It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder. – Albert Einstein

O peace! how many wars were waged in thy name. – Alexander Pope

What happened.

In early May, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and MP, Narendra Singh Tomar opened India’s first Private manufacturing company of Arms. The plant is a joint venture, under FDI, of Punj Lloyd and Israel Weapon Systems set up in Malanpur, Bhind, M.P. The plant will produce arms already in in service – mostly used by the paramilitary.

Madhya Pradesh has been a testing ground for lots of “modernization” projects in recent times. For instance, Bhopal’s Habibganj railway station is nation’s first railway station to be sold to a private entity to renovate and run. It has been sold to Bhaskar Enterprise, which is also the state media giant.

What it means.

India stated its weapons modernization program after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Similar process of initiated after 1962 war with China. But unlike the last time, where modern technology was brought and weapons produced by the state owned Indian Ordnance Factory, this time the weapons are being produced by a newly formed private corporate venture. This is an expected, yet, a major shift in India’s economy and foreign relations. It’s affects are going to be fundamentally harmful to Indian society and to the world.

Private Producers

Weapons Industry is not like any other industry in many ways. One of the two most important differences is that unlike other industries it doesn’t necessarily need to reduce cost. Therefore it could spend a lot of money – which is state subsidy – which is tax payers money, without producing anything fruitful. It also tends to destroy manufacturing industry (see: Military Spending and Industrial Decline by Anthony DiFilippo). Mr. Bipin Rawat and also many think tanks are suggesting the military spending for defense needs to increased. These would be laughable if they were not so immoral given the reality of budget allocation for basic utilities and services in this country. All these are very negative indicators.

Second important difference between Weapons Industry and other industries is that the products it produces cannot be consumed. These are only the means of increasing the war making capacity of the state. And the military-industrial (now Corporate) nexus are known for there self perpetuating tendency – i.e creating the need to use its products – i.e. killing individuals. It gives more and more justification to kill, which is making and will continue to make this world an unsafe and un-peaceful place.

The militarization of society and governance is also an aspect that could worsen under the new development. Military’s new Joint Doctrine and the way it was formulated shows the prominence Islamophobic rhetoric within military circles and how the army is undermining the democratic process of doctrine formation. (EPW May 27 2017, Ali Ahmed).

Bhopal Peace and Eco-Justice Action Committee condemns the installation of plant and calls for deescalation of arms manufacturing and purchasing by India.