Wednesday, June 24, 2015
ARMY SHOULD NOT BE DOWN GRADED..IT’S ASSERTION IS NOT INTEREFRENCE
ARMY SHOULD NOT BE DOWN GRADED..IT’S ASSERTION
IS NOT INTEREFRENCE
Dr Col K Prabhakar Rao Retd
In a recent article in Enadu (
Telugu) Kuldip Nayar former Indian High commissioner to UK was very critical about army and in no uncertain terms he said that army’s
intereference in civil administration
has been increasing. He saw threat to Indian democracy due to such rise.This is not first time that civilian beaurocrats in India have been critical of army and in fact
the relations between Indian beaurocrats and army have always been unsatisfactory. This is due to many reasons.
In
fact, Jawaharlal Nehru the first PM of India
was pretty shit scared of army. He was very much apprehensive of General
Thimmayya who commanded great respect in all services and also internationally.
Before Chinese war in 1962, The army
chief General Thimmayya and Defence minister VK Krishna menon had serious
differences and General Thimmayya
submitted resignation. However, General Thiimmayya was much persuaded by Nehru
and he withdrew his resignation. Later, the PM stabbed the Genral in back by letting the
General down in parliament badly and soon Thimmayya retired. The war against
China was a serious catastrophe and
India received grave shock and VK Krishna menon was sacked later. India begged
on streets to collect donations to pay for the arms purchase and to raise
national defense fund. It was a matter of great shame. In fact, Nehru should
have resigned taking responsibility as it was a civilian failure and not an
army failure.President Radhakrishnan should hav e sacked Nehru for his failures
and it was contemplated too.In fact Nehru was too busy in Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai
campaign, Non aligened movement along
with Marshal Toto of Yoguslavia, President Naser of Eypt and Sukarno of Indonesia.He
abdicated his basic responsibility of taking care of national safety But
dismissal of Nehru did not happen as Nehru was popular among masses. But Nehru continued in chair, People say he
died of sorrow and shock in 1964 which is of course debatable. Politicians are
thick skinned like komodo dragons.Army’s prestige nose dived. It is also leant
that during the funeral procession of
Nehruji army chief was shadowed by the civilian intelligence chief duly armed.
Such was the distrust among civilan
govt and army. It was only after 1965 and 1971 that army regained some
of it’s prestige and confidence to some extent. Nehru’s govt
made sure that all service chiefs are of same rank so that they could never
unite for a military coup. The word commander
– in- chief that was earlier present was taken off. Thus army was cut to size
as first step. Next step was down gradation of army ranks in protocol. The
ranks were seriously down graded in comparison to political leaders and IAS
babus. With this started the eternal and never ending squabble between army and civilian babus. Army is under MOD and all its matters have to
be processed through MOD that is dominated by civilian Babus ,The rank of
colonel was vry badly down graded. Its embroidered cap badge
displaying three lions was replaced with isignificant regimental badges. The battallion commanders became
Colonels. Downgradation became fatal to army. Brigadiers who also sported Three
lion cap badge sported the badge worn by General officers All senior officers took care of themselves
sacrificing others interests.
In a democracy Army has to take
back seat and civilian authority is supreme and this fact no one denies
including army.The police forces that keep copying army upgraded their ranks
and promotional avenues for IPS officers while army suffered and there was none
to hear to armys woes. Generals were happy with their star plates, red lights
on cars, flags, scores of orderlies at
home, functions, ladies nites, armed guards at homes, regimental dinner nights,
member ships of star clubs, , top guest
house reservations, gurads of honor, air travel, foreign trips, much of perks and titles awards such as VSM, AVSM,
PVSM and even bars to them
.
Mr
Nayar in his article was critical that the special powers granted to army inJand
K state and in Eastern troubles states sucha as Nagaland have to be removed. In fact the young chief miniser of J and K
recommended to the govt that armys powers be removed in his staee. Mr Nayar
lamented that army resisted the move and
the govt was helpless. This he saw it as armys influence over civilain
authority. Secondly, the recent
encounter in Kashmir in which some youth were killed was quoted. Kashmiris
claim that these youths were innocent . The aspect of siachin glacier also
became a matter of discussion. It has been claimed that the foreign ministers
of India and Paksitan agreed to withdraw
troops from Siachin. Mr Nayar alos claimed that the retired senior military
officers opined that these areas need
not be held as there was no purpose. However he lamented that army insisted on
occupying Siachin lands. This matter has
been a gain seen as intereference in civil administration. Is Mr Nayar competent to decide and discuss the strategic
issues of defence. After all ,he is a mere beaurocrat of some repute. But that does not make him all knowing
type. If India withdrew from Siachin pak
would have surely occupied these lands
and will not honor the
commitmnets. Pakistan always betrayed us. Similarly Kashmir can not be held
with armys hands tied behind. Jihadis
would butcher army while guys
like Kuldip nayar would be watching TV
in his cozy house over a glass of chilled
drink munching chicken legs in between.. The Kashmir valley has been Islamised.
They have driven away pandits from the valley while previous govt watched and
kept mouth shut.The muslims in valley had free hand while pundits were driven
out and temples destroyed. Pakistan is
in hand in glove with separatists and making all attempts to infilterate into
state. This is being stopped only by presence
of army and to some extent by BSF too.. Army knows what is best for the valley
to stop infilteration and not arm chair bound KuldipNayar and similar beaurocrats. It is bettter Mr Nayar relaxes after retiremnet instead of creating
confusion and degrading armys stature
and demoralise them. He is a chip of old dead wood awaiting discard. Dead wood must be discarded at once or else it would get rotten and soon would emanate foul smell and will be
infested with bacteria, insects and worms that would be harmful ffor people around. Kuldip nayar is
in that state.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN..320
INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...320
DR K Prabhakar Rao
Gandhi Patel and Nehru are seen strolling near the tank bund
lower road in Hyderabad. They are near the
water outlet gates. They find many police men at the site.
Gandhi. Patel. This is a place of no importance. Why police is
here? Let us pray that no one has been murdered
at this lonely spot.
Patel. Bapu. We need not worry. All looks Ok . The police
guys are relaxing and taking it easy.
Look some guys are smoking also.
Nehru. Then why this tamasha?
Gandhi. I read in news paper that this reservoir is being
drained of water to revamp it.
Patel. Are they crazy? How
will get refilled?
Nehru. This tank has
water which is highly contaminated by pollutants that flow from
some industries. This is a city shit pot. So the new CM has vowed that
he would clean this place at all costs. He got such streams closed and is now in the process of draining the tank.He says he will get it refilled by krishna water,
Gandhi. It is a good idea but looks crazy. The CM must concentrate on more important issues to
solve states problems than this
useless activity. He appears to have no
priorities
Patel. Looks so. Poor soul. He came to power after formation of new state and he wants to
godown as a Messiah.
Gandhi. Hee..heee. The guys are crazy. I was told that he
wants to make Hyderabad a Singapore. How he can do it?Our people basically are
lazy guys devoid of discipline. They need twenty four hour supervision. In fact
Indian works better when an outsider kicks him hard.
Patel. True , Bapu Whem Indira Gandhi proclaimed Emergency
guys worked well. They were shit scared. If left for themselves they will not
be seen at work spot.
Nehru. That means we are a nation of work thieves
Patel. You may think so.
Gandhi. Better do not discuss our ethics. People get upset.
We were discussing Hussein sagar cleaning.
Patel. Yes.What he is going to achieve by this?
Gandhi. He claims that
people can enjoy pleasant evenings at the reservoir.
Pate. But people are enjoying even now.
Gandhi. Look Patel. Every CM wants to do something unique so that all remember him.
Patel. You hit the nail on head. What happens to fish?
Gandhi. It is said that all fish have already died due to toxic pollutants
Nehru. Good. One problem is solved
Patel. I learnt that a tribunal has given orders that water
can not be drained into Musi river without cleaning. Work was stopped.
Gandhi. I think state went to appeal and was cleared. The
state is free to pollute Musi river
further. Probably the higher agency thought that musi is already so dirty
that no further pollution can be caused.
Patel. Haa..haa..haa
Gandhi… Nice joke . Hee.Heee.. But why police guard is there
at sluices
Patel. That is strange, Shall I go and ask a police man?
Nehru. Good.. Go ahead
( Patel runs to police and talks to a constable)
Patel. Bhai. Why you guys are here?.
Constable. Why? Do you want to be here?
Patel. No No…It is just like that
Constable. We are here to prevent theft of sluice gates.
When water is full no one can steal. Now
it is empty these gates and gadgets can
be stolen in night. Scrap dealers will have nice time.There is a rumor that Lot
of gold can be found hidden at the bed
of reservoir that was hidden during Razakar times during police action.So we are here to
prevent theft.
Patel. Good. KCR will be lucky if he finds gold
Constable. He can build Singapore soon.
Patel. I doubt it. No doubt you will find skeletons in
the bed who were drowned or committed
suicide,
Constable. Eee…eee Then ghosts also will be there. I am
scared of them
Patel. Ok You are a police man. Be brave
Constable. OK I shall
try.
Patel. OK Bhai. Thanks for information. Bye
( Patel returns to Gandhi.He narrates what he learnt)
Gandhi. It is all waste of time for us. I thought some
interesting thing will be there. Let us
go
Patel. OK
Nehru. OK Bapu. I am scared of ghosts.
(All disappear from
the scene )
CURTAIN
FALLS
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)