Defence research can’t be run like railways. Antony has crossed a critical line
While it is no one’s case that the economics and technical savvy of India’s defence production processes are perfect — this newspaper’s investigative series on DRDO was a sharp reminder of the many horrendous imperfections — it is also true politicians haven’t generally used the sarkari armaments set-up as a gravy train. Which is to say there was always something to distinguish DRDO from the railways. A.K. Antony, ably aided by Kerala’s Marxists, is about to erase that distinction. The consequences go beyond poor economics, although that is serious enough. Low politics may firmly and permanently enter macro and possibly micro defence decisions. And, once in, low politics seldom leaves.
As we reported on Tuesday, Antony has agreed that an ailing Kerala state PSU, KELTEC, should be transferred to an ICU funded by a DRDO joint venture (a Russian state enterprise is the other partner). Delighted Kerala Marxists have said this will be the first of many, that they are keen to attract Central government investment to revive state PSUs. This approach, at a time most states are battling to attract private investment and not a few have sold or shut down dysfunctional PSUs, shows again why we must worry over Kerala’s near economic future. But it is Antony that worries us most.
When KELTEC was set up in 1994, DRDO and ISRO were supposed to be its customers. Clearly, the customers haven’t been thrilled with the products. Which is why KELTEC has been in trouble. So what kind of ministerial responsibility is Antony exercising when he listens to Kerala’s industry minister and forces DRDO to accept the same supplier? Equipment making for high-grade weaponry is not a matter to be settled by two politicians talking about 300 local jobs. It is unlikely any defence minister before Antony had allowed defence research to be so openly politicised. Indeed, even if KELTEC were fantastically efficient, Antony’s decision would still be wrong. It is not the minister’s job to select DRDO’s suppliers. A critical line has been crossed and Antony’s boss in the government should notice that fact. The minister’s decision should be countermanded. If it is minister-mandated supplies for DRDO today, what’s on tomorrow? A minister-inspired IAF strategy that Kerala needs a huge fighter base to take on pirates