 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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National
A.K. Antony NEW DELHI: Underscoring the need for personnel of the armed forces to exercise maximum restraint while operating under pressure, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Saturday said the government would not tolerate any instance of human rights violation. “Though the pressure on our Armed Forces personnel is tremendous, 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,” the Minister said in his address to soldiers and members of the Armed Forces on the eve of the 64 {+t} {+h} Independence Day. Mr. Antony's caution assumes significance in the wake of persistent demands from various sections that the government remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act during anti-insurgency and anti-terror operations. Presenting a broad-brush picture, he said post 26/11 the Ministry undertook several measures to strengthen the security apparatus especially along the coastline by clearing the setting up of four air enclaves — one each at Goa, Kochi, Visakhapatnam and New Mangalore — and acquiring new systems and platforms. While assuring the personnel that the process of modernisation of the armed forces was on the right track — the government wanting the armed forces to have the latest and best possible equipment — Mr. Antony said it should go hand-in-hand with indigenisation. “The success in the development of the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant must be replicated in other fields too,” he emphasised. The Minister listed the steps being taken to improve facilities for soldiers in the supply of quality food and other items, a pilot project on e-tickets by doing away with railway warrants, welfare measures and improvement of living conditions. Recalling conversations he had with soldiers during his June 2010 visit to Siachen, Mr. Antony said he had directed officials and departments concerned to take immediate action to requests he received for better quality socks, more snowmobiles and reduced telephone rates. Expressing sympathy for those who faced nature's fury in Leh, the Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their loved ones, including several armed forces personnel, in the tragedy. The Minister also lauded the personnel of the Army, the Air Force, the Defence Research Development Organisation and the Border Roads Organisation for the commendable job done in rescue and relief operations and the work towards restoration of normality.
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