"National security was compromised during UPA government...can read list on corruption in defence": Sitharaman in LS

New Delhi [India], February 9 (ANI): Accusing the UPA government of hampering defence preparedness by policy paralysis, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that shortage of ammunition plagued defence forces during its rule and the Modi government has doubled defence budget.
Replying to the debate on the 'White Paper on Indian Economy' tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday, Sitharaman accused the Congress-led UPA government of compromising national security in 10 years.
She said the UPA government believed that an undeveloped border is safer than a developed border.
" National security was compromised in those ten years....Critical shortage of ammunition and defence ammunition was the main feature of 2014 when we inherited the economy. Bulletproof jackets were not available for our soldiers...Night vision goggles were not available, so in the night they couldn't do a thing and were exposing themselves like sitting ducks in pitch darkness," she said.
"I am quoting somebody's words - Independent India has had a policy for many years that the best defence is not to develop our borders. An undeveloped border is safer than a developed border. So, many years there was no construction of roads or airfields in the border areas - Who said this? The then Defence Minister AK Antony," she added.
Sitharaman said she can read out the "list on corruption" in defence.
"There was Rs 3,600 Crores of AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper Scam in 2013. In some other context, in 2011, CAG had pulled up the Defence Ministry for delay in buying artillery guns. Defence was compromised continuously...Total ignoring of armed forces," she said.
"Defence budget has doubled during the last 10 years. In 2013-14, it was Rs 2.53 Lakh crore. Now it is Rs 6.22 Lakh crore in 2024-25. Capital expenditure, including border roads and for defence forces, equipment investments, defence capital budget increased from Rs 86,741 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1.72 Lakh crore this year," she added.
She said due to Make in India push, several critical defence equipment were being made in the country.
"Due to Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, defence procurement is happening more through there...It is a matter of pride that due to Make in India push, today INS Vikrant, LCA Tejas, Akash, BrahMos missiles, main battle tank Arjun, artillery gun system Dhanush are all being manufactured in India. Besides this, today women are flying Rafale and guarding the borders too," she said .
Sitharaman talked of the steps taken by the Modi government to boost self-reliance in defence and expedite environmental clearences for faster economic development.
"I challenge anyone who says this document is baseless. Everything is with evidence. I challenge anyone who says that we have kept the White Paper which has no proof," she said amid interruptions by opposition members.
"The White Paper is a serious document for documentary evidence for everything that is said in it and prepared with an intention of informing the House of the 10 years' dedicated effort to get the government work in such a way that the economy is back on rails and also progress in such a way that our aspirations can be met," she added. (ANI)