Nirmala Sitharaman Says UPA Leadership Made India ‘Defence-Less’; Did Nothing To Boost On-Ground Efficiency

Taking a jibe at the previous government, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that it did not buy even one thing for the Armed Forces in its 10-year rule. She added that the personnel did not even have bulletproof vests, leave alone Rafale jets, which were never brought to the country.

"I want to ask why during the UPA period not even one thing was bought for our armed forces. Not even bulletproof vests were bought in the ten years, leave alone buying Rafale, which they did not," said Sitharaman. However, the minister did not take a jibe at her predecessor A K Antony saying he was an “elderly person” and a “senior leader”.

The armed forces were left without anything. They had guns, but no bullets; they had tanks, but no ammunition. There were aircraft, but systems were not working,” reported Defence News.

She also attacked the UPA government for not taking appropriate action for the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks.