India at risk army chief warns MPs

INDIA’S army chief has sparked outrage by claiming its security is at risk from obsolete air defences and shortages of tank ammunition.

General Vijay Kumar Singh made his comments in a private letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh.

But the contents were discussed in the New Delhi parliament yesterday after it was leaked to a newspaper and television stations.

The resulting furore is another embarrassment for an already beleaguered government.

Defence minister AK Antony said the government was addressing the general’s concerns.

In his letter, Gen Singh said the state of India’s artillery, air defence and infantry was “alarming”. He said the army was “devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks” and the air defence system was “97 per cent obsolete”.

In parliament, angry opposition MPs accused the government of neglecting defence. Mr Antony tried to appease MPs, saying “defence preparedness is a top priority for the government”.

Opposition parties claim the government has delayed defence purchases, leaving the armed forces with outdated equipment. They say this and a lack of transparency in defence purchases have led to the creation of strong lobbies and middlemen, and encouraged corruption.