Govt pulls up IAF top brass after China protests remarks

Beijing has objected to public statements made by the IAF top brass justifying the induction of frontline Su-30 MKI fighters at the Tezpur base to counter Chinese troops near Arunachal Pradesh and bracketing China in the troubled states category of Pakistan,Bangladesh,Nepal and Sri Lanka. Following this,Defence Minister A K Antony has pulled up the IAF and asked Air Chief Marshal P V Naik,the new Chief of Air Staff who took over from Fali Major,to ensure that none of his commanders speak out of turn on India’s neighbours or Indian military capability.

Antony not only pulled up South Western Air Commander Air Marshal K D Singh for openly talking about a “short intense war” with Pakistan but has also shot down an IAF plan for media coverage of the Su-30 MKI induction in Tezpur on June 15.

Before he handed charge on May 31,former Air chief Major also told the media how India had come close to war with Pakistan after the 26/11 terror strikes. He retired before the Chinese objection was brought to the notice of Antony. Air chief Naik,on his part,has conveyed Antony’s message to all senior commanders.

On the sidelines of the Shangri La security dialogue in Singapore between May 29-31,Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian,Deputy Chief of General Staff,Peoples Liberation Army,asked Indian delegates including Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Admiral Sureesh Mehta on the reasons for this sabre-rattling by Indian commanders.