Armed forces not cruel, says Manohar Parrikar

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said the armed forces required special powers to ensure that the nation is secure. “The armed forces should not be given special powers for the country’s internal security. However, emergencies and the security of the nation demand special powers for the armed forces. The armed forces exist to counter the insurgency network,” he said.

The defence minister, who was in Pune for the inauguration of a building of the Southern Command and the launch of the book Siachin Ek Dhagdhagta Himkunda by Nitin Gokhale, spoke on various issues faced by the armed forces.

Mr Parrikar clarified that while China had not intruded into Indian territory, for long, she had transgressed in the past. Praising the Indian army, Mr Parrikar said, “The Indian army has never violated human rights. The Indian armed forces are skilful and honest. They are not cruel.”

Speaking about the Air Force aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal on July 22, Mr Parrikar said, “We are trying our best to find out the plane.

There were clouds on that day the plane went missing. We have asked America’s help for synthetic aperture images, which will be helpful in finding the plane.”

Mr Parrikar also took on Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, actor Aamir Khan and retired armymen who had returned their medals.

He criticised Mr Kumar saying, “How can one talk against one’s own country. That person should learn lessons.”

The defence minister added that Mr Khan should be “ashamed” about his statement on his wife expressing a desire to leave the country.

“People have answered him by removing him from advertisements,” Mr Parrikar said.

Slamming ex-servicemen over One Rank One Pension, the minister said, “Ninety five per cent of their demands have been accepted. In spite of this, they started returning medals. I could not keep mum about it as it was like a humiliation for the country.”