New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) India must think in radical terms and review its expenditure on defence in the background of the ongoing war in West Asia and the changing geopolitical scenario, Rajya Sabha member of NCP-SCP, Fauzia Khan, said on Monday.
Participating in discussions on Appropriation Bill (2), 2026, in the Upper House, she hit out at the actions of the US and Israel without naming them.
When war itself is an issue, what solutions can it provide to other issues, she said.
“This is the time for us to review our expenditure on defence. How indigenous is our war equipment? How powerful is our defence R&D? How prepared are we to face the unjust global suppression policies?” Khan said.
“Where the president of an independent nation is kidnapped just like that, when nations can be attacked at will and at the fancy of others, our budgets must start speaking aloud,” she asserted.
Stating that geopolitics has rapidly changed in the last four weeks and is “changing more speedily than imagination can keep pace”, Khan said, adding that “hence we must start thinking in radical terms now in the background of the ongoing war.” Noting that in the US, “the Congress has proposed an additional budget of USD 200 billion”, she said. “The war that has been called a mere excursion is costing USD 200 billion. That is what a war costs.” She further said, “Our planning must match the pace of change.” Referring to the Appropriation Bill (2), Khan said, “A large portion of the amount that has been appropriated must necessarily be used to combat the energy crisis that stares us in the face today.” It must be ensured that India does not suffer from energy, financial and physical hardship even for a second, she added.
Taking part in the discussion, Harsh Vardhan Shringla (BJP) highlighted several steps that had been taken by the NDA government, including enhancing renewable energy capacity and ethanol blending, coming to the aid of the country even as the West Asia war disrupted global oil supply.
Similarly, BJP member from Manipur, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, highlighted several steps and enhanced outlay for various schemes in India’s Northeast region under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Other BJP members, Dharmshila Gupta, Bhim Singh and Shambhu Sharan Patel expressed that the union budget will accelerate India’s growth towards becoming a developed nation. PTI RKL DRR
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