Montek questions growing freebies

Economist and former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia today warned against the culture of ‘freebies’ being promised by all political parties. He also went on to highlight how share of defence budget allocation in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had been declining since 1991.

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He was speaking at the annual seminar on 'India's security challenges' organised by the Delhi Forum For Strategic Studies (DFFSS) here.

Ahluwalia, who was the chief guest, made a point on freebies saying today we have an absolutely crazy explosion of ‘revris’ (freebies) both from the Centre and the states.

He warned: “We are spending huge amount in dysfunctional and unproductive manner and if we don’t sort it out it will be worsen in times to come. This not a party matter, all parties are guilty of this."

On the defence budget, he said our growth rates improved after 1991 but share of defence budget in the GDP declined. “And this comment is not on the present government”, he said adding “I don’t think there was a strategic decision to let it go down.”.

In the 1980’s, we had a 3 per cent of the GDP going to defence. “It is not to say that we should have 4 or per cent of the GDP for defence allocation but the present 1.7 per cent of the GDP is not enough. Our spending is not enough”, Ahluwalia added.

He also questioned the use of terminologies for having contributed to decline. "Peace and Tranquillity at the border with China kind of lulled everyone to not plan for a war with China. This assumption of peace and tranquillity has to be done away with. I am not saying we are going to war. But be prepared,” Ahluwalia added.

Earlier Lt Gen Kaml Davar (retd), who heads the DFFSS, gave an overview of the security scenario. Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (retd) speaking about use of aerospace power cited how the Sukhoi 30-MKI can carry the Brahmos that has 400-km range.

AVM Kak said the country needs to look at capabilities of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). “It has been like a problem child and it was not addressed and in 2020 we suddenly woke up to what happened in Ladakh”, he said.

Lt Gen AK Singh (retd), who has served as Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, mentioned how under the ‘Look East policy’ India has been unable to ‘walk the talk’ with South East Asian countries and need to match with greater action. He warned that the situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh was the worst ever for us.