Vajpayee's defense strategy way back in 1974

Vajpayee was very sharp and foresighted. What step should be taken at what time before hand was known. He could sense it like a sniffer dog. In 1974 during discussion with Y.B. Chavan (The then defense minister during Indira Gandhi), Vajpayee said - "We should not put all our eggs in one basket. That would not be a good strategy and good diplomacy".

Of course, the statement of eggs in the basket was not created by Vajpayee. The fact that he used this to make a sharp point should be noticed. The defense Minister Chavan was talking about Russia and its betrayal to Sadat. Vajpayee clearly told - " I do not want to go into who betrayed whom and why. The Soviet Union will supply arms when it pleases, stops when it pleases. This has made even Egypt to look up for arms with US. We should not depend on any country".

Way back in 1974 a strategy and foresight of this nature is commendable by an Opposition leader (Vajpayee). It is essential to understand that Vajpayee knew that india has to depend upon several countries rather than one for security and weapons.

In fact Narasimha Rao began relations with Israel when he was the PM. The starting of that relationship and its immediate continuation by Vajpayee in 1998 helped the country during Kargil War. If Israel had not supplied arms and ammunition during 1998, we would have lost the war. India at that time under Vajpayee sensed the dire need and quickly approached Israel and not Russia (This was the strategy of Congress till Rao).

Sometimes crises test those people who can come out with flying colors and perhaps God wants to see such colors. Vajpayee's test was Kargil. He passed with flying colors although there were intelligence failures.