COMMENTS ON KULDIP NAYYAR'S ARTICLE IN DAINIK JAGRAN ON LOKTANTRA AUR SENA

Greetings from Uttarakhand.

1.   At the very outset,I state ,that I hold Shri Kuldip Nayyar in very high esteem. During Kargil War- being Indian Army's face,I have had the distinction to brief him on a couple of occasions in our Operations Room at the Military Operations Directorate. He is indeed,today,the 'BHISHMA-PITAMAH' of Indian Journalism.While I do not possess the temerity ,qualifications or standing to comment on what he has written,but having worn  uniform for 44 years,I wish to share the following:-

(a)   No doubt,what has been happening in the Parliament is extremely shameful.Reason being that most of our MPs & MLAs being our representatives have inadequate qualifications of sorts ,whatsoever.While adopting Parliamentary Democracy on 26 Jan 1950,as enshrined in our great Constitution,the then Political Leaders did not pay any heed to the advice of the first & the last Governor General of India Chakravarti Rajagopalachari  He was  also the first Bharat Ratna of independent India.He had stated ,that since our country had been slaves to different powers over hundreds of  years , a  common man did not,therefore, understand his true & basic responsibilities as a free citizen towards the Nation/State to either understand or to enjoy  Parliamentary Democracy, which he considered was  a MUST.He had gone further by stating that while the Constitution was an extremely well drafted document,perhaps,there was a requirement to insert certain checks & balances for a stipulated period of time prior to it's full adoption in it's present form.It was thus implied & inherent here -from what he said was-that he saw a dire need to insert some controls. It ,inter- alia, also implied a controlled Democracy to begin with & also defining the qualifications of Representatives of People.To day there are none  & that's why we are seeing the sad & unfortunate  happenings inside & outside the Parliament.The Lok Sabha Elections shall be held soon & we are going to have the same or may be ever poorer 'Quality' of Peoples' Representatives occupying comfy chairs in the Temple of Indian Democracy.

(b)  Bill for Reservation of Seats for Women could not be passed in the 15th Session.It died an automatic death.It was passed in Rajya Sabha in 2010 after a great hitch.Some political parties did not want 33% reservation for women.It is an accepted fact that women have better candor, probity,decorum  & are more restrained,committed,thoughtful,cool & responsible;they would be better placed to ensure that the proceedings in Parliament & Vidhan Sabhas are conducted in a smooth manner.But ,it was not to be!

(c)   Indian Armed Forces are secular to the core & apolitical. Right from the Afghan Wars to WW I,WW II & thereafter in all Wars, that India has fought & in all Anti & Counter Terrorist Operations & LICO,Indian Army has given shining examples of their loyalty to the Indian National Flag & People of India.They have upheld the "NAAM,NAMAK & NISHAN' by sacrificing their lives for the cause of the Nation.Imagine,in the recent Submarine Tragedy, the Officers who had joined out of their own will to serve the country were from  excellent academic & family backgrounds.One of them was ,I believe,from St Stephens,New Delhi.Every single soldier of the Indian Armed Forces is a volunteer.Indian contributions in both Great wars was singular as the largest volunteer Army of the world.This tradition continues even till date.

(d)   Field Marshal Archibald Wavell ,Viceroy of India, was no prophet.Before leaving India for England on 21 March  1947 ,he broadcast a message to its people,Quote," I BELIEVE THAT THE STABILITY OF THE INDIAN ARMY MAY PERHAPS BE A DECIDING FACTOR IN THE FUTURE OF INDIA",Unquote.Indian Army has stood up to Wavell's forecast.How right & correct he was ! Indian Army is a unique Army.It started off as an Army raised to serve a foreign master, & to be used against its own people.Yet it was NEVER a mercenary Army.The people who joined it came forward with  a passion to join the noble profession of arms.They joined it voluntarily.They had no other cause to join it.Thus the Regimental spirit was born ,& this Regimental spirit created a National Ethos. My own observation is, that our people simply love the Armed Forces & have the greatest of regard & faith for them.It is because they DELIVER under any adverse situations without speaking a single word or asking for any personal favours. Involvement of Indian Army & Indian Air Force in Uttarakhand Tragedy is a case in point. They went in -on their own for the cause of the Nation.It is a different thing that they were derequisitioned much earlier.Had they stayed a bit longer, perhaps,a lot many more    precious lives would have been saved.Indian Armed Forces do not ,therefore,either go uninvited nor do they interfere with the governance in any manner / civil matters.It is unfortunate that the Politico-Bureaucratic-Intelligence Agencies Combine does not understand the role of the Indian Armed Forces.Is it not surprising that the three Service Chiefs are NOT permanent members of CCPA on matters of Security.They are called only if the 'powers that be' feel their requirement! This indifference towards the Armed Forces cannot just be  chance !

(e)   It is astonishing that even after 67 years,India does not have a documented National Strategy.There is hardly any worth describing integration between the Services & the Ministry of Defence. Whatever appears on paper  is only cosmetic in nature. The lessons of Kargil War on matters of Governance ,Jointmanship & Recommendations of Subtramaniam & Sacchhar Committees are yet to be fully implemented.There is no CDS today & there are people within the government who do not want a single point control to take place.There is little 'group dynamics' between respective Service Headquarters & the Ministry of Defence. It suits the above combine since they hold the powers.Thus a feeling of mistrust develops.The recent resignation of the Naval Chief should be seen in this light. The Services cannot be blamed for this condition.Even after 67 years,India today is not clear about her Aims,Objectives,Vision,Perspectives & her rightful place in the comity of Nations with particular reference to Asia & South Asia.As a result ,with water tight working culture   existing with in &  between various Ministries & with typical working of our Foreign Ministry,almost all  our immediate neighbours are at logger heads with us.Even our relations with the Western Countries are not cordial.

(f)   I was present in one of the Siachen Talks with Pakistan.This place does have tremendous strategic & tactical significance.There are,at present, about 6000 Chinese Troops deployed in Northern Area/Baltistan/POK. They are mostly working on improving various communication systems & infrastructures inside  illegally occupied areas of J & K by Pakistan.With Gwadar Port having been constructed totally by the Chinese money ,commissioned  & now under their full control & management ,China wants to extend its road communication from Tibet/main land China right till the sea.This way Pakistan is also afforded the  so called strategic depth.The Shaksgham Valley was handed over a platter to China by Pakistan in 1963.This area too is a part of J & K State & lies right above Siachen Glacier. It was Pakistan that had refused to sign on the Actual Ground  Position Line.Pakistan Army ,till today, has not told their people that they have lost Siachen Glacier three decades ago to India !India presently occupies the Saltoro Ridge much about 11 KMs due West of Siachen Glacier.It would be suicidal to even think of vacating it under the circumstances explained.Just because not even a blade of grass  grows or the temperatures go down till -60 Degrees C,it does not mean that such areas are to be vacated.This is no argument !This is our Motherland & we  all are to defend it till our last breath & at all costs.Soldiers serving here belong to all 29 States,6 UTs & NCR Delhi. They are all one.Their religion is 'INDIA".Indian Armed Forces work on this ethos.We are trained to think like this right from the time we join our illustrious Academies/Training Establishments/Services.We are indoctrinated to uphold the safety,honour & integrity of our Motherland.How can one even dream of any thing else?We take oath under our National Flag to sacrifice our lives to maintain it's honour, pride & dignity.Examples are replete in the history of post independent India where acts of great bravery,sacrifice & chivalry have been performed by soldiers of our illustrious Armed Forces even beyond calls of duty.Serving one's country demands a fire in the belly & a passion to serve the Motherland.Every one cannot do it. It is a 'Janoon' or a ' Nasha'.So Indian Armed Forces need to be understood in correct perspective.There is an immediate need to train reporters both on print & electronic media to understand matters security & their Armed Forces.This is a serious matter.

(g)  Under the provisions of law,it may please be understood  that Indian Army does not go to any State on it's own unless they are requisitioned to provide'Aid to Civil Authorities'.This is recommended by a State to the Central Govt that finally issues orders for deployment.It was Indian Army that flew in the early morning of 27 Oct 1947 within hours after  Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of Accession on the afternoon of 26 Oct 1947.Such singular feats are not recorded in the history of vary many armies of the world. From then on,they are guarding the distant,forlorn,desolate frontiers of the Nation with great elan,pride & commitment.Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have sacrificed their lives on J & K Border.No Army of the world wants to get involved in LICO or such operations.These are dirty jobs.The Army would be too glad to vacate if they are derequisitioned. Why are they not then being derequisitioned ?A soldier is meant to fight enemy & is trained accordingly.Then why are you NOT utilizing the greatest component of CPO of the world for controlling internal security situations? . In most of the countries,the terrorist menace is dealt with primarily by the Police.Why are not then the Police Organisations being  utilized for this ? The answer is -dismal Leadership & Poor Training. Under these circumstances,a soldier's right of self defence has to be protected to the hilt.Can you expect him to fight with his right hand tied behind his back ?

(h)  Having served in the J & K for several years,the Army has fought the War of Hearts & Minds.Defaulters have been punished severely.

(i)  U.S,Russian,French,Nepal,Afghanistan,Chinese,etc Armies have trained with Indian Army at various places in India & have learnt the successful art of tackling the CI Operations.Yes,wherever,there have been mistakes,drastic & disciplinary actions have been taken.It would be of interest here for me to state that Indian Army is possibly the only Army which has Human Rights Cells right from the top to the Unit levels.

(j)  Now coming to the alleged & so called mutiny,even as I am writing this mail to you, a number of vehicular columns of sub units/detachments of India Army would be moving up & down the same roads.It is part of a Mobilization Scheme/Process that continues unabated to hone / fine tune their alert status.Summoning  the then DGMO at midnight proves the 'mind set' of  the above Combine.That means -there was a trust deficit.Why did this occur? Who was behind all this needs to be ascertained.Certainly not the Armed Forces.They are Loyalists to the core & even thinking like this about them is to commit a heinous crime.This aspect has definitely impacted upon the morale of soldiers.The GOI must come clean on this issue. Armed Forces are the only bet of our Nation & let us not have any doubt on this.

(k)  While the Writer does say towards the end  that the Indian Army knows its place in a democratic frame work & is meant for the security of the Nation,the above dichotomies in his narrative are surprising.

2.   To develop a strategic culture & Nationalistic Feeling,possibly,time has come now to debate over possible changes in our Constitution.About 100 amendments have already been carried out but these amendments are mostly politically oriented.There is a definite need to take a holistic review.

3.  Our Youth Dividend needs to be fully utilized to develop this national Ethos & Culture.