NEW DELHI: The Congress says it will work to restore the status quo ante on the northern borders with China instead of indulging in mere “chest-thumping” if it comes to office, as also scrap the Agnipath scheme, rectify anomalies in one rank, one pension (OROP), and restore the disability pension of soldiers and make it tax-free.
The Congress manifesto on Friday also promised to reverse the decline in defence expenditure and formulate a comprehensive national security strategy (NSS), in addition to bringing the National Security Council (NSC) and the office of the national security adviser under the oversight of a select committee of Parliament.It also promised to establish a National Economic Security Board under the NSC.
“The Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and the Galwan clash in 2020 represented the biggest setbacks to Indian national security in decades. On June 19, 2020, PM Modi gave a clean chit to China that considerably weakened our negotiating position,” the manifesto said.
Despite 21 rounds of top military-level talks, Chinese troops “continue to occupy” Indian territory and “deny” Indian troops access to 26 out of the 65 patrolling points, equivalent to an area of 2,000 sq km, in eastern Ladakh. Moreover, a Chinese military build-up in Doklam threatens the crucial Siliguri Corridor, it said.
“National security is not enhanced by chest-thumping or exaggerated claims but by quiet attention to our borders and resolute defence preparedness. We will work to restore the status quo ante on our borders with China and to ensure that areas where both armies patrolled in the past are again accessible to our soldiers. We will take the necessary steps to adjust our policy towards China until this is achieved,” it said.
Rejecting the short-term military recruitment under the Agnipath scheme that was rolled out in June 2022, the Congress said it would ensure a return to the earlier process that guaranteed economic and social security for soldiers.
Noting that the absence of a formal NSS has led to “ad hoc and personalised policymaking”, the party said it will issue a comprehensive strategy as well as bring out new defence minister’s “operational directives” for the armed forces to deal with the current two-front challenge.
Apart from institutionalising the process of appointing the chief of defence staff to ensure transparency and military consensus, Congress said it will ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to meet the requirements of the armed forces by reversing the decline in defence expenditure as a proportion of the total expenditure.
The Congress manifesto on Friday also promised to reverse the decline in defence expenditure and formulate a comprehensive national security strategy (NSS), in addition to bringing the National Security Council (NSC) and the office of the national security adviser under the oversight of a select committee of Parliament.It also promised to establish a National Economic Security Board under the NSC.
“The Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and the Galwan clash in 2020 represented the biggest setbacks to Indian national security in decades. On June 19, 2020, PM Modi gave a clean chit to China that considerably weakened our negotiating position,” the manifesto said.
Despite 21 rounds of top military-level talks, Chinese troops “continue to occupy” Indian territory and “deny” Indian troops access to 26 out of the 65 patrolling points, equivalent to an area of 2,000 sq km, in eastern Ladakh. Moreover, a Chinese military build-up in Doklam threatens the crucial Siliguri Corridor, it said.
“National security is not enhanced by chest-thumping or exaggerated claims but by quiet attention to our borders and resolute defence preparedness. We will work to restore the status quo ante on our borders with China and to ensure that areas where both armies patrolled in the past are again accessible to our soldiers. We will take the necessary steps to adjust our policy towards China until this is achieved,” it said.
Rejecting the short-term military recruitment under the Agnipath scheme that was rolled out in June 2022, the Congress said it would ensure a return to the earlier process that guaranteed economic and social security for soldiers.
Noting that the absence of a formal NSS has led to “ad hoc and personalised policymaking”, the party said it will issue a comprehensive strategy as well as bring out new defence minister’s “operational directives” for the armed forces to deal with the current two-front challenge.
Apart from institutionalising the process of appointing the chief of defence staff to ensure transparency and military consensus, Congress said it will ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to meet the requirements of the armed forces by reversing the decline in defence expenditure as a proportion of the total expenditure.