Protecting national interest top priority: Antony

TNN / Oct 26, 2006, 01:38 IST

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With corruption scandals dogging defence deals and the armed forces crying for more modernisation, it's even more difficult.

Protecting national interest top priority: Antony

NEW DELHI: Being India's raksha mantri is never easy. And in these times, with corruption scandals dogging defence deals and the armed forces crying for more modernisation, it's even more difficult.
For a person who still has to learn the ropes of the defence ministry and lacks the clout of his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee, the going will certainly be tough for A K Antony.
But taking charge of the defence ministry on Wednesday morning, Antony was clear about one thing: protection of 'national interest' at all costs will be his top priority.
Faced with a volley of questions on middlemen and the use of probes into defence deals to target political rivals, Antony said, "We are living in a democracy, that too a transparent one. Every action of a public man, whether a minister or an official or a parliamentarian, is being scanned by the public."

"Everyone should be aware of this fact. I will try to protect national interest to the utmost in any circumstance. That is my primary task... it includes everything," he added.
While Antony said some issues like modernisation of the armed forces had already been brought to his notice, he brushed aside questions on the plea that it would not be proper for him to react unless he was fully aware of the facts and issues in the sensitive ministry.
Antony later chaired a meeting of senior officials, as well as interacted with the three Service chiefs, Admiral Arun Prakash, General J J Singh and Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, to learn more about his new ministry.

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