Ask any Indian about politicians and you will hear terms like thug, swindlers, crooks etc. Though India takes pride in being the world’s largest democracy, the majority of its political class remains soaked in corruption. India’s political corruption is a major reason why the nation failed to become an ‘Asian Tiger’ and join the ranks of middle-income South East Asian economies.
But like every other story, this one has an exception too. An exception with a name: Four-time Chief Minister of Goa and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who died on March 17 after battling advanced cancer for over a year.
Prabhu Manohar Gopalkrishna Parrikar was born in the prosperous Indian state of Goa. Parrikar was blessed with many firsts in his life. At the age of 44, he became the first alumnus of the renowned Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) to take the office of Chief Minister in 2000. It was under the watch of Parrikar that BJP emerged as a powerful political force in Goa.
While Parrikar made an immense contribution to the growth of Goa and emerge as the state’s tallest leader, it was his stint as India’s defense minister that propelled him to the national spotlight.
When Narendra Modi won power in 2014, the government continued with a full-time Defence Minister for over 6 months. As one of the world’s largest arms importer, India’s Defence Minister is a heavyweight portfolio with constant media attention. PM Modi had big plans for India’s defence modernization with a focus on local manufacturing. It was the astute administrative skills, clean image and RSS background of Manohar Parrikar that made him an ideal candidate for the job. Few remember the fact that it was Parrikar who proposed the name of Narendra Modi as the PM candidate before the 2013 BJP parliamentary elections convention in Goa.
Little did Parrikar knew that he would emerge as India’s finest Defence Minister. Parrikar’s tenure in the Defence Ministry was a short one of just around two and a half years before he was called back to Goa due to political compulsions. But in this short time frame, Parrikar set the ball rolling for the much delayed military modernization.
Parrikar’s legacy as defence minister included the delivery of One Rank, One Pension for armed forces, a new defence procurement policy (DPP) and promulgating the vendor blacklisting guidelines. As PM Modi enhanced the financial powers of Parrikar, he used this effectively to procure ammunition and spares for the Indian Army.
As defense minister, Parrikar played a crucial role in expediting the intergovernmental deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation for around $8.7 billion, India’s first major acquisition of combat jets in two decades. It was under Parrikar that FDI in defence was raise to 49 percent allowing greater thrust to local defence manufacturing. The September 2016 “Surgical Strikes” against terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir was also undertaken under Parrikar’s ministerial tenure.
Parrikar knew well that corruption sits at the heart of India’s troubles. Manohar Parrikar had to battle challenges from the compromised defense bureaucracy and Finance Minister. Many of his core suggestions were sidetracked or diluted as happened in cases like vendor blacklisting policy and appointing the Chief of Defence staff. Despite Parrikar’s focus on defence deals, India’s budget for in 2017–18 dipped to a meager 1.62 percent of the national GDP.
Post-Pathankot attacks, Defence Minister Parrikar gave free hand to the Indian Army to be pro-active on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. It was Parrikar who spearheaded the project to put India’s indigenous fighter jet Tejas on the assembly line and unveiled India’s multi-role helicopter — the biggest rotary-wing aircraft to be designed domestically. Not only that, it was under Parrikar that inked the crucial ‘Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement’ with the USA.
Parrikar made untiring efforts to enhance India’s combat capabilities and clean up the corruption in the defence ministry. He re-opened the Agusta Westland bribery scam where necessary clauses or provisions were relaxed to suit the company during the Manmohan-Sonia led UPA government. Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi is an alleged beneficiary in this ongoing probe.
In March 2017, Defence Minister returned to the Goa politics and was sworn in as Chief Minister for the third time. In less than a year, Parrikar was diagnosed with Cancer yet Parrikar continued to serve the state until his very last day.
The popularity of Manohar Parrikar cut across the religious and social lines. He was deeply involved in spreading the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Goa and regularly credited his RSS background. Parrikar took great pride in India’s cultural ethos and recognized the need to revive the Hindu culture as a national spirit. His affable personality and efficient image made him one of the most popular ministers in the Modi cabinet. In his condolence message, India’s President Ram Nath Kovind aptly called Parrikar as an “epitome of integrity and dedication in public life”.
Parrikar’s middle-class values became his strongest political asset. Simplicity was a way of life for him. Manohar Parrikar’s achievements shall continue to inspire millions of Indians who strive for honest leadership and clean governance.
As a clean statesman, Manohar Parrikar successfully ensured his place in the small club of Indian leaders like Shastri, Sardar Patel, and APJ Kalam who emerged as the face of honesty. The nation shall forever remember the face of this smiling Goan in his trademark half-sleeved shirt.
