A former IAF Chief Air ChiefMarshal (retd) A Y Tipnis has sought to blame former PrimeMinister Jawaharlal Nehru for India's defeat in the 1962 warwith China, amid a continuing debate on why air power was notused during the conflict.
Speaking at a seminar 'India and China: After fivedecades of 1962 war' here, Tipnis also alleged that Nehru hadsurrendered national security interests to realise his"ambition" to be a world leader.
"It was more or less universally accepted perhapsgrudgingly not openly in some Indian quarters that to servethe dubious purpose of political survival that Pandit Nehruwith his grandiose vision of a conflict free non-allignedworld surrendered vital national security interest to theambition of being a world leader," he said.
The remarks made yesterday came against the backdrop ofthe recent comments by the current Indian Air Force ChiefAir Chief Marshal N A K Browne that the outcome of the 1962war with China would have been different had the IAF been usedin an offensive role.
Asked to expand on his remarks, Tipnis today said Nehruwas the "major contributor" for India's debacle.
72-year-old Tipnis, who had a three-year tenure as IAFChief from December 31, 1998 was commissioned as a fighterpilot in 1960, two years before the hostilities broke outbetween India and China.
Tipnis said he had also seen an Army Chief in thosedays being "ticked off" like a school-boy by Prime MinisterNehru for his alleged petulance.
The issue of IAF not being used in the 1962 hostilitiesis still debated by military historians and experts and thereis no clarity as to why the air force was not used.
Browne had said the IAF was not allowed to be used in anoffensive role and confined only to provide transport supportto the Army. "These are open and glaring lessons we shouldhave imbibed," he added.
For the first time in last 50 years, India celebratedthe anniversary of the 1962 war with China on October 20 whereDefence Minister A K Antony along with the three Serviceschiefs laid wreaths on the Amar Jawan Jyoti to pay tributes tothe martyrs and participants of the war.