India will spend s2750m on navy
<A 2.Pa -Reuter —Copyright > NEW DELHI. April 7. The Indian Navy was being strengthened because developments in the Indian Ocean had made the region a danger spot, the Indian Defence Minister (Mr Bansi Lal) told Parliament in New Delhi vesterdav.
He said that 10 per cent of the defence budget of $2750m had been allocated to the navy this year, against only four per cent of previous defence budgets. More frigates, submarines, and other vessels were being acquired. Replying to a two-day debate in the Lok Sabha (Lower House), on h)s Ministry's budget demands, Mr Lal said the Indian Ocean, w’here ships of the big Powers were operating, “ha--1 really become a danger spot — a very vulnerable ares ! from the strategic point of view.” The Minister cited construction of a “military base” by the United Staipj on the Indian Ocean island
■of Diego Garcia. Pakistan’s action in expanding its navy, Sand the need to safeguard i 'ndia's new’ oil installations of’’ Bombay. The airfield on Diego Gar!cia was being lengthened to accommodate “sophisticated and heavy planes for maritime reconnaissance," the Defence Minister said ( India's Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands were now "exposed to maritime reconnaissance by thi American Navy an • Naval aircraft.” Mr Lal said India laced danger from the north and west, from the air. and from the sea. “We are not ignoring any thing,” he said. "We are !never complacent.' Mr Lal said Pakistan s huge increase in defence expenditure was evidence of jits "evil designs." India had i to be made as strong as possible to avoid a war
Aust.-Japan group \ I ~ I A bill to establish an ■ Australia-Japan Foundation ■ has passed through the Australian Senate without opposition. The bill, which establishes a committee to foster and increase cultural and i social ties between the two I countries, was first introduced into Parliament by the •previous (Labour) Government. and reintroduced b the present Liberal-National , Country Party Government I this year.—Canberra
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Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34123, 8 April 1976, Page 17
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330India will spend s2750m on navy Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34123, 8 April 1976, Page 17
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