Politics-Troublesome Loyalists

government's defence outlays and programmes at a time when such examination is particularly necessary for a number of reasons. First, as the: Planning Commission admitted at its last full meeting in August, the Sixth Plan is facing a grave resource crisis and sharply increased outlays on defence cannot, therefore, but be at the. cost of development. Second, the country is faced with a grim situation on the foreign exchange front, with the balance of trade deficit threatening to be around, or even to exceed, the Rs 6,000 crore mark in 1982-83 for the third successive year. It may be that the arms merchants are prepared to offer credit, but to accept such terms will only mean inviting trouble in the future, and in the very near future at that. Finally, the larger implications of beefing up the armed forces, through sharply increased expenditures and induction of sophisticated armaments and equipment, cannot entirely be overlooked at a time when the political system in the country is showing such visible cracks.