Arun Jaitley: UPA weak on national security

New Delhi: Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley Saturday accused the UPA government of being weak on the issue of national security, adding that the defence ministry was "without direction".

Jaitley, in a blog published Saturday, said the weak-kneed policy of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on national security "adversely impacts the mind set of those who hold national security as the priority issue".

"The geopolitical realities compel us to analyse that any future aggression may see the build up of Pakistan and China axis," he said.

Jaitley said the defence ministry under A.K. Antony has been "without direction".

"Our defence purchases and preparedness have seriously suffered. Under Antony, raksha mantralya (the defence ministry) has been virtually rudderless and without direction," the senior BJP leader wrote.

He also attacked the UPA government on the issue of "one rank, one pension", and said the notification giving effect to the announcement is yet to be issued.

"Ex-servicemen are aggrieved by the fact that notwithstanding the promise of implementing 'one rank, one pension' the notification giving effect to the announcement has not been issued," he wrote.