Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday warned aggressors that India would not let anyone take away an inch of its territory, even as he announced that the government was moving an additional two Army divisions to the Northeast to strengthen the armed forces’ presence there.
A division usually consists of 15,000 combat troops and 8,000 support elements.
Speaking in the national capital after inaugurating the sixth edition of the biennial Defexpo 2010 here, Antony said India doesn’t want an inch of any neighbour’s territory, but added that it however will also not concede an inch of its own territory.
On the prevailing security scenario, the minister said India is seen as a "mature and responsible" power and has a stabilising influence at a "politico-security" level in the region, but was ready to meet any challenge to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Antony further informed that the two mountain divisions of the Army to be raised in the Northeast would be based in Arunachal Pradesh, close to the border with China.
He however cautioned that the decision should not be seen as a move against any country.
Antony was referring to China, which claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory and has also been breaching the Line of Actual Control in Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim over the past few months.
The Defence Minister said the Army divisions were being moved to Arunachal Pradesh as a “deterrent” measure.
The minister also sought to make it clear that the move to modernize Indian armed forces was not against any particular country, including China.
He further said that the country’s defence expenditure will increase "in proportion" with its economic growth rate, which is expected to be around eight to 10 percent for the next two decades.
"India's defence expenditure is 2.5 percent of its GDP and the economy is expected to grow at eight to 10 percent for the next two decades. The expenditure on defence in absolute terms is also bound to increase in equal proportion," Antony stated.
India is expected to spend around USD 50 billion in next 20 years for acquiring weapons for its armed forces.
Antony said the increasing expenditure on defence will help the Indian industry to play a more "meaningful role" in the defence sector in the country.
Antony also stressed on the need to achieve high level of indigenisation in defence needs, saying, "Our quest for self-reliance will need cooperation between the public and private sector defence industry. We want public and private sector to work as close partners."
Not willing to concede an inch of our territory: Antony
A division usually consists of 15,000 combat troops and 8,000 support elements.
Speaking in the national capital after inaugurating the sixth edition of the biennial Defexpo 2010 here, Antony said India doesn’t want an inch of any neighbour’s territory, but added that it however will also not concede an inch of its own territory.
On the prevailing security scenario, the minister said India is seen as a "mature and responsible" power and has a stabilising influence at a "politico-security" level in the region, but was ready to meet any challenge to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Antony further informed that the two mountain divisions of the Army to be raised in the Northeast would be based in Arunachal Pradesh, close to the border with China.
He however cautioned that the decision should not be seen as a move against any country.
Antony was referring to China, which claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory and has also been breaching the Line of Actual Control in Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim over the past few months.
The Defence Minister said the Army divisions were being moved to Arunachal Pradesh as a “deterrent” measure.
The minister also sought to make it clear that the move to modernize Indian armed forces was not against any particular country, including China.
He further said that the country’s defence expenditure will increase "in proportion" with its economic growth rate, which is expected to be around eight to 10 percent for the next two decades.
"India's defence expenditure is 2.5 percent of its GDP and the economy is expected to grow at eight to 10 percent for the next two decades. The expenditure on defence in absolute terms is also bound to increase in equal proportion," Antony stated.
India is expected to spend around USD 50 billion in next 20 years for acquiring weapons for its armed forces.
Antony said the increasing expenditure on defence will help the Indian industry to play a more "meaningful role" in the defence sector in the country.
Antony also stressed on the need to achieve high level of indigenisation in defence needs, saying, "Our quest for self-reliance will need cooperation between the public and private sector defence industry. We want public and private sector to work as close partners."
Not willing to concede an inch of our territory: Antony