Canada PoliticsIndian security experts criticize Canada for spending $1m to ship armoured cars for Stephen Harper visit
It seems that the RCMP has bruised the collective ego of India's 'defence' community.
Last November, the mounties decided to fly two armoured vehicles to India from Canada, as part of the Prime Minister's security detail during an official state visit.
On Tuesday, it was learned that the bill for shipping the vehicles totaled $1 million.
[ Related: RCMP security advice behind $1 million tab for Harper's armoured cars: Baird ]
While Canadian taxpayers are left holding the bag, Indians are left with some hurt feelings.
Several of them spoke to the Globe and Mail wondering why the RCMP spent all that money instead of relying on Indian security.
Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in Dehli:
"To think that India cannot protect a visiting dignitary is testament to very poor intelligence in Western countries and a failure of comprehension – it’s just plain stupid.
From a pure security perspective, it’s money down the toilet."
Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for India's Minister of External Affairs:
"It’s their choice and they are entitled to make a choice – and if it’s costly it’s their problem."
Sushant Singh, defence policy expert with a think-tank called The Takshashila Institution:
"Since [the assanination of Indira Gandhi], Indian security for VIPs has been of the highest standards and incidents of breach of VIP security are extremely rare and taken very seriously.
"To cast aspersions on Indian security agencies and the vehicles they would have offered to Mr. Harper in order to justify the transportation of his own car from Canada is a grossly unfair comment."
For their part, the Harper government is saying that the RCMP makes all operational decisions regarding security requirements.
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The RCMP isn't saying exactly why they chose to ship the vehicles.
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