'Indian army can't run short of ammunition' - The Times of India
NASHIK: Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday reiterated that on the basis of his experience in his earlier stint as the nation's defence minister,
he was certain that the army can never run short of ammunition and it always had sufficient stock to tackle any eventuality.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a whirlwind tour of Nashik, the former Defense Minister Pawar said, "While ammunition is utilized in the daily exercises of the defense forces, it also has to be disposed. However, at any given time, the army has sufficient ammunition to tackle any eventuality."
Pawar's remarks came in the light of army chief General V K Singh's letter to the prime minister, asking the latter to pass suitable directions to enhance the army's preparedness. Singh's letter to the PM had pointed out that the army's tank regiments were devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks and the existing air defence systems were not in a position to effectively protect the country against enemy air attacks.
About Singh's allegation that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a contract for trucks, Pawar said that he failed to understand why the army chief was pointing out such things after so many years. "Had he told the Centre about the offer he was made at the very same time, things would have been taken care of right then," he said.
Expressing his views about the different reports about the army's movement towards Delhi, Pawar also clarified that he was sure that India's defence forces would never indulge in anything that 'might happen in neighbouring countries'.