Bhubaneswar: New Vice Chief of Indian Army, Lt General Chandi Prasad Mohanty, said the threats from Pakistan and China has to be met with modernisation of the army.
Lt Gen Mohanty told reporters in the city on Wednesday that awareness about the defence forces among youths and particularly among Odias will be at the top of his agenda.
He said he would urge the youths of Odisha, both girls and boys, to join the armed forces. Dwelling upon the formation of a Kalinga Regiment in Odisha, Lt Gen Mohanty said the armed forces are not expanding in terms of numbers but qualitatively through modernization.
The first ever Vice Chief of Army said a single new regiment has not been formed after Independence. The Naga Regiment has only two battalions.
Lt Gen Mohanty, attending a function at Sainik School here, said the need of the hour is to enhance our weaponry system and also communication and intelligentsia to counter the threats from adversaries.
The Vice Chief of Army said China is modernising in a big way and it is assisting Pakistan to embark upon modernisation and added that Indian Army has to improve its capability in a much bigger way than these adversaries.
He said the armed forces are getting support from Prime Minister and Defence Minister to forge ahead in its mission.
