New Delhi: New Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said he would be guided by national interest in all aspects.
"In all aspects we will try to protect national interest. That is a priority," Antony said after assuming office answering a volley of questions on how he proposed to deal with middlemen in arms deals.
Antony brushed aside insinuations that probes into defence deals were being used to settle political scores saying it would not be proper for him to over-react unless he was fully aware of the facts in the sensitive ministry.
"We are living in a democracy, that too a transparent democracy. Every action of a public man, whether a minister or official or parliamentarian is being scanned by the people. That fact everyone should be aware of," the new minister said.
While emphasising that the current modernisation drive in the armed forces would continue, the Kerala strongman who has twice been the chief minister of the state, said he would react on policy matters after receiving a detailed briefing.
The minister held discussions with Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt and other top officials last night after being sworn in.
"They briefed me about conditions in important divisions. Some important areas like modernisation were brought to my attention, including the problems of the armed forces in general," Antony said. He said the meeting was very brief and he could not react on its basis alone.
Later, the minister chaired a full meeting of all officials above joint secretary level of the defence department, defence production, defence finance and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
"The three service chiefs, Admiral Arun Prakash, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi and General J J Singh called on him to brief him about their respective services.
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