TO BE OR NOT TO BE ! GENERAL NO 1 !!
It was in the
third week of May 1999.
I recall distinctly the verbal dual between CAS & VCOAS & later between COAS & CAS regarding employment of Air Force against Pakistan Army intruders in Kargil Sector.Even employment of Helicopter Gunships within own area was hotly contested.The PM watching all this got up & asked both the Army & Air Force to reach a consensus.The end result was- that it was almost after 21 days that the Air Force was employed.
The Subramaniam Committee in its exhaustive report had also explicitly talked of the dire necessity of having a CDS. Even Committees that were appointed thereafter had pointed to this shortcoming besides a host of other drawbacks.
Amazingly the three Chiefs do not form an integral part of the CCPA on Security Matters.They are called only if the Babus feel like it.The previous RM was like Budhha who lived in his own world & virtually did nothing for the Armed Forces.
Now with a dynamic RM at the helm of affairs ,hopefully, Parrikar proves himself worthy of the onerous responsibilities , vision & commitment that lie ahead of him.Surprisingly, he too has not been able to get more money for the Armed Forces in the Budget for 15-16.It is not even 2% of the GDP.With China announcing 10 % increase in its defence budget( Already 12 % of its GDP),Pakistan( About 10 % of its GDP), there is no hope in hell to make any progress in India's defence modernization programmes. With difficult neighbours all around us- coupled with peculiar combine of internal & external threats that afflict us,it is indeed difficult time ahead.With China carrying out military exercises esp of PLAAF in Tibet,Indian border infrastructure all along the Chinese Border is in a dismal state.
The so called Integrated Service Headquarters is a sham.The COSC is another cosmetic arrangement amongst the three Chiefs who keep on passing the Baton to each other after a few months.The maximum power the COSC wields-is to write a DO to the RM.It is for the RM to read it or not-it is his total discretion.Hopefully, things would change now.
I have seen how the Defence Secretary in Pentagon talks of his Army,his Navy,his Air Force, his Marines & so on ,unlike 'we' & 'they'- so rightfully pointed out by Parrikar.
There should be NO dilution to the post of CDS.
The Babus have been responsible for this state of affairs-all these years.They have been ruling the roost & have been successful in making a wedge between the three Services ,since they have acquired tremendous power.This needs to be rectified.Moreover, there is an absolute necessity of integration at every level within the Ministry of Defence. Brigs or equivalent must be posted as Jt Secretaries , Major Generals or equivalent as Addl Secretaries & Lt Generals or equivalent as Special Secretaries.Besides , other Officers of the three Services must be posted to work along with their civil counterparts in restructured MOD. This shall accrue into an environment of bonhomie & camaraderie amongst all with increased productivity.
Well, there are Inter Service rivalries all over the world but these are healthy & constructive !
Here is wishing our new RM -GOD BLESS,GOD SPEED & GOOD LUCK !
I recall distinctly the verbal dual between CAS & VCOAS & later between COAS & CAS regarding employment of Air Force against Pakistan Army intruders in Kargil Sector.Even employment of Helicopter Gunships within own area was hotly contested.The PM watching all this got up & asked both the Army & Air Force to reach a consensus.The end result was- that it was almost after 21 days that the Air Force was employed.
The Subramaniam Committee in its exhaustive report had also explicitly talked of the dire necessity of having a CDS. Even Committees that were appointed thereafter had pointed to this shortcoming besides a host of other drawbacks.
Amazingly the three Chiefs do not form an integral part of the CCPA on Security Matters.They are called only if the Babus feel like it.The previous RM was like Budhha who lived in his own world & virtually did nothing for the Armed Forces.
Now with a dynamic RM at the helm of affairs ,hopefully, Parrikar proves himself worthy of the onerous responsibilities , vision & commitment that lie ahead of him.Surprisingly, he too has not been able to get more money for the Armed Forces in the Budget for 15-16.It is not even 2% of the GDP.With China announcing 10 % increase in its defence budget( Already 12 % of its GDP),Pakistan( About 10 % of its GDP), there is no hope in hell to make any progress in India's defence modernization programmes. With difficult neighbours all around us- coupled with peculiar combine of internal & external threats that afflict us,it is indeed difficult time ahead.With China carrying out military exercises esp of PLAAF in Tibet,Indian border infrastructure all along the Chinese Border is in a dismal state.
The so called Integrated Service Headquarters is a sham.The COSC is another cosmetic arrangement amongst the three Chiefs who keep on passing the Baton to each other after a few months.The maximum power the COSC wields-is to write a DO to the RM.It is for the RM to read it or not-it is his total discretion.Hopefully, things would change now.
I have seen how the Defence Secretary in Pentagon talks of his Army,his Navy,his Air Force, his Marines & so on ,unlike 'we' & 'they'- so rightfully pointed out by Parrikar.
There should be NO dilution to the post of CDS.
The Babus have been responsible for this state of affairs-all these years.They have been ruling the roost & have been successful in making a wedge between the three Services ,since they have acquired tremendous power.This needs to be rectified.Moreover, there is an absolute necessity of integration at every level within the Ministry of Defence. Brigs or equivalent must be posted as Jt Secretaries , Major Generals or equivalent as Addl Secretaries & Lt Generals or equivalent as Special Secretaries.Besides , other Officers of the three Services must be posted to work along with their civil counterparts in restructured MOD. This shall accrue into an environment of bonhomie & camaraderie amongst all with increased productivity.
Well, there are Inter Service rivalries all over the world but these are healthy & constructive !
Here is wishing our new RM -GOD BLESS,GOD SPEED & GOOD LUCK !
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