Sunday, July 20, 2003		Ulta-pulta

FOR the Indian Air Force the MiG-23 is slowly becoming a source of great shame and embarrassment. When our enemy countries come to know that there are still 350 MiGs left in the IAF’s strike force, they will probably laugh at our backwardness. The morale of our soldiers and the courage of our pilots who still manage to fly these dilapidated machines, might even strike fear in the hearts of our enemies.

After every few days we get to hear of a MiG crash in some part of the country. Sometimes the news is allotted such little space that it appears as if an auto-rickshaw has turned turtle. In the last six years we have lost 95 MiG-23s — the loss running to the tune of Rs 72,750 crore. Not to talk of the loss of the lives of young pilots — which can never be measured in cost or statistics.

When a MiG crashes and a pilot dies, it is a double tragedy. Firstly, because of the loss of a young life. Secondly, the poor pilot is not even listed as a martyr.

In these tragedies instead of the valour of the pilot what comes through is the weakness and shortsightedness of the Defence Ministry.

The Defence Ministry should put an end to the flight of MiG-23s. How these machines can be put to a different use should be their concern now. Here are some suggestions:

(i) The MiG-23 should be sold off to political heavyweights for their petty squabbles. When Advani, Sonia, Mayawati, Badal and Amarinder sit in it and sling mud at each other, it will add colour and brightness to the coming elections.

(ii) The wings of the MiG should be done away with and a tractor engine installed so that it can be used to plough the fields.

(iii) It can be used for decorative purposes on the samadhis of previous defence ministers.

(iv) It can be recycled to make special buses which can be used for the Delhi-Lahore peace mission.

So the MiG-23 can be reused in many ways. But keeping in mind the valuable life of the pilot, the MiG-23 should be immediately grounded.