With the threat perception from seaways persisting, the government has decided to modernise the coast guard as quickly as possible and augment its manpower, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.
With the threat perception from seaways persisting, the government has decided to modernise the coast guard as quickly as possible and augment its manpower, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.
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The Defence Minister, who was in Goa to commission an advanced offshore patrol vessel and lay the foundation stone for the modernisation of Goa Shipyard Limited, said the government has decided to modernise the armed forces and coast guard as quickly as possible because India is surrounded by "so many elements inimical to our country."
"Our armed forces must be in the state of preparedness always," he said. Antony said the recent events (Mumbai terror attacks) "give us warning that we have to be more careful in sea ways.
"Indian cannot have another tragedy in the sea ways. In the past, we have neglected the sea ways but now we have learnt that we cannot ignore them," the Minister said.
He said the coastal security is the most important and all the agencies busy in securing the coast will get required equipments.
The Defence Minister conceded that whatever available resources with the defence forces are not enough to man the vast coastline.
"We know what we have is not enough. This is less than 30 per cent of capability we require," he said declaring the modernisation plans.
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