New Delhi: Government is "closely watching" all activities of China and necessary measures have been initiated to protect the economic and security interests of the country, Defence Minister AK Antony said on Monday. "Government is closely watching all activities of China and is fully seized of security needs of the country. Necessary measures have been initiated to ensure national security and economic interests of the country," Antony said in Lok...
04:46 PM, Dec 17, 2012
New Delhi: 22 Apache helicopters, which are in process of being acquired from the US, will be for the IAF, Air Force chief NAK Browne said on Sunday. "The Apaches are going to be with us only as it is an ongoing acquisition process," Air Chief Marshal Browne told PTI in New Delhi on the sidelines of a 1971 Indo-Pak war anniversary function. The Defence Ministry had recently allowed the...
08:12 PM, Dec 16, 2012
New Delhi: India is pursuing with Pakistan the case of Captain Saurabh Kalia, who was tortured and killed by Pakistani troops after being captured in the Kargil sector in May 1999, Defence Minister AK Antony said on Sunday. "We are handling it in an appropriate manner. We will pursue it and now we are pursuing it with Pakistan," he told reporters here after laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan...
12:51 PM, Dec 16, 2012
New Delhi: India Gate is the right place to build a national war memorial, Defence Minister AK Antony said on Sunday, against the backdrop of opposition by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to the proposal. "As far as we are concerned, this (India Gate) is the place to have a war memorial. We are very clear," he told reporters after laying wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the...
12:43 PM, Dec 16, 2012
New Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has opposed a Group of Ministers' recommendation to set up the long-awaited National War Memorial at the India Gate complex, saying it will affect the ambience of the area and restrict people's movement at the popular hangout zone. In separate letters to Defence Minister AK Antony, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, she said an alternative site should be...
10:55 AM, Dec 16, 2012
Defence Minister AK Antony has said that India will pursue justice for Kargil war martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia with Pakistan. ...
10:37 AM, Dec 16, 2012
New Delhi: The government admitted Monday that "some deficiencies" exist in some categories of ammunition with the military. Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha, however, that regular purchases were undertaken "to keep the army in a state of readiness". He said arms and ammunition including those for the air defence system were available in adequate quantity. Besides, replacement of older military equipment "is an ongoing process and is...
03:55 AM, Dec 11, 2012
New Delhi: Defence forces, which are facing a shortage of over 13,000 officers and 53,700 men, have taken various initiatives to encourage youths to join the Services, Defence Minister AK Antony said on Monday. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Antony said some of the major reasons for vacancies in the armed forces include lucrative alternative career avenues and difficult service conditions. "Some of the major reasons for vacancies...
04:59 PM, Dec 10, 2012
Itanagar: Defence Minister AK Antony on Friday said providing connectivity to all areas of Arunachal Pradesh, a strategically situated frontier state, was his top most priority. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki called on Antony at New Delhi on Friday evening, official sources said Itanagar. The defence minister assured that providing connectivity to all areas of Arunachal Pradesh was one of his foremost priorities and he would fulfill it by...
02:20 AM, Dec 01, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday told parliament that India was monitoring all developments in the neighbourhood which could impinge on national security and made it clear that there was no conclusive proof of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) over the border with China. Antony was replying to a question in the Lok Sabha as to whether the Army's Leh-headquartered 14 Corps had reported about mysterious UFOs flying over...
01:38 AM, Nov 27, 2012
Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), taking issue with Defence Minister A K Antony, on Monday published an article questioning why the minister was so harsh on the Oommen Chandy government, in a speech he made in the state capital last week. The IUML has been disgruntled ever since the Congress leadership turned down its request to elevate its nominee, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, to...
03:15 PM, Nov 19, 2012
Thiruvananthapuram: On his maiden visit to his home state since becoming Number Two in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's team, Defence Minister A K Antony managed to set the cat among the pigeons with his remarks. Antony, widely considered a man of few words, drew attention to his words not once but on two different occasions, forcing party colleagues to sit up and take note. The opposition was quick to grab...
12:40 PM, Nov 16, 2012
Palakkad: With Kerala state Congress leaders attacking each other on TV channels, Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday asked his party colleagues to develop political maturity. "Today many of my friends here, the moment they see mikes of TV channels they cut loose and make lots of statements. This does not augur with the Kerala style of political functioning," said Antony. Antony was speaking at a meeting here to...
09:32 AM, Nov 14, 2012
New Delhi: Even as his Ministry is preparing itself for curtailment of funds, Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said there will be no cut in budget for procuring equipment essential for operational preparedness of armed forces. "Everything depends on the entire financial situation of the government...for ammunition and platforms essential for operational preparedness of the armed forces, there would not be any cut," he told reporters on the sidelines...
02:48 AM, Nov 11, 2012
New Delhi: Even as his Ministry is preparing itself for curtailment of funds, Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said there will be no cut in budget for procuring equipment essential for operational preparedness of armed forces. "Everything depends on the entire financial situation of the government...for ammunition and platforms essential for operational preparedness of the armed forces, there would not be any cut," he told reporters on the sidelines...
04:34 PM, Nov 10, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said India has sought details from the UK in connection with corruption allegations in the VVIP helicopter deal with Italy. He said that "strong action" would be taken in case any foul play is found. "The contract is with a particular company based in the UK. We have also requested MEA to take up the case with UK. We are making all...
02:20 PM, Nov 10, 2012
New Delhi: Amid the possibility of a budget cut, the Defence Ministry will on Wednesday review major military modernisation projects of the Armed Forces such as plans for acquiring 126 combat aircraft and raising a Strike Corps in the northeastern sector. In a meeting with the three Services vice chiefs, Defence Minister AK Antony will review the expenditure made by the Armed Forces this year and their plans for the...
03:06 AM, Nov 07, 2012
New Delhi: Minister of State for Defence Lalchand Kataria's portfolio is likely to be changed, sources said on Tuesday. The sources said that the Prime Minister's Office had put on hold the decision to appoint Kataria as one of the two Ministers of State for Defence. Sources said that this was because both Kataria and the other MoS in Defence were from the same state: Rajasthan. Kataria is currently meeting...
10:02 AM, Oct 30, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday cautioned the three services chiefs to be "transparent" in the process of weapon trials and procurement as he cleared proposals worth around Rs 6,000 crore for the Armed Forces. Antony's message to the chiefs came amid latest bribery allegations in the proposed purchase of 197 light choppers. At the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, the Ministry cleared proposals for procurement of 3,000...
02:49 AM, Oct 30, 2012
New Delhi: A Defence Ministry audit report has raised questions on Army Commanders, on the issue of money being spent for urgent procurement. The audit has found 55 cases where procurements were made without consulting centralised agencies. The Army Commander of the Northern Command has the power to spend up to Rs 125 crore in emergencies, while the Eastern Command has Rs 50 crore limits. And now the scanner is...
08:22 AM, Oct 24, 2012
