Diwali is around the corner and with it the nation would hear of the Prime Minister and Defence minister visiting army units and celebrating the occasion with them. They would address troops, join them for tea and announce that they are doing their share for procurement of weapons and their welfare.
A part of the Prime Minister’s speech, heard every year at Diwali, would be that his government granted OROP and he feels that soldiers are a part of his family. If they are truly considered family, then why are they exploited for political gains? It is time that the PM realises that actions adopted by his government in the years they have been in power has done more to lower the prestige and standing of the army than any in the last seventy years of our independence.
Not a single promise, other than a half-baked OROP has been implemented. There were promises galore in 2013 at the ESM rally in Rewari. Higher defence management would be reformed, military status would be restored, and it would become a powerful force. With six months to go, all appears to have vanished under the carpet. With the creation of the defence planning committee under the National Security Advisor, chances if any of reforming higher defence management appear to have vanished into thin air.
The minimum that the government could have done was to reorganize the defence ministry making it a more effective body by amalgamating service personnel within it, rather than adding to distances by granting the AFHQ cadre, a group B service, additional vacancies, pushing them to eat into military vacancies. The MoD is presently packed with an anti-military lobby. In a recent discussion on social media on an Integrated Financial Advisor (IFA), a junior civilian, misusing an army flag on his vehicle, the MoD spokesperson responded to a former naval chief in an insulting manner and questioned military ethos. It took social media by storm leading to rebuttals from across the elite of the country.
The spokesperson had only projected the true feelings of the MoD, one which hates the very armed forces it is meant to serve and protect. Is this the MoD that the Prime Minister and Defence Minister desire? If it is then it is a disgrace to the nation and an insult to the sacrifice of the armed forces, which they exploit at every opportunity. An RTI to the MoD revealed that the government had in the last three years spent over Rs 100 crore in legal fees in the apex court, challenging disability pensions granted to armed forces personnel by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). It paid lawyers while forcing veterans to shell out large amounts for their just dues. It implied that the MoD is willing to expend any amount to deny benefits to soldiers. A clear case of hatred, rather than support. This continues despite the Supreme Court ticking off the MoD on its negative approach. Even a highpowered committee formed by the MoD to reduce legal cases had recommended not approaching the apex court in every case, but in vain.
Can the PM drive some sense into an antimilitary MoD? It took 700 soldiers and officers to approach the Supreme Court in a case questioning their operating under AFSPA in Manipur and charging them with ‘so-called encounter killing’ to get the MoD to act. This was from the outset the responsibility of the MoD as it was they who had ordered them to operate in Manipur and assured them protection under AFSPA. Entitled rations for officers have been withdrawn on flimsy grounds and despite regular mention of them being restored, they remain withdrawn, adding to internal anger. The PM announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day that women would be granted permanent commission in the armed forces, which till date remains just an announcement. The Reddy commission set up to study the lapses in OROP implementation submitted its report over two years ago.
The commission announced with much fanfare, travelled across the country, met a variety of ESM, noted their grievances, analysed them and handed in its report. Till date, nothing has moved, the report remains buried. The drawback of granting OROP to premature retirees remains. The biggest anger stems from the degradation of the service, caused by multiple actions of the government. It has granted NFU to every service but the armed forces and continues to challenge their case in court. This has seriously impaired the functioning of quasi-military organizations, where earlier civilians and army personnel would work shoulder to shoulder, but presently battle for seniority on the unjust allocation of NFU. It has led to a just status being made lopsided. The government order stating that NFU ‘will not bestow any right to the officer to claim promotion or deputation benefits’ is being ignored by MoD controlled organisations while it remains a silent spectator, possibly even encouraging it.
The only government service whose success is exploited for political gains is dumped on the roadside when it comes to their rightful dues on the illogical premise of it being an expenditure the government cannot bear as also it is not entitled. Mr Prime Minister and Madam Defence Minister, when you visit the troops this Diwali, you would still find them happy and smiling as you are their guests and they are honoured by your presence. They do this despite immense hurt and pain within them, caused by the anti-army policies adopted by your government. Yet they have a responsibility to the nation, hence will never let it down and never have.
If you have any conscience left within your heart, you need to retrospect and understand how you have let the Indian soldier down and make amends. He has looked up to you, given you what you asked on multiple occasions even paid with his life. Now it is your turn to pay him back and grant him his due, nothing more, nothing less. If you can make the soldier feel he is special, you would earn the nation’s respect.
The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.