A Fauji’s Point Of View
By Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)
The commonest discussion today is over “Who to Vote For”? Messages flood Social Media on why and whether one should vote for Modi or Congress (strangely, a personality projected against an opposing party). The Government has come out with a campaign ‘Saaf Niyat, Sahi Vikas’ showcasing its achievements over past 4 years, apparently to build up tempo for campaigning for 2019 General Elections. The Campaign Title is indeed impressive; but is it a realistic believable claim- the ‘Niyat’ part? Curious, I tested the projected ‘Niyat’ (sic) USP against the Kasauti of our past experience, culminating with what we MAY do. Though its the Fauji Kasauti I use, the deduction I’m sure are relevant to all segment of voters.
In 2014 we Fauji veterans played a preference card. Dissatisfaction had built up against Congress party for years of neglect, and about the non grant of OROP. So, when NaMo as the BJP’s PM nominee, came around playing our ‘Melody’ on OROP, we believed him. His first rally at Rewari a day after being announced as BJPs PM Designate, was attended by over 2 Lakh Ex Servicemen. NaMo chose Faujis as his First Constituency sensibly; Simple, trusting, believing and willing to gamble on new approach to problem solving, ESM constituted an untapped, perhaps gullible segment, ripe for political exploitation. NaMo unfortunately overlooked factoring into his plan, the Fauji proclivity for accountability, honoring one’s commitment, and the sense of Izzat that a Fauji values over anything else .
After NaMo’s oblique promise to ensure grant of OROP, ESM (primarily under the IESM) relentlessly worked, as a Do or Die mission for NaMo’s Electoral Success. BJP rallies were supported by ESM, who additionally undertook intensive canvassing in their widely isolated habitations.
The ESM’s enthusiastic activities were certainly responsible in no small measure, to the creation of the 2014 ‘Modi Wave’. Many BJP lightweights benefited from it and got elected. Not so Mr Jetley, who DESPITE the Wave, did NOT win a seat for Lok Sabha.
On assuming office, sadly Mr Modi appointed this unelected MP-Jetley as Raksha Mantri (RM) in addition to being Finance Minister. For an important assignment like Defence Minister- it would have been axiomatic to task an MP carrying the ‘People’s mandate’, which Jetley did not have. Wearing two hats of Finance and Defence Minister, Jetley treated the MoD as an encumbrance, devoting little time thereto. His approach, sympathy and dedication to the Fauji community was plain indifferent if not hostile. About OROP, he reportedly told an ESM delegation that ‘Election Promises are not meant to be fulfilled’. To a community that attaches great importance to ethics, this blatant retracting on ones word was anathema, and a precursor to more disappointments to come.
PMs compulsions to appoint Jetley RM, or even OROP, is not the object of this analysis. His lack of sincerity to see his commitment to Faujis fulfilled is. Far from experiencing a betterment, there has been a Fauji down-slide over the years of NDA’s current rule. All this while, PM has been aggressively broadcasting PM Nehru’s perceived ‘Failures’ and ‘Blunders’. Even acknowledging these ‘Nehru errors’, as PM of a fledgling nation, one would have expected a far better handling of matters military in recent times, due to hindsight and through lessons learnt these past 70 years, allowing us to correct errors. Unfortunately, if Nehrus’ blunders included 1947 and 1962, NaMos stint has seen many more, making the Fauji situation murkier. I can’t recall such sequential blunders under any Government.
Consider:
The half hearted (and clearly timed to precede Bihar elections 2015) announcement of a half baked financial package masquerading and designated as OROP (sic). An example of ‘Doodh mein Mingni Daalna’ as some ESM refer to it. Met nobody’s aspirations- neither ESM’s nor the Government’s. PMs denigrating declaration at a rally in Punjab that he had to ‘rob’ from the pockets of the poor, to grant the soldier OROP. Huh! Soldiers who hold their IZZAT as the most important element in their personality, were traumatized over this senseless and humiliating remark.
Initially PM had promised that he’d meet the Services Chiefs periodically- once a month for direct interaction. This may have happened once if at all, before abdicating the task of ‘Civil Control’ to the MoD bureaucracy and a transient part time Raksha Mantri (Jetley).
We are all aware of the Political Tamasha indulged in after the Surgical Strikes against Pakistan. As the BJP chose to project this purely military activity as the Party’s achievement, on election billboards in UP, the opposition responded equally irresponsibly- discrediting the Surgical Strike claim and questioning if the attack took place at all!! But beyond doubt, the initial step of involving the Forces in this murky political quagmire, was created by BJP. FOR purely party’s political interests? The ‘ after effects’ were totally and singly to the detriment of the standing the Defence Forces traditionally enjoy by being apolitical.
Sad and shameful that all this happened during the watch of a party and PM that we Faujis had high hopes of. To add to the absurdities, RM Parrikar claimed that THIS Government had reminded our Army of their capability and prowess- of evoking the ‘Hanuman’ in them, to be able to undertake the surgical strikes!! As though we Faujis were twiddling our thumbs these past seven decades, and unaware of our capabilities!! Ridiculous to say the least. Insulting too.
The game of musical chairs carrying on in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) since 2014 bespeaks of the lack of importance the PM accords the Forces that he superficially eulogizes. There is something surreal about his public proclamations and actions – often spending time with front-line troops and then doing F@#&@%% for them despite public pronouncements of love for them.
NaMo has unfortunately treated the MoD as a transit camp, or at best a training ground as the current incumbent’s appointment indicates. Can India accept its ‘Last Bastion’ being so callously and carelessly mishandled?? Do the Last Resort of the State deserve no better? The irresponsibility clearly emerges from the fact that ONLY the FAUJI pays the price- by life, limb or a sealed career in case of a debacle; nobody else- Politico, Bureaucrat or anyone else does, irrespective of years of culpable neglect on their part. To put it bluntly, its ONLY the soldier’s neck on the chopping block, even though he depends on the National Executive- the Elected representative of people, the MP, to ensure he is sent to battle well equipped and well looked after.
In J&K when three youths jumping an Army Check post were fired upon, the PM far from Backing the soldiers who were just doing their duty, initiated actions that enabled him to proclaim at political rallies that for the first time in India’s history HE had made the Fauj apologize to civilians. Really? And in heavens’ name, why? Importantly, Unjustifiably? Even before the facts of the case were investigated completely ! Big Deal!! An apolitical Force turned political- for Party gains.
Similar irresponsible leadership was displayed by RM Nirmala Sitharaman in January 2018, by approving filing of an FIR against an Army officer who ordered opening of fire in self defence at Shopian, just on a call from CM Mehbooba Mufti, BJP’s alliance partner in J&K, without even studying the facts or even having a preliminary inquiry!! Hardly comforting or motivating for a soldier on the front line! Off course, the discerning wouldn’t have missed the VISIBLE sidelining of the Defence forces.
The ‘Beating Retreat’, a purely Military phenomenon (happens 29 Jan and marks the end of Republic Day festivities) has in BJP’s tenure, been converted to a cheap ‘Band Baja Baraat’ show of uneven scale and melody, with miscellaneous ‘dhuns’ being played on Sitar etc, and some police bands (including the Delhi Police Band) being incorporated, vaporizing the martial essence of the event.
Also on display has been the disturbing sight of the Military Commander who traditionally accompanies and stays next to the PM on the ramparts of the Red Fort during the PMs address, being displaced from that position in past two years. These are not isolated events, but as would be evident from this listing, it all forms a pattern. Are we OK with that? I’m not.
There are many more such discrediting events- Non resolution of 6 and 7 Pay Commission anomalies, the NFFU battle in court, RM not taking steps to curtail legal actions against Disabled (an action that was recommended against, by a committee by RM Parrikar), withdrawal of Rations for Officers in Peace Stations, capping education grants to children of Battle casualties, denying some categories of Gallantry Award winners of existing train concessions etc, but the last straw and the motivation for me to write this is the foolish step of ‘opening of Cantonments’.
Considering that even Restaurants and Malls have a ‘Right to Admission Reserved’ and check credentials of people entering, this is fatalistically foolish to say the least. Not the least because it lays the soft underbelly of Fauji habitations open to all and sundry, but equally because it permits an onlooker direct vision into what goes on within the Units – training, mobilization, radio emissions… the list is long.
Notwithstanding all else, it is usual management practice to consult the affected segment/ individuals and prepare them for any envisaged change. In this case this was clearly not done, and a decision taken and conveyed to the Forces for implementation. Was this to ‘put the Forces in their place’? Show who is the boss? The decision is disastrously wrong (politically too definitely, as it has weaned away a major segment of BJP supporters from among Faujis, who were till recently ‘sitting on the fence’ giving benefit of doubt to a PM they still had faith in, despite the lapses covered above), AND Insulting in the manner it was announced, and sequentially followed up with ‘victory rallies’ through cantonments, with BJP supporters on motorbikes, mocking Cantonment sentries. Victory?
Why is this Government at war with its Fauji?? Clearly the public descending on Cantonments, including specifically on Family Quarters in some stations is a mischievous, malicious and crooked stage managed, instigated move. Why has this Government alienated the Soldiery from the Citizenry? Its Divisive and Shameful.
Does the Government’s conduct have something to do with RSS’ recently visible assertive combativeness? I have a lot of respect for this organization due to their numerous contribution to nation building tasks since independence, so let me explain. Recently there have been instances of this organization pitting their achievements /performance against the Armys; After Uttarakhand relief work there were murmurs that RSS had done better work than that done by army (how can it be helpful one cannot fathom), and in Feb 2018, the Chief of RSS made weird comments on army’s mobilization processes, claiming RSS can train a soldier in 3 days while army takes couple of months.
Are such thoughts then the underlying factors guiding Pracharaks and NaMo’s behavior? I have thus far given benefit of doubt to NaMo despite the numerous fiascoes, hoping that things would improve someday soon. But each day brings some new disappoint and disillusionment. Now this foolish Cantonment Opening order is the last straw. The soft underbelly of the Fauj has been rendered vulnerable. Can we permit such crass irresponsibility? I have had a transition last week.
I still believe that PM NaMo offers a better option than any alternative available on the Political horizon. A second term is likely to bring about fruition of many initiatives started by him and incubating as of now. BUT whether he succeeds or not is for him and his party to work hard and sensibly for. Presently, most discussions focus on whether Modi should win or Congress/ Mahagatbandhan. My view is, its for people of Varanasi or whichever constituency Mr Modi stands from, to decide whether he should win or not. So Best of Luck. BUT, As for other party candidates, who must win for him to take a shot at PM’ship, I believe they should be on their own. Unlike 2014, I don’t think we Veterans need to go into overdrive to support an overall BJP win or play King Maker. We tried that once, and only succeeded in crowning a Piker. Once bitten twice shy. Introspection is needed. How worse after-all can our situation get in any case?
IMPORTANTLY, the election should not be allowed to get into a One Man vs Everyone else/ Others Part(y)ies. Its NOT a presidential form of democracy. Think YOUR Candidate in YOUR Constituency.
I firmly believe we need to THINK ‘Constituency’ and vote from among candidates available in OUR Constituency. Look into his/ her past performance and spoken reputation. THEN vote. If there is a tie, give benefit to the NON BJP candidate – it may bring a level of sanity if a bit of bridling is affected in Parliament. NaMo has worked hard to bring Rajya Sabha strength ratios in his favor; let’s bring the same about in the Lok Sabha; Brakes permit us to drive faster. India’ needs a strong opposition.
And if the BJP STILL need higher numbers, let them stop this monkeying with the Fauj, and work to re-earn and restore this constituency’s confidence sufficiently. Just nominating retired Chiefs as party candidates WILL NOT help. A General lost his deposit during the last election, in Rohtak. So it’d take much more than these archaic stunts. The Fauji electorate knows. And is now wiser. Action rather than subterfuge would be needed.
A point in closing. Voting in Station of Posting must be religiously implemented by Units. Electoral Rolls must be updated in time for elections. There is a Supreme Court direction on the issue, Army Instructions exist, and in fact such voting has been practiced in the past in two elections at least. So, Guys, don’t be lazy. Get up and vote where you are posted, live, pay taxes and support the economy of the area. We have numbers but sadly ignore and remain politically irrelevant. This HAS to be corrected.
Following the Cantt closing fiasco, Veteran anger has shown up on Social Media. I reproduce in trail, one such, indicating people one needs to be watchful of.
As I write this, I notice widespread Fauji discontent identical to mine, spreading all over Social Media, which confirms and vindicates my concerns. Sadly a lot of damage far outstripping any caused by any other earlier Government of India, has been caused to the Fauji fabric under Mr NaMo’s watch. How long it would take to repair or recreate I don’t know. How much its capabilities, motivation and standing with the citizenry has been destroyed, only time will tell. The caution sounded by Mr Winston Churchill in 1905 seems relevant, but Indian Governance is deaf to such wisdom . “The army is not like a limited liability company; to be reconstructed, remodelled, liquidated and reflated from week to week as the money market fluctuates. It is not an inanimate thing, like a house, to be pulled down or enlarged or structurally altered at the caprice of the tenant or the owner, it is a living thing. If it is bullied, it sulks; if it is unhappy it pines; if it is harried it gets feverish; if it is sufficiently disturbed it will wither and dwindle and almost die; and when it comes to this serious condition, it is only to be revived by lots of time and lots of money”.
Too much harm has been done already though.
THIS MAIL IS BCC TO CIVILIAN FRIENDS INCLUDING THOSE IN LEGISLATURE, MEDIA AND CORPORATE.
Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)
Nescit Cedere
“Fortes Fortuna Iuvat”
Editor’s Note:
The views expressed by the writer are his own and IDC does not necessarily subscribe to them.