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Defensible, not defiance

There is little wisdom in writing for a newspaper on an issue on which the editorial and the editor in chief have already given a verdict (‘Chain of command, demand’). But I am motivated by two factors: “national interest” and the words of The Indian Express founder, “Be forthright, be frank, b ....Read more

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Pay Scales of our Dfence ServicesBy: Harendra Kumar Jha | Sunday , 19 Oct '08 16:47:11 PM Reply | Forward It is a very candid and realistic assessement by a retired General. It may sereve as a worthwhile rejoinder to most of the Babus who sit closeted in the power corridors, away from the reality of the Indian masses.To fight successfully against all types of marauders, the Indian Defence Forces, like any other institution, must have the support of our people. Such comments by the Babus, as has been fed to the masses through our media, can only help to drive a wedge between our Military and the people.The branding of genuine and justifiable amendments in the sixth Pay Commission recommendations by our Armed Forces Chiefs in the larger interest of the Country as a 'dangerous precedent', must be condemned by all right thinking citizens as a move to downgrade the 'izzat' and the esteem of the services. Let us not forget that in its post independence history, our Armed Forces have always been apolitical and truely secular in their constitutional credentials, unlike many of our neighbours.

Shameless BaubdomBy: PANKAJ PRAKASH | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 12:32:50 PM Reply | Forward Dear SIrI fully agree with Mr. Malik. Theses Babus has hold of all the creamy layers of job in the country and has dis allowed any person of whatsoever calibre to enter this hallowed zone supermacy. They make sure that their supermacy are not being destroyed and also not even allowed to qustion . Every Committedd formed by Govt. will be headed by an IAS. Why is it that all the talent has been hijacked by IAS lobby in INDIA.Why Defence secretary is higher in protocol as compared to services chief. these issues need to be addresses otherwise frustrating armed forces would not hold much of respect for its civillian authorities.

BABUS NEED TO BE QUESTIONEDBy: JAYANT | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 12:27:34 PM Reply | Forward The Time has Come when it is for every citizen of India to realise " THE BRUTAL BABU " needs to be put on the mat . They can manipulate their payscales to their like and consider a small fund for the people who defend the country as a libility ! The coverage of their ( IAS ) fraud is well covered BY OUTLOOK and I plead that we The EXSERVICEMEN should request The CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA to take notice of this uncalledfor fraud by the BABU's and Order A CBI INQUIRY.I hope Mr Shekar will also rethink regarding this aspect and make a similar request to the highest JUDICIAL AUTHORITY OF INDIA to order an immediate investigation

Why do we need a Defence MinistryBy: Mira | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 11:32:34 AM Reply | Forward Further to my comment above...Showing the Armed Forces "their place" was simple for the mandarins of the Indian ICS. Possibly holding out the spectre of a military coup to the gullible politician, and deliberately misinterpreting the principle of "civiliancontrol", they created a structure which suited them ideally, and brought the Armed Forces under bureaucratic control. In India the ICS created a unique structure with a "Ministry of Defence" composed of a number of Departments, manned exclusively by civilian generalists,headed by a bureaucrat of Secretary rank. External to the MoD and subordinate to the Department of Defence they created three "Attached Offices" onefor each HQs.So at one fell swoop, the bureaucracy had:* Placed the Service HQs well outside the Government of India, whom they could only approach through the MoD.Effectively subordinated the Service Chiefs to decision-making at the lowest rungs of the MoD, since every file submitted by HQs is routed through US onwards

Have CourageBy: sudhir | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 11:11:37 AM Reply | Forward Thank you Mr Shekhar Gupta for accepting your mistake by publishing article of General Ved Malik. Now have the courage to highlight the facts how Babus are underminig the authority of their political masters. If you are not aware,about it, please read the latest issue of Outlook. Don't you think that some body should be held responsible for the entire episode.

Why do we need a Defence MinistryBy: Mira | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 10:23:52 AM Reply | Forward Why do we need the defence ministry at all. We have Service HQs which do all the planning and control the execution of the Defences of the country. The Professionals who have the knowledge and skills to advise the Defence Minister and the Govt on the Defence issues are there in the Service HQs. What do the babus in Defence Ministry do. They just act as go betweens the Govt and Service HQs and in the process extract their pound of flesh by distorting and MisConstruing these communications. If we disband this Ministry, a lot of tax payers money will be saved and Govt will have much more effective control and knowledge of its defences. The problem dates back to the time of independence, when India had won dependence largely consedered because of Ahimsa and stalwarts like Nehru believed the Army was more of a wasteful expense and deep within harboured a fear of Military Coup. Civil Services Babus siezed this opportunity and fanned this thought and fear and interpolated the ministry.

Rotton Status QuoBy: Rita | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 9:16:23 AM Reply | Forward Dear Sir,It is an irony that whereas India has entered a league of the "Haves" in nuclear regime demanding highly organised and efficient Defence Structures, MOD babus are fighting the forgotton war of supermacy between C-in-C and Governor General. We wii soon be launching Chandrayana and Going to Moon but in South block they fighting a Colonial war. This a massive mismatch. There have been No Military Coups and Military unlike IAS has no Political ambitions. This archiac MOD is redundant and also pulling back the three Service from growth to match with our status and acquire new operational abilities that would be necessary under changed circumsatances. They only visualise Army cleaning up the consequences of the failed administartion in the Country for which IAS and Police is responsible. Indian Armed Forces have vison on the Moon, our skies, shores and vast unsettled land borders. These fellows are bothered about Continuation of rotton corrupt IAS dominated staus quo.

Pay anomalies for armed forcesBy: Arun | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 9:01:17 AM Reply | Forward Gen Malik has offered facts that are verfiable though a large portion of the policies and perception about the armed forces remain invisible to the public. There is a hidden side also. Some politicians and bureaucrats perceive armed forces as threat to their existence and quite a few of strategic analysts find the armed forces without much of use in modern context. They think that police and paramilitary forces can well discharge the functions of the armed forces. That is why there has been successive oppression of the armed forces and their status and growth has been continuously downgraded. This time it was introduced cleverly by the committee of secretaries. But they failed to anticipate the reaction of the forces. This time the forces refused to accept the things lying down and gave a clear message that enough is enough. It is a matter of research why nation loves the armed forces but the babus-politician duo fears and despises them-not all of course- but certainly a strong group!

Restructure the RotBy: Magesh Dani | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 8:44:28 AM Reply | Forward Gen Malik is very mild in his observations, realising perhaps that IAS attittude towards cotrolling the Armed Forces verges on psycopathetic feneticism rather than a rational attitude. The attitude can at best be decribed as the childish possessive meantality of "this is my toy". So Armed Forces are " dumb toys" of IAS. Can the country be expected to be defended and Politicians wish to win a war by IAS "dumb toys". That is dangerious for the safty and welfare of our Contry. Let us revisit all the sane pronouncements of Shri K Subhrayamaniyam on the restructuring Higher Defence Mangement. It is aginst basic prnciples that IAS is the indentor, user, procurer and supplier , decisoin maker, all in one, with No political accontabilty. That rests either on the main functional elements, the three Services HQ, DRDO, OFB etc or the RM. Coordination between various elemnents will be best achieved by representatives of all defferent elements comprising MOD rather than by an ousider IAS Babus

In favour of the armed forcesBy: Namrata | Tuesday , 7 Oct '08 8:40:46 AM Reply | Forward We have great respect for the armed forces and trust them great deal.We know that building a memorial for shahids has no meaning if We do not stand by them when they need us the most.What the armed forces Chiefs have done today is absolutely correct and justified. People !!!The armed forces has not gone on strike . They are fighting the militants with arms on the border at the same time fighting for status and parity using requests,pleas with the GOVT. I hope they are victotious at both fronts with no damages. The Borders I can vouch for ...coz the armed forces love their country and they are the BEST in the world but with the GOVT .. can they win ??? Coz the prob is that the Armed forces have been trained tofight enemies from outside the country but they have not been trained to fight their own people..... Does the GOVT care ?? Lets wait and watch .. Best of Luck to armed forces .God bless them and their families

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