'Ready to face armsdrop bid'

NEW DELHI, APRIL 20. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, today informed the Lok Sabha that the Army was prepared to deal with any situation if Pakistan attempted to airdrop arms for militants in Jammu and Kashmir as apprehended by the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

Asked about Dr. Abdullah's statement, Mr. Fernandes said he felt that the Chief Minister had only expressed his apprehensions. The Army, however, was ready to deal with any situation. Mr. Fernandes said Dr. Abdullah had met him yesterday but made no mention of his reported apprehensions.

Replying to a supplementary raised by the Congress member, Mr. Rajesh Pilot, during question hour, he said the attacks by militants on Army cantonments were either ``played up or distorted'' in the media and such incidents had no effect on the morale of the force.

- PTI, UNI

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