by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Modi placates Parrikar, Gives more buying power
But Parrikar wants to return to Goa
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Feb 13
It came as a shot in the arm of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. In a recent order, Prime Minister Narendra Modi armed Parrikar with enormous financial powers and more leeway to improve defence procurement and services.
In a far reaching development, the Prime Minister enhanced Parrikar’s financial muscle four fold in one go. The Defence Ministers prior to Parrikar, had the financial power to purchase defence equipment & systems for Rs 500 crores only at their level.
However, Parrikar was handed down the power to purchase defence systems & platform to the tune of Rs 2000 crores. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared this proposal last week brought before it by the PMO. After this order, Parrikar need not go to the Cabinet or any other ministry seeking sanction before buying equipment upto Rs 2000 crores. Parrikar was also given additional power to purchase equipment worth Rs 3000 crores. However, Parrikar will require the sanction of the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley for purchases above Rs 2000 crores to Rs 3000 crores.
The big shot for Parrikar came at a time when the Defence Minister has been publicly expressing his desire to return to state politics in Goa. While the BJP president Amit Shah and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari only hinted that Parrikar’s return to state politics may be considered, the Defence Minister declared that he will go back.
When Lokmat recently talked to him informally about all the talk of going back to the state, he said, “yes.” He went on to say, “Can’t you see, I have lost my weight here.” Parrikar was talking literally as he had lost almost five kg of his weight during the past one year. The reason given by him was that the food here was bad and even the water didn’t suit him. However, Modi’s move to arm Parrikar with more leeway and powers is aimed at placating him and retaining him in the Lutyen’s Delhi as there isn’t enough talent in the party to hold the key portfolio.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is already handicapped due to her recent kidney transplant and her functional capability has come down drastically. The performance of some of the senior Cabinet Ministers is also very poor and some of the performing ministers do not enjoy PM’s confidence either.
Therefore, it will be extremely difficult for Modi to spare Parrikar for Goa under the circumstances. However, Parrikar is determined to return to his home state irrespective of the poll outcome.
Parrikar’s argument is that the BJP in Goa is sinking and he alone can hold the ship given the political situation.
