Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat has said military personnel are honest tax payers while making their contributions to the state exchequer. He also said economic growth of a country depends on its security situation.

“All of us in uniform are tax payers, because in our case the tax is deducted at source, so while we may be drawing salaries we also contribute to taxes, which go to the state exchequer. We also contribute to taxes, especially income tax, in a very honest manner,” Rawat said at the Annual Army Seminar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), here on Thursday.

He added that the armed forces, which are deployed in the remotest locations, also provide education and healthcare to the people there, where even the government has failed to reach out. He said a substantial part of the population in such areas depend on the resources provided by the armed forces.

“Where our troops are deployed, local produce is purchased for their consumption, giving back in kind and monetary remuneration to locals. I can keep recounting various issues towards which we contribute,” Rawat added.

Situation at LAC sensitive

Seeking to silence those who believe that defence budgets become a burden on the exchequer, Rawat highlighted that a large chunk of the annual defence budget goes into nation building even as he pointed out that economic development, military modernisation and the existence of the armed forces are all interlinked. “They cannot be divested from each other. Economic rise will take place if the nation is secure,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his keynote speech at the same event, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said that there are chances of a possible escalation of tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“Today we face a difficult neighbourhood with myriad security challenges. On the Line of Actual Control, the situation is sensitive and incidents of patrolling, transgression and stand-offs are one of escalation. While Confidence Building Measures are enhanced, we shall take all actions as deemed as necessary to endure the sanctity of the LAC,” Bhamre said.

India and China were engaged in a bitter 73-day military stand-off last year over a region atop Doklam plateau in the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction area.

Bhamre also said that India continues to face several security challenges along the Line of Control bordering Pakistan that continues to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir. “Ceasefire violation on LoC continues to target Army & civilians. Situation in hinterland J&K remains a challenge. However, focused operations by security forces resulted in neutralisation of terrorism,” Bhamre added.

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