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General Malik pleads for bigger defence budget

Army chief General Ved Prakash Malik has urged the Centre to allocate a bigger budget for the defence forces.

Talking to newspersons at the Border Security Force academy in Tekanpur, MP, he advocated the need to mobilise resources for strengthening and modernising the defence structure of the country.

Referring to the sanctions imposed by the United States in the wake of the nuclear tests by India, General Malik said they will not affect the country. Exuding confidence in India's defence forces and its scientific expertise, he said the people should also repose full faith in the technological and scientific prowess of the country.

General Malik parried several questions regarding the nuclear tests and the latest developments regarding Sino-India relations.

Accepting that housing of defence staff was a problem to be tackled with, he said if more funds were made available, housing facilities would be ensured to those defence personnel residing in the border areas so that their families could also stay with them.

To a question relating to the Centre's decision to increase the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60, he said it would be implemented only after serious deliberations.

UNI

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