last 10 months, the Navy's saftey track record is under the scanner. But also under the scanner is AK Antony's own track record as Defence Minister. The common complain the forces have against him is that for 10 years he has sat on important files related to upgradation, mordenisation and aquisitions.
As a result India's submarine fleet is down to 13 as compared with China's 50. The purchase of 126 Rafale fighter jets from France to replace Indian Air Force's ageing fleet has also been put on hold.
But the bigger disaster has been the way the Defence Minister has dealt with his chiefs. It is widely believed that had Antony not let the age issue of former Army Chief General VK Singh fester, he could have prevented the ugliness that followed.
The distrust between the Army and the Defence Ministry had reached such a low that the movement of two military units towards Delhi in 2012 had the MOD in a state of panic smelling a coup.
Antony was also criticised for changing his statements in August 2013 when five Indian soldiers were killed at the LoC. He first claimed that it was the handiwork of terrorists dressed in Pakistani Army uniforms and a day later he made a U-turn by blaming the Pakistan Army directly.
The Defence Minister had also come under the scanner for his role in Rs 4000 crore Augusta Westland VVIP chopper deal.
Brother of dead INS Sindhuratna Officer refuses government compensation
While seven officers were injured and airlifted, two officers - Lieutenant Commander Kapish Singh Muwal from Delhi and Lieutenant Manoranjan Kumar from Jamshedpur - were trapped for over 24 hours in a compartment filled with toxic smoke and died of asphyxiation.
LT commander Kapish Singh Muwal's brother gave a very emotional statement by saying that had his brother been alive, he would not have called himself a martyr as he died without fighting because of substandard equipments.
"There was a defect in the submarine, everyone knew that there was some defect with this submarine. These are sub standard submarines which have been used. What's the use of repairing a submarine when it's going to explode again,' asked the dead LT Commander's brother.
"I use to tell my brother that why you want to go on a submarine which has no respect for your life. He used to do it just for the love for the country. We should thank those who work for the nation, not make fun of their lives. It was a bad joke with them. When they knew that the submarine is not in proper condition they should not have sent them. We don't need financial help from the government. We pay you taxes, please use them for the upgradation of equipments. Had my brother been alive he would not have called himself a martyr. He died without fighting because of substandard equipments," he said.
However, after Indian Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi resigned on Wednesday evening taking onus for accidents involving warships during his term, there were reports that the relations between him and the Defence Minister AK Antony had become strained over the string of disasters under the former's watch.
The Defence Minister, however, tried to control the damage. Describing the Navy Chief as a 'very good Admiral' and a 'fine human being', the Defence Minister said he is sad about the whole development.
With over 11 major and minor incidents on warships and submarines over the last 10 months, the Navy's saftey track record is under the scanner. But also under the scanner is AK Antony's own track record as Defence Minister. The common complain the forces have against him is that for 10 years he has sat on important files related to upgradation, mordenisation and aquisitions.
As a result India's submarine fleet is down to 13 as compared with China's 50. The purchase of 126 Rafale fighter jets from France to replace Indian Air Force's ageing fleet has also been put on hold.
But the bigger disaster has been the way the Defence Minister has dealt with his chiefs. It is widely believed that had Antony not let the age issue of former Army Chief General VK Singh fester, he could have prevented the ugliness that followed.
The distrust between the Army and the Defence Ministry had reached such a low that the movement of two military units towards Delhi in 2012 had the MOD in a state of panic smelling a coup.
Antony was also criticised for changing his statements in August 2013 when five Indian soldiers were killed at the LoC. He first claimed that it was the handiwork of terrorists dressed in Pakistani Army uniforms and a day later he made a U-turn by blaming the Pakistan Army directly.
The Defence Minister had also come under the scanner for his role in Rs 4000 crore Augusta Westland VVIP chopper deal.
Brother of dead INS Sindhuratna Officer refuses government compensation