Since he got promoted to Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar has always had one foot planted firmly on the red soil of Goa. He is perhaps the only union minister who not only frequents his home State very often, but also participates in governance. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has always referred to ‘bhai’ as a mentor and guide and it is believed that his advice is sought on vexing problems. And therefore, one had assumed that Parrikar’s transition to a more responsible position at the central level was complete. No one doubted his ability to shoulder larger responsibilities, but then Parrikar, it appears, strongly believes that it is better to be a big frog in a small well than a small frog in a big well. “The chief minister is king of the state whereas a union minister is a prince of a particular department,” he said.
Interacting with the media in New Delhi Parrikar dropped subtle hints that he had not closed the door on his desire to return to State politics. It would have to be a strategic decision, he said and added that he had a lot of plans for the State. Strategic is the right word in this context because this situation of ambiguity throws up two very important questions. What purpose would be served by returning as chief minister? At a stage when India is making the difficult transition towards manufacturing defence equipment within the country is it not necessary to have an able, honest, resourceful and tireless administrator at the helm of defence affairs?
India is at a critical juncture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a directive to free indigenous industry from bureaucratic and policy shackles so that the dream of making defence equipment within the country can be realised. In the past, small and medium enterprises lost out on international orders for parts and spares on account of the cumbersome bureaucratic procedure. All this has changed and several sectors like armoured equipment, weapons control systems and underwater detection devices have opened up. Private companies exported defence goods worth Rs 132 crore in 2014-15. This increased to Rs 441 crore in the first six months of 2015-16 and is expected to surge even higher. Changes in policy have prompted the US to think about manufacture of defence planes in the country and review technology transfers.
The forecast for growth in the defence sector is good and India is probably on the cusp of a revolution that could change the old order and usher in a new, more self-reliant one. And Parrikar is leading this revolution by virtue of being the Union Defence Minister. So even for a prince, he is a very important one in the scheme of things outlined by the prime minister to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign-manufactured defence equipment.
As far as Goa is concerned, nothing compares well with having its own man in a powerful post in New Delhi. Previous governments suffered from not have a powerful voice in the capital. Goa is a tiny State and sends only two MPs to the Lok Sabha, not enough to cause a stir or pitch for a large demand. Hence, it needs a powerful minister in the Central Cabinet and Parrikar is the right man in the right place because his concern for Goa is genuine and his vision more forward looking. So, while Goa might pine for his return, India needs him more.
