CAG highlighted gaps in defence in Dec 2011 but govt remained inactive: Report

Army Chief General V.K. Singh's leaked letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had highlighted the country's lack of defence preparedness. However, newspaper reports on Friday said the government was already in the know of the gaps in India's defence from a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in December 2011. It was, therefore, not surprising that instead of addressing the issue raised by the Army chief the government focus was on investigating how such sensitive information was leaked to the media. In its report, the CAG draws attention to the critical gaps in the country's defence. According to its findings, artillery used in the Indian Army is obsolete as troops are still using technology of World War 2 and the 1970s.   The report has also given a regiment-wise break up and highlighted how they lack the necessary firepower. Acquisition of new weapons, which was a part of the 10th army plan of 2002-2007, have not yet materialised affecting preparedness. The report also paints a grim picture for the Navy saying the country lacks competitiveness in sea. The CAG says that the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which has the authority to look into the findings of the auditor, did not take it up for scrutiny that time. There are 22 members representing all parties on the panel headed by the BJP's Murali Manohar Joshi. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cag-report-lack-of-defence-preparedness/1/183244.html#comment