Wellington: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra on Tuesday said that historical review is important to draw correct lessons for our present and future defence management.
Speaking at the Madras Regiment Battalion Commander’s Conference on nationalism, the leadership role of the army in nation building and civil-military relations, at the Madras Regimental Centre here, he said people must glance at the beginning of the nation’s defence events.
From the time of India’s independence, the leadership had kicked off on the wrong foot, as far as the defence of the country is concerned, he said.
Mishra said when the Indian army was winning the battles and the Pakistani forces were withdrawing in panic, the Indian army was stopped at Uri when their objective Domale and Muzaffarabad were very easy for them to capture.
The mismanagement of our national defence did not stop here, he said, adding that the apex political leadership of India took the issue of Kashmir to the United Nations and till date we are suffering from the legacies of those days.
The governor said that things have now changed as the present political leadership has unambiguously and loudly announced that we will fight for every inch of our land and we are preparing to face our arch enemies.
The military initiatives of the air strike in Balakot in Pakistan, the firm stand at Doklam and Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh against China are indicative of our nation’s strong political will, he said.
Mishra said the country’s indigenous defence productions are increasing every day and there have been drastic cuts in the nation’s defence imports. The speed of manufacturing defence platforms in the country is making rapid progress in their production and also exporting them.
Our national defence parameters are being taken care of, he said.
Recently, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the first reaction and averment of our top political leadership was that India has to be fully prepared to face our adversaries and we will defend our country fully on our own. The Indian armed forces now have the resolute and determined political support, Mishra said.
“Our Armed forces have to gear up with confidence, courage and grit to face any and every challenge to our country,” he said and urged the Battalion Commanders to make sure that the national defence preparedness details trickled down to the junior most sepoy of the Battalions.
Earlier in the day, the governor in an impressive ceremony laid a wreath at the Madras Regimental War Memorial located at cross road junction right at the entrance of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where eleven roads converge. The majestic monument is being constructed in memory of the martyrs of the regiment.
Madras Regiment Lt General Manjinder Singh, MRC commandant Brigadier Rajeshwar Singh, commanding officers, senior officers and the veterans of the regiment attended the conference.
