Governor for rationalising higher defence organisation

Jammu, Jan 12 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt-Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today emphasised the need for a rational and modern higher defence organisation in India at par with other democracies of the world.

Speaking at the seconnd General Zorawar Singh Memorial Lecture at University of Jammu this morning, the Governor said such a mechanism is necessary for the three defence services to work in close cooperation, as today no war can be fought exclusively by a single defence service.

General Sinha said after India's debacle in 1962 war with China, he had conducted a research on the reasons for the debacle and measures to be taken for overcoming our weaknesses exposed by that war.

The Defence Services have been increasingly marginalised in the process of decision making in defence matters. He said he had been carrying out a crusade for the reorganisation of the country's higher defence organisation.

General Sinha sounded caution over dwindling strength of the air-force which had been planned to be of the size of 45 squadrons after 1962. However, on ground today its strength is 33 against 39 authorised.

UNI