The Congress on
Tuesday promised to establish the office of Chief Defence Staff (CDS), provide
a statutory basis to the National Security Council (NSC) and the office of
National Security Advisor (NSA) as well as re-establish the National Security
Advisory Board (NSAB) to boost national security.Making the announcement in its
manifesto released on Tuesday for the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress said
that the CDS would be the principal adviser to the government on matters
relating to defence. The manifesto said that the aim of providing a statutory
basis to the NSC and the office of NSA is that their powers and functions will
be defined under the law and both authorities, and the agencies under them,
will be accountable to Parliament.As per the manifesto, the Congress will
re-establish the NSAB, provide a statutory basis to the body, appoint experts
from different disciplines and ensure that it will function as a permanent,
professional advisory body advising the NSC and the government.It said that the
BJP government left the NSAB in limbo between January 2015 and October 2016 and
then truncated the body.
Through its
manifesto, the Congress also promised to rapidly expand domestic capacity to
manufacture defence and security equipment."We will create manufacturing
capacities in the public sector and in pre-qualified, security-cleared private
sector companies."According to the manifesto, the Congress will reverse
the trend of declining defence spending under the NDA government, and will
ensure that defence spending is increased to meet the requirements of the armed
forces. "National security is dependent on a sound defence policy, a sound
foreign policy and wise leadership. National security is not enhanced by
chest-thumping or exaggerated claims. We will expedite all modernisation
programmes of the armed forces in a transparent manner," said the
manifesto.Referring to the concept of national security in the 21st century,
which the Congress said, has expanded beyond defence of the territory to
include data security, cyber security, financial security, communication
security and security of trade routes, the party promised in its manifesto to
evolve suitable policies to address each of these subjects.The Congress also
promises to take strategic and hard measures to defend the territorial
integrity of India and ensure the safety of people.