Retired armymen stress on strengthening defence infrastructure

JAIPUR: Retired army officials today laid stress upon strengthening defence infrastructure to face challenges and threats both at the borders and within the country.

"It is fine that we are focusing on food and energy security but national security is more important. The government should give more attention towards it," retired Lt Gen Sumer Singh said.

"Besides border issues, we have serious challenges before internal security which should be dealt with proper care and attention. Pakistan-China relation, infiltration, strengthening of infrastructure by these countries near borders in their territories are some of the concerns for India," he said.

Singh was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day conference on national security here to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda here.

Retired Lt Gen D B Shekhatkar said additional efforts were needed to check infiltration.

"There is high rise in population in Pakistan and agriculture sector is shrinking. This should also be a cause of concern for India because it can contribute in significant cause behind rising infiltration to India. When there is no place to live and no land for agriculture, where the population will go?" he said.

Shekhatkar said activists should make organised efforts in Western districts of Rajasthan to create awareness about the issue so that no outsider (from the neighbouring country) can illegally migrate and settle there.

RSS leader Indresh Kumar was among other speaker in the seminar.

Indresh Kumar said the government has no willpower to tackle the issues of national interests and avoiding taking strong action with regard to Pakistan and China.