Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Defence spending

Sir, — A hike of 16 per cent and more for defence over last year's budget is totally unjustified, immoral and wasteful for a third world country where half the population is living below the poverty line. There is no potable water for the general masses and, in some of our States, the very poor are dying of starvation and malnutrition. There is also no probity, transparency and accountability in the Defence Ministry which manages this vast wealth. The Tehelka and coffin scandals have rocked and shaken the confidence of the general public and the front-line soldier in the defence set-up.

In Punjab alone the armed forces have stayed on too long, for more than a year. Farmers, whose fields came under the landmines or were otherwise occupied by the Army, have not been paid their due compensation. The roads of our border districts — Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore — are totally ruined because of the heavy traffic of the army. The Centre has not paid any compensation for the repairs.

Simranjit Singh Mann,
Member of Parliament,
Amritsar

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