New Delhi: In the midst of the changed situation after the border conflict, and the economic boycott of China, there is a question on the raw material used to make protective gear for the soldiers, which is imported from China.
The Ministry of Defence has immediately tasked the defence manufacturing companies to manufacture 2 lakh bulletproof jackets and protective gear, so that the troops in Ladakh do not have a shortage of anything. However, there has now been controversy over the supply of materials that make up these equipment.
The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India currently use China’s raw material to produce defence products. This includes the company which got the contract to manufacture 1 lakh 86 thousand bulletproof jackets in 2017. These jackets are currently in the delivery stage. But when the company was ordered by the government, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament that there is no restriction on importing raw materials from China to make protective jackets for the military.
However, as the situation changes, the government is under pressure to stop the use of Chinese imports and products, NITI Aayog member and former DRDO chief VK Saraswat has assured to rethink in this regard.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Saraswat said, “A year ago we tried to reduce the import of Chinese raw materials. Especially in products like bulletproof jackets, as Chinese goods have been highly questionable in terms of quality. We also called the company, which already had an army contract and asked them to ensure proper testing of all the raw materials imported. Now we feel that we have to rethink imports for defence products from China. We should not use Chinese raw materials in the diplomatic areas related to telecom and protective gear. ”
