Uttam Kumar flags Air Chief Marshal’s concerns over delay in delivery of fighter aircraft

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is an ex-fighter pilot of the IAF, said that the Air Force Chief’s recent revelations about Operation Sindoor should raise concern among everyone in the country.

The Congress leader raised concerns over the delay in delivery of fighter aircraft as flagged by the Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

The Air Chief Marshal has recently said that there is a pressing issue about India’s inability to retain top talent in defence research and development, saying that the country is “not able to get the best people for the job” as many skilled professionals continue to migrate abroad.

The party also asked the Union government to come clean about the losses suffered during the four-day operation in a transparent manner.

‘Shortage of personnel by 10% in IAF’

Addressing a press conference at the AICC office here on Sunday, Uttam Kumar, who was a member of the Parliamentary Defence Committee in the previous Lok Sabha, disclosed that the committee had also flagged the shortage of operational equipment and manpower in the Indian Air Force.

He said, overall, there was a shortfall of about 10 per cent in the sanctioned manpower in the defence forces.

‘IAF working with 31 squadrons only’

He said the Air Force Chief had flagged the severe delay in the supply of fighter jets and the weaponry, which is a cause of serious concern, particularly when the country is surrounded by hostile neighbours. He disclosed that against the sanctioned strength of 42 ‘operational squadrons’, the IAF was currently operating with 31 squadrons only.

This is concerning since there is a collusive threat from China and Pakistan, he remarked. “The entire country and the government of India must wake up to the need of significantly strengthening our armed forces,” he asserted.

The senior Congress leader said, the BJP’s grandiose declaration of Atmanirbhar Bharat has so far failed to meet the needs of the defence forces. He added that Congress fully supports rapid indigenisation and the government needs to take some urgent steps.

‘Need to attract the best minds’

In this context, he also referred to the Air Force Chief's concern that the best minds in the country were not joining the IAF, both in the operations and defence research. “We need to attract the best brains”, he said.

Jets lost during Operation Sindoor

Reddy suggested that the government of India should come clean about the downing of the fighter jets in view of the Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan’s recent statement that some of these had fallen. He said, the government of India should stop denying this.

He also quoted Air Marshal AK Bharti as saying that losses are normal in combat and the important thing is that the objective of the operation has been achieved and the pilots have come home. However, he pointed out, there was no mention of the jets returning to their bases.

US role in ceasefire with Pakistan

The Telangana minister said the government had still not broken its silence on why and how the ceasefire was announced by US president Donald Trump much before India did so.

Uttam Kumar reiterated and reaffirmed the Congress party’s stand of unequivocally supporting the defence forces. He said the party is proud of the defence services for achieving the objective of destroying the terrorist camps in Pakistan.