Hefty allocation for defence is necessary: Chidambaram

Puducherry, Apr 11 (PTI) With neighbours like Pakistan
not having a friendly attitude towards India, earmarking Rs
1,47,000 crore for the defence budget was "absolutely
necessary and inevitable", India's Home Minister P Chidambaram
has said.
"Had the neighbouring countries been stable, peaceful and
were oriented in a friendly manner towards India, our
allocation of such a big fund for defence in the budget would
not have arisen," he said at a meeting organised by Puducherry
PCC Saturday night.
Referring to internal security, Chidambaram said the
budget for the current fiscal is expected to be Rs 40,000
crore to address the requirements of paramilitary forces and
the police.
"Terrorists, divisive forces and Naxals are on the prowl
fomenting violence by exploiting and intimidating the poor and
have-nots and more particularly the tribal people," he said,
adding, allocating such amount becomes necessary "to manage
the machinations of these elements". PTI