Army Ready for Combat Despite Financial Crunch: Gen Bipin Rawat

General Bipin Rawat played down concerns that the army had raised over delayed weapons procurement.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat presents a memento to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, in Dehradun on Sunday.

(Photo: PTI)

Days after the army informed the parliamentary committee of a financial crunch, General Bipin Rawat said it is ready to take on with whatever weapons are at their disposal in Dehradun on 18 March, Hindustan Times reported. Playing down concerns of a delay in weapons procurement, he said that it is not an overnight process akin to “going to grocery store” and that the procurement process is underway, the HT report added.

General Rawat attended the inauguration of Garhwal Rifles War Memorial Boys and Girls Hostel facilitated by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

The army had flagged concerns of obsolete equipment and a looming financial crunch preventing them from buying new weapons and modernising. On this basis, a series of reports were submitted by the committee in the Parliament.

Recently, the Parliamentary Committee on Defence is reported to have recommended five years of compulsory military service for anyone who wants subsequent employment with the state or the central government. Speaking on the issue, General Rawat said the “National Cadet Corps is a good platform to begin with, especially for the youth.”

(With inputs from Hindustan Times)