I am very happy the Mr Sanjay Dixit invited me for a discussion on Defence Modernisation on Jaipur Dialogues. It was a first time that I was participating in a show on this subject. It evoked a lot of interest. The Q&A session was also interesting. Lot of questions on Tejas and aircraft engines. I do hope this subject gets discussed more on such platforms.
‘Sir, will China invade us?’ ‘We hear China has increased activities on the border’. Chinese consolidation activities on the LAC have prompted such reactions and fears. Lot of such inquiries from citizens within and outside India. Why? Bodies floating down Ganga, mass graves, lack of oxygen, medicines or hospital beds, botched vaccination program, uninterrupted work on Central Vista - all these have eroded our political capital immensely and seeded such doubts. Our national institutions are being compared to ‘rottweilers’ in the media. Economy? Unemployment figures and stock markets – both rattling up. Strangest combination. Rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. An ominous divergence which bodes ill. Leadership? Kis Chidiya ka naam hai bhai? National level paralysis in responding to the second wave. Erosion in comprehensive national power. Many have never experienced India being so weak. Nor did I for that matter. This frightening experience ...
What about constructing a 3rd aircraft carrier? There is currently only one aircraft carrier in service. Another one will enter service in August.
ReplyDeleteThe INS Vikramaditya is not performing well. The ship caught fire this week. It was the third fire since 2019 on the Vikramaditya!