Country’s security up due to developments in neighbourhood: Antony

NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Saturday that rising economic stature of the country had brought with it several challenges and the security apparatus has been upgraded in view of developments in and around India’s neighbourhood.

“Our rising economic stature has brought with it several challenges. The developments in and around our neighbourhood have forced us to review and upgrade our security apparatus. The security measures taken by us are often misunderstood by some nations,” Antony said in his address to the armed forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day.

“However, we have always been a peace-loving nation and we will continue to strive for peaceful relations with all our neighbours,” he said.

Paying his tributes to martyrs and conveying his greetings and best wishes to both uniformed and civilian personnel of the three wings of armed forces on the occasion, Antony said that the country’s forces guard the land, sea and air frontiers in harsh weather conditions and in forbidding terrains.

He said the government had taken several steps to strengthen the security apparatus, particularly along the coastline after 26/11 Mumbai attack.

“We have cleared the setting up of four air enclaves at Goa, Kochi, Vizag, and Mangalore. Coastal security has been strengthened, with acquisitions of new systems and platforms,” he said.

Pointing out that the government would like the modernization process to proceed hand-in-hand with indigenisation, the minister said that success in the development of the indigenous nuclear submarine - INS Arihant - must be replicated in other fields also.

Antony said steps had taken steps to address problems of soldiers serving in high altitude areas.

The minister said that thought the forces faced tremendous pressure, the need for exercising maximum restraint cannot be over-emphasised.

“I wish to stress that any instance of human rights violation anywhere will not be tolerated,” he said.

The minister said that a pilot project has been launched at 20 locations across the country for rail e-ticketing.

“With this facility, the system of railway warrants will be replaced and Armed Forces personnel will be able to book and print e-tickets through IRCTC websites at unit locations. This project will be gradually extended to more than 5,000 army, air force and navy units across the country,” he said.