Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Parrikar to decide if defence chiefs’ wives can go abroad at govt’s expense

- Shishir Gupta shishir.gupta@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: A debate is raging between the defence ministry and military headquarte­rs over whether spouses of the army, navy or air force chiefs should be allowed to travel with them on an official visit abroad.

The sensitive issue has reached defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who is expected to give his opinion this month as his ministry and the military administra­tion hold opposite views on convention­s and travel rules.

The headquarte­rs have underscore­d past convention to pitch for spouse travel, saying wives accompanie­d the chiefs since they pick up welfare measures for the military wings their husbands were in.

It is standard practice for these first ladies to head welfare associatio­ns of fellow military wives and play a key role in rehabilita­tion of families whose kin have laid down their lives for the country.

“This is a military convention and many countries such as France, Germany, Vietnam, Thailand, and the UK follow, allowing the spouses to accompany their husbands,” a former army chief told Hindustan Times.

But the defence ministry’s finance wing has pointed out that only the President, Vice President and Prime Minister are allowed to take along their better halves at government expense during an official visit outside the country.

Further, according to government rules, not even a Union cabinet minister can take his or her spouse on foreign trips. That includes the defence minister.

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