The Hindu : Nod for AJT purchase soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 21, 2003

National

National

Nod for AJT purchase soon

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Aug. 20. The Government may soon give the nod for the purchase of the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), which the Indian Air Force requires. According to the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is expected to clear it in a fortnight.

Talking to the media here today, Mr. Fernandes said that the Defence Ministry had cleared the proposal and it was now with the CCS.

Asked whether there were other contenders besides the British Hawk, Mr. Fernandes said he could not divulge the details. And as to when the AJTs would be inducted into the IAF, he said no timeframe had been fixed.

Our Staff Reporter writes:

Mr. Fernandes on Wednesday ruled out sending Indian forces to Iraq. He was speaking to press persons at the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) plant in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) after laying the foundation stone for the expansion of the defence and heavy equipment division and a test track for taking up speed and gradient tests along with associated facilities for heavy duty and combat vehicles.

Mr. Fernandes said there was not any development which warranted deployment of our troops.

On the report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on defence deals, he said it was a secret document and that it should remain secret.

Asked whether the CVC report would cause any embarrassment to certain persons, he said there was no question of such an embarrassment to anybody.

The CVC report would not be made public unless there was a collective decision by the Government or Parliament that in future all such reports would be made public.

The Government, he clarified, worked on the principle of rules and regulations and since the report was marked secret, the Government would have to abide by the rules governing the Official Secret Act.

He, however, agreed that there was need for changes in the Official Secrets Act.

Asked whether he had responded to the letter by Mrs. Gadgil, mother of a pilot who had died in a MiG crash, he said he had already replied and that an appointment had been made to meet her.

On whether he had telephoned the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, seeking her party's support to the NDA during the vote of confidence, Mr. Fernandes said he had spoken neither to her nor anybody else on the issue.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National