Concern was voiced in Parliament today over the growing military threat from China in the wake of reports that it has moved longer range missiles close to Indian borders.
While a BJP member spoke in the Lok Sabha about Pentagon report on Chinese threat to India, a Congress member in the Rajya Sabha talked about the growing disparity in defence preparedness between the two countries.
Raman Deka (BJP) said during the Zero Hour that China has moved new advanced longer range CSS-5 missiles close to the borders with India.
Seeking a response from defence minister, he wanted better preparedness by India as there was not much infrastructure on the borders with China.
"We have not forgotten the 1962 war", he said adding there were no proper roads for the army to immediately move in case of any eventuality.
He said it was necessary for the government to take a "stringent view" of the Chinese moves and assure people that the country was safe.
In the Rajya Sabha, Ashwini Kumar (Congress) said India's defence preparedness against China was 1:5.
He said while the budget for China's defence is $150 billion, it was only $32 billion for India. While China has eight nuclear submarines, India has only one, he said.
"It is high time that rising India stops being apologetic about its need to increase its defence expenses," he said.
Kumar, who was supported by BJP members, said while India has to build good relationship with China, it did not mean that "we remain oblivious to the urgency of our defence preparedness...we must revisit our defence preparedness."
