Army purchased arms from abroad before surgical strikes, reveals Goa CM


Panaji: Referring to the "surgical strikes" India carried out on militant bases across the LoC during his tenure as the defence minister in September 2016, Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said he believed in secrecy but disclosed that during the planning of the strikes, mobile phones were switched off.

"When you talk to one additional person, the secrecy never remains. In fact, the surgical strikes were planned with mobile phones kept 20 metres away. Not only they were put off but kept 20 metres away so that nothing leaks," he said.

"And I am very proud to say only one thing: I must have had between Uri (terror attack on Indian Army's base) and actual (surgical) strikes something like 18-19 meetings, which includes (meetings with) Army top brass and also defence ministry's officers, but nothing leaked out," he said.

Some officers were flown to foreign capitals to make arrangements for armaments and ammunitions before the surgical strikes, Parrikar revealed.

"We had to send officers with authority to carry out on the spot purchase. When you work out something, your preparation has to be perfect to ensure that everything is taken care (of)," he said.

But keeping secrets was also demanding, he noted.

"When you don't tell anyone, you tend to build up stress. Normally stress is relieved by discussing with friends, but in defence you are not in a position to discus any of the issues with anyone, whether it is Myanmar surgical strike or PoK surgical strike, I virtually didn't sleep because of the pressure," the former defence minister said.

Parrikar said that the defence ministry plays the role of "backroom boys" in successfully conducting international diplomacy.

The Goa chief minister was speaking at the Goa Arts and Literature Festival in Panaji, where he launched the book 'Securing India The Modi Way', written by strategic analyst Nitin Gokhale.

"What prime minister (Narendra Modi) did was beyond imagination... He activated the diaspora and created a world of his own amongst many of the nations," Parrikar said.

He said he had seen how respectfully presidents and prime ministers of foreign countries talked about Modi.

Parrikar said Modi has "created real friendships" and he was proud to say as a defence minister he was a part of that, "because foreign diplomacy is not only (the preserve of) the external affairs ministry."

"External affairs ministry is the face of the foreign policy, defence (ministry officials) are the backroom boys.

Defence does the actual exercise, which needs to be done," he said.

"When you talk about Mauritius, the agreements were signed by the external affairs ministry, the executing work was done by the defence ministry," he said, referring to India's engagement with that country to strengthen its coast guard services.

 

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Flavian dsouza, chik/bengaluru

    Mon, Dec 11 2017

    Mobile phone switched off and kept 20 mts . what is the former defence minsiter talking ???christmas season wonthe peg jasti aanda andhu .

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Mon, Dec 11 2017

    Mud slugging now may not be a viable and acceptable proposition

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    In the past Comptroller and Auditor General of India. reported, that around 40% of the Indian Army’s ammunition will not last more than 10 days in a war. The military does not have the minimum required stock of 55% of the 152 types of arms it uses for operational preparedness in case of war.
    The CAG report also noted that a Defence Ministry plan chalked out in 2013 to meet the deficit in the Army’s artillery by 2019 had not been implemented yet.
    The audit also found deficiencies in the performance of the Ordnance Factory Board, which manufactures 90% of military equipment, and that the functioning of its factories had not improved since 2013.
    The report further said that there was a dearth of high-calibre ammunition and artillery, such as fuzes, which are fitted to artillery shells just before they are fired. Their availablity had dropped by 6% from 89% in 2013 to 83% in 2017.
    Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar in his tenure believed terror to neutralise terror and trusted 'Andhra chili' has finally said the truth.
    While PM Modi has pushed the 'national interest' and 'national integrity' by buying 'Rafale' Jet deal two times the original agreed price during UPA II and also awarded Rs 30,000 crores to his capitalist friend of Reliance who has 'zero' experience snatching away the award from public sector HAL.
    The BJP has finally acknowledged that 'Make in India' is the myth. The CAG report is the truth.

    To date BJP is yet proved the 'surgical strike' indeed happened which carried out prior to the Uttar Pradesh elections. Whereas Pakistan has taken the international journalist to the stricken area by Helicopter survey and proved wrong.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • SK, MANGALORE

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Modi and team acts like before 2014 there was nothing in India. What about two wars India fought with Pakistan and won. First of all credit should go to soldiers and army think tank.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    I am very much surprised Mr Ex Defence Minister after all your perfectly glorious efforts and accomplishments you were sacked and that post was vacant for nearly 1 year and was looked after by another make shift cartoon minister and you were given one honorary position of CM to cover your face for being kicked out as defence minister. Do you miss something here?????....

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Clifford, Mangalore

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    We are more interested to know about your achievements in Goa and how you became CM, how much did you pay for MLA's to jump to your party etc.
    Please don't boast about yourself as defence minister as you did not do anything. It was our brave , selfless and non corrupt soldiers did all that and you are only trying to get credit for it.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Ha Ha Ha ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • monu, Mulki

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Truth is bitter to swallow,isnt it?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praja kiya, Kudla

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Surgical strike is considered as one of the successful / daring military act, it will remain in the history of Indian military achievements forever. As ex defense minister rightly said thorough planning, quick decision making, maintaining secrecy and quality execution is ingredient for the success of such precise / dare devil acts. No doubt this specific strike completely changed the image of Indian defense capabilities at world stage.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohan. Kottari, Blre

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    External affair ministr sushma is powerless.she never accomany vth modi while foreign tour. Sushma is not modis favourite,,,she is ftom advani camp.coz of senior bjp , she has given by forcely that post. Parkiar is gd man .he never likes remote control of MODI, THATS y he left defence minstetpr post. Nd joined goa cm post. He is honest. Not like center bjp FEKU MINISTER. He is educated nd good human beining nd simple person.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Now Indian government cabinet ministers work in a team and not like remotely controlled Italian mafia...

    During 10 years of UPA rule have you ever seen MMS alone addressing press conference without Italian madam?

    DisAgree [9] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohan sr., Mangalore

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Total irresponsible defence minister ....

    DisAgree [6] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Pokkade

    DisAgree [6] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Parikkar you are great...
    Your service is definitely needed for our country.... and not of Babur bhakts... Theirs is fake bhakthi for India..
    You are genuine 24 carrot...

    DisAgree [22] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arshad Kadli, Bhatkal/ Alkhobar

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    Why do you insult a person by calling him 24 CARROTS?
    If in case you mean 24 Carat (as the gold), still it means he is very soft (but pure) which cannot suit a defense minister.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • NAGESH NAYAK, MANGALORE

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    WHY IS HE GIVING IDEAS TO PAKISTANIS

    DisAgree [5] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hussain, Abu Dhabi

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    As an ex Defense Minister of India, he shouldn't be revealing all these details.
    DOMBARATA IS MUST FOR THESE GUYS TO GET VOTES

    DisAgree [11] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    There is no problem leaking now...
    Next time they will use different idea...

    DisAgree [11] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    After the implementation of 'first time idea' the year 2016 recorded 64 casualties of our army personnel, the higest in 8 years. There has been 45% increase in casualties in 2017 as of June 30th. Casualties of civilians increased by 164%! .

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    After an earthquake there are after shocks ..

    Do you know what are casualties in their side?

    They took dead bodies in many trucks..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Report Abuse

  • mahesh, Mangalore

    Sun, Dec 10 2017

    One of the best defence minsters of India.
    So much better than A K Antony, who could even finalise a fighter aircraft deal after 10 years of starting the process.

    DisAgree [32] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Army purchased arms from abroad before surgical strikes, reveals Goa CM



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.