Why should Antony resign as Defence Minister?

New Delhi: Pressure has been mounting on Defence Minister AK Antony for his resignation in wake of the INS Sindhuratna accident. Normally known for his calm, composed and near-reclusive nature, Antony, considered as Mr Clean, clearly found the defence ministry much beyond his capabilities to handle. So the question arises: is it not time for Defence Minister AK Antony to step down in the wake of a series of operational incidents of mishaps involving naval warships in the last several months. Not only this, he was also involved in the long tug-of-war with former army chief VK Singh. The so-called “coup” attempt during Singh's tenure, the cancelling of various defence deals, the allegation of bribery against a former Air Chief in the VVIP chopper scam, the Tatra trucks scam, and the perceived gulf of mistrust that developed between the army and the government have become the hallmarks of Antony's stewardship of the ministry. When Antony became the defence minister in October 2006, it was perceived as a move to ensure a clean image in a ministry plagued by charges of corruption. However, his seven years have seen numerous scandals rocking the ministry, exposing institutionalised corruption that won't go away by the mere presence of a "clean" minister, or his actions against defence firms. Antony acted tough, and blacklisted half a dozen international defence firms for allegedly engaging middlemen. The solution to staggering corruption may not lie in merely blacklisting, but in aggressively pursuing indigenisation, a realisation that came to Antony much late in his tenure. In a recent disclosure, then director general of military operations, claimed that a panicked defence secretary summoned him to know about the movement of troops on the day VK Singh approached the Supreme Court and asked that the troops be sent back. This was the incident that gave rise to ‘coup attempt' rumours. “There was a misconception or there was perceptional difference or there may be distrust,” Retd Lt General AK Choudhary, the then DGMO reportedly told the media. The very fact that such an incident happened is indication of the trust deficit between the forces and the executive — which has never happened. So let's have a look at some of the controversies during his tenure: 1. He faced uproar in Parliament over the attack on an Indian Army patrol at Line of Control (LoC) in January last year, in which one soldier was beheaded. He said terrorists dressed in the uniform of the Pakistan Army had crossed the LoC. 2. On the issue of AgustaWestland chopper deal scam, he preferred to rubbish the kickback taint and did not resign on moral grounds. 3. He remained silent and took no action when former Army chief General VK Singh told him that he was offered bribe of Rs. 14 crore by a fellow general for clearing a deal for Tatra trucks. 4. He never owned up to delays in defence modernisation and indecision on key acquisition. 5. The forces under him have been denied much needed weapons and equipment. 6. The Indian Air Force's bid to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft has been mired in red tape. 7. The naval submarine fleet is a quarter-century-old and many of its best warships are springing leaks because they are being pressed into coastal defence, a job ordinarily for the Coast Guard.