Budget to factor in war threats: Sinha

Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said on Friday that the government would keep in mind the "war perception and war threat" while preparing the next Budget.

"The country is going through a phase of tension on Indo-Pak border and it is not known what shape it will take. We will take into account our threat perception and our security concerns while preparing the Budget for next year," he said.

Emphasising that national security was of supreme importance, Sinha told All India Radio that he would hold discussions with Defence Minister George Fernandes before finalising the Budget.

"If the defence ministry needs more funds, I will not hesitate and the country will not hesitate to provide that," he said.

Sinha pointed out that the finance ministry has been liberal in allocating about Rs 620 billion for defence in the last Budget.

Defence expenditures of India as a percentage of GDP has not been high as in some other countries like Pakistan, he said, adding "but we will meet all the requirements. There will be no hesitation on that."

PTI

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ:
Run-Up To The Budget
Money