Panaji: Union minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik on Monday said that the position of Chief of Defence Staff will help all the three forces to coordinate better and it was a much-awaited announcement.
Naik said that the attempts to have CDS were made even during the tenure of late Atal Behari Vajapyee as the Prime Minister of India, but it could not happen then.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing Independence Day function in New Delhi had announced the establishment of post of Chief of Defence Staff.
“The role of Chief of Defence Staff is crucial to coordinate between Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force,” Naik told PTI in Goa.
He said that it would help joint efforts between all the three forces. “This is a welcome decision which was much awaited. I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally announced to establish this position,” Naik said.
He added that attempts were made to have CDS position during the tenure of Vajpayee-led government but it could not be fulfilled. “Now, when the announcement is made by the Prime Minister, it is expected that the CDS would be in place within few months,” Naik added.
Modi had announced that the government would create the post of a chief of defence staff (CDS) that will integrate the operations of the three forces–the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
