Refrain from making substandard defence products: Lt Gen KJ Singh

Chandigarh: Ensure quality and refrain from making “substandard” items for the defence sector, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command Lieutenant General KJ Singh today urged the Indian manufactures. “The government is doing a lot to involve industry into defence modernization…the government is well meaning and it is giving chance (to the industry)…But whether everything is fine..no sir no. As a user I am not satisfied,” Lt Gen Singh said while addressing a conference on safety and security organised by CII in Chandigarh today. Noting that quality control was a “big issue”, Lt Gen Singh alleged that some of the defence makers here had misused the quality control certifications.[caption id=“attachment_1654703” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command Lieutenant General KJ Singh. Image courtesy Indian Army[/caption] “Quality control is a big issue. We have started self certification. We allowed you (industry) to do quality control certifications on your own. But it has been misused,” he said adding that the basis elements like hoses and relays were found to be substandard. “It is not in cutting edge technology. India launches space rocket, it sends satellite but it also make hoses, relays, –basic elements which are substandard which are disgusting. I am sorry to use this word. Cheating defence … cheating your own mother land. How can it be allowed. This is your own house please do not do it,” he said. The Lt Gen claimed that some of the industrialists, who made inferior quality items, are based at Ludhiana. “Making money is part of the industry and that is why the industry is there and you are not here for charity. But trying to make money in one generation and becoming a Tata-Birla. It is also not correct. Please maintain quality control in defence products,” he said. But when later asked by reporters how serious the substandard quality issue, Singh refused to respond. However, he said, “…products which are supplied to defence like tanks, fighting vehicles, there is often a failure of components, which are not of high end technology… like rubber hoses, relays, cables…It is basically because our ancillaries are not doing proper quality control.” Lt Gen Singh, who was commissioned in 63 Cavalry in June 1977, also praised the Centre for raising FDI limit to 49 percent for defence sector. “In the recent past, there was a restricted list for manufacture of components which has been pruned now. A large number of items have been removed. Now it is possible to make components without having to have extensive licenses and that must enthuse you (industry) also because Punjab is known to make these components,” he said. Lt Gen, who took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command on 1 August, also laid emphasis on remaining vigilant to thwart any attempt by the neighbouring country to launch insurgency in Punjab. “We have faced two insurgencies and one is going on in Jammu and Kashmir..It is not insurgency. It is a proxy war. “But let’s not become complacent,…if Pakistan has its way, it will again start insurgency in Punjab…Please remain vigilant,” he said. He further said that cyber security was the most ignored aspects in India. “We have to wake up or we will come to a state where our system will collapse,” he said. Later Lt Gen also urged the industry to hire retired Jawans. “In armed forces, every year 60,000-70,000 Jawans retire at age between 36 to 39 years. If you can design programme we will train them and afterwards you can employ them,” he said. PTI