New Delhi, November 7
Almost three years after the idea was first mooted, India may get its first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the coming months with not only the inter-services differences having been resolved but even the political leadership of the country shedding some of its insecurity.
Reports here said that the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre was having a rethink over the issue, which has been lying on the backburner for a long time now, after apparently Defence Minister George Fernandes pushing hard for the creation of the new post.
Sources here said that the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Gen N.C. Vij, could be made the first CDS of the country after a final clearance on the issue is given by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The Ministry of Defence (MoD) would have to move the proposal before the CCS for a final
clearance.
Although the official spokesman of the MoD, Amitabha Chakrabarti was not ready to comment on the matter, but sources said the CDS could be in place in a "couple of months".
In fact Mr Fernandes in a recent interview to a defence magazine stated that he was in favour of the CDS and intended moving a paper on it.
The government had held back the appointment of a CDS after moving the proposal following the limited war that India fought with Pakistan in Kargil in 1999 as there were not only differences within the three services over who should be made the first CDS but there was also a sense of insecurity within the political circles.
