“We are all equal stakeholders in national security. We should try to resolve differences not only between countries, but amongst ourselves, whether in families or between states, regions and communities. Violence is not the answer,” he said.Highlighting the importance of a strong defence budget, Gen Naravane said the debate about “guns versus butter” is as old as time.”How much should a country spend on defence when there are so many other conflicting priorities? Should you spend on all those things you’ve seen on the TV screen, or should you spend on education, healthcare, hygiene, sanitation, and so many other equally pressing demands, especially for a developing country like ours?” he said.He pointed out that the defence ministry takes up about 15 per cent of the national budget, and that’s the kind of investment which has to be made.”Now you will ask, is it a worthwhile investment, or is it money down the drain that has to be pumped back up? So, let me put it in two or three different ways. Firstly, I would like to say: look at it as an insurance premium.”The country needs a backup plan for emergencies, and this was starkly evident last week, he said.”If your armed forces are well-prepared and well-equipped, they are capable of dealing with any such emergency that may be thrust upon the country without warning just like accidents happen without warning,” he said.He added that the key difference was that in the case of insurance, the benefit comes after the accident, while a well-prepared military helps prevent the accident from happening in the first place.”If you are well prepared, others will think twice before attacking you,” Gen Naravane said.
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