DEGRADATION OF ARMED FORCES : MEDIA MONKEY DANCE ON NATIONAL TV - "BANDAR KE HATH MEI PISTOL "

SOURCE:
IESM FACE BOOK

             OROP  IS SOLDIER'S  RIGHT 
                                       &
            NOT AN ELECTION TIME GIFT
                                   
WATCH  ARNAB GOSWAMI  DOING MONKEY DANCE 
ON THE REPUBLIC TV PLATFORM

IESM/UFESM (JM) at Jantar mantar..

Happenings of 30 Oct 2017

 ..BRUTE FORCE USED BY DELHI POLICE>>???

Dear Veterans

It is very easy to read the NGT order from only one angle. NGT order also said that expressing the voice of dissent in democracy is fundamental right of every citizen. Veterans are also citizen of India. NGT also ordered govt to find a suitable place for expressing their grievances in a democratic manner. It is duty of every veteran to ask Govt why an alternate suitable location was not created by the Government.

If GOI is always challenging AFT order, given in favor of veterans, in higher courts, why was this order was not challenged by the Govt in Supreme court?

Does the Govt think that BJP will remain in power for next 100 years? Once in opposition where will the BJP conduct their rallies and dharnas? 

The same Delhi Police with beat their workers with canes and water cannons!!!!!!!!!! 

Alas the politicians are so short sighted.

IESM wrote to PM and CM of Delhi to give us the alternate place which has the facilities for agitation which is approachable and have clean toilets, shades, water and free of charge place. We did not receive any reply from Govt.

 IESM also requested to Police that give us a place and we would move peacefully at new location without any protest. There was no reply from either Govt and Police. However police told us that they have represented to Govt that it is mandatory to provide a suitable alternate location for protest in democracy moreover there are some agitators against whom it is difficult to take eviction action (Police had a fresh wound of action taken on peaceful agitators on 14 Aug 2015) and hence were reluctant to take any action.

Despite all these discussions, letters and promises 30 Oct 2017 morning police suddenly arrives with cranes and demolishes the tents and evicts peaceful agitators. It is point to be noted that Mrs Sudesh arrives at JM for participating in RHS very early in morning. She was there when eviction started and hence she resisted along-with others. We are proud of the iron lady. We only shot video of use of force against her but that does not mean that other veterans did not resist. 15 members including three women of IESM from JM were detained for entire day in police station without any charges.

 Any detention is not authorized in democracy without any charges. very very unfortunate and this needs support of entire veteran family even if few do not agree with approach of IESM.

This is time to show solidarity with veterans who are fighting for status for veteran family. Even if some veterans may have different opinion on the issue but they do not represent a large majority. Criticizing JM and action of GB of IESM will give chance to beat agitation with force by the Govt. Please understand that Govt is feeling heat of agitation because they have not given full OROP as promised by PM.

Even PM has accepted this on 19 Oct 2017 in Gurez while spending Diwali with soldiers. Do we need any more proof that full OROP has not been granted.

Veterans are free to have their own views on the method of agitation but that does not give them the right to pull down the brave veterans who are protesting. It is agreed that you may not agree with the approach of protesting veterans but similarly these protesting veterans also have right to disagree with some veterans who oppose agitation.

Notwithstanding all the discussion I request to all veterans that while we may have difference of opinion on the issue, we have duty to ensure that we do not pull down each other in public. On behalf of IESM I as vice Chairman of IESM assure the veteran family that IESM will not speak even one derogatory word against any veteran and any organisation. 

Can I request the same treatment from my fellow veterans.

One last word to all my veteran friends if you do not agree with the approach of IESM, please suggest new approach or action plan, come forward and lead it.

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM

                 OROP is our right.

 Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted

DEGRADATION OF ARMED FORCES IT IS TOO LATE THE TRADITION " to fight for my nation" IS DEAD

SOURCE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4dNZas47Ls]

       DEGRADATION OF ARMED FORCES

           IT IS TOO LATE THE TRADITION 
                        to fight for my nation 
                               IS DEAD



                                       [ https://youtu.be/Q4CtBD21hh4 ]

                                                       VETERANS  GOT THIS 

                                         ON

                         14 AUGUST 2015

             THANKS  "MODI GOVERNANCE "
                               FOR 
        REDEEMING OUR (DIS)HONOR


      [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4dNZas47Ls]

                    

               IT IS TOO LATE THE TRADITION 
                             to fight for my nation 
                                    IS DEAD

DEGRADATION OF ARMED FORCES : RANK RANKLE IN FORCES -MoD, armed forces lock horns over panel report

SOURCE;


[ http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/mod-armed-forces-lock-horns-over-panel-report/484780.html ]

 [  http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/panel-report-may-lead-to-discontent-armed-forces/485368.html  ]


[  http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/status-parity-issues-remain-despite-announcements/485765.html ]




             ARE THE ARMED FORCES 

                   BEING PRESSURISED 

                                 TO

              SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE 

                              ON 

                THE DEATH WARRANT ?

        RANK RANKLE IN FORCES 

                          PART-I

[ http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/mod-armed-forces-lock-horns-over-panel-report/484780.html ]

MoD, armed forces lock horns over panel report

The committee in its report has not spoken about the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant while suggesting rank parity norms

 October 20

In a move that threatens to question the seniority in military ranks, a report of a committee of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has resulted in a heated exchange of correspondence between various wings of the ministry and the forces.

The three-member committee headed by an Additional Secretary-rank officer had been tasked to study rank-equivalence norms between the armed forces and the civilians employed in the Armed Forces Headquarters, called the (AFHQ) cadre.

The armed forces are contesting the committee’s 21-page draft report that has not yet been presented to the MoD, top sources confirmed to The Tribune.

The Principal Personnel Officers Committee (PPOC), a body of the three armed forces, has reacted sharply and shot off a letter questioning the several claims made in the report and the documents relied upon to arrive at the conclusions, sources said. Sources point out that if the committee’s report is accepted, there would be serious ramifications on the morale of officers in the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain and Major of the Indian Army and their equivalents in the Navy and IAF.

The first 10 years of service of an officer are spent in these ranks and the committee in its report has not spoken about the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant when suggesting its rank parity norms.

A Major and Lieutenant Colonel have been made equal to the Deputy Director; a Colonel is equal to a Joint Director; a Brigadier is equal to Director and the Major General equal to Principal Director.

The forces are protesting these as the warrant of precedence (WoP) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs says a Major General is equal to a Joint Secretary and a Brigadier is equal to a Deputy Director General.

The forces are questioning the various equations drawn out by the MoD.

The committee had been set up in October last year by the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar had ordered a ‘cross-checking of facts’ on rank parity between officers of the three forces and civilians. The forces had protested saying that equivalence had been disturbed and the status of service officers had been downgraded following an MoD note in October last year.

One year later, the committee says the MoD note issued in October last year has basically reiterated the arrangements which have existed for years. In other words, the protest of the three forces has been brushed aside.

The committee has suggested that a standing committee be constituted to resolve the ongoing issues between the forces and the AFHQ cadre.

The AFHQ cadre was set up in the mid-1960s and was meant to provide only Secretarial support and has no executive authority or powers.

Tomorrow: The stinging protest by the forces










        RANK RANKLE IN FORCES 

                         PART-II

 [  http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/panel-report-may-lead-to-discontent-armed-forces/485368.html  ]

Panel report may lead to discontent: Armed forces

 October 21

 A storm is brewing in South Block, headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in the national capital. In view of the rank-parity committee’s draft, the armed forces have warned against violating “established equations”. They say it could cause “dissatisfaction” among forces and give rise to “avoidable litigation”.

The 21-page draft report of the committee headed by an additional secretary rank officer is on rank-equivalence norms between the armed forces and the civilians employed in the Armed Forces Headquarters, called the AFHQ cadre. The report has not yet been presented to the MoD. The armed forces are protesting vehemently. 

The Principal Personnel Officers Committee (PPOC), a body of the three armed forces, in a letter to the three-member committee on September 22, reiterated rank benchmarks and questioned the veracity of the documents submitted by the AFHQ cadre. The PPOC said the rank-parity claims of the AFHQ cadre are based on unsubstantiated documents largely based on a letter written by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 1968. 

“Its veracity is in serious doubt,” stated the stinging protest letter. It cites a 2007 MHA letter which clarified that no such document exists to establish equivalence between defence officers and civilians except for the warrant of precedence. The same was reiterated by the Group of Ministers’ report in 2008. The armed forces have cited that the charter of the PPOC cleared by the Union Cabinet mandates policy matters of the AFHQ cadre. 

The AFHQ officials in their presentation to the committee have disputed this Cabinet memo dated 1974 and subsequent MoD letter in 2002. The PPOC has argued that the AFHQ cadre headed by a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has made various communications regarding status equivalence based on “nonexistent” precedence. “Gross misrepresentation seems to have been made regarding equivalence, cadre restructuring and creation of higher posts,” the letter from PPOC suggests while seeking that all such letters be examined for their appropriateness. 

Talking about ranks, it said Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), who rise from the ranks, are mandated as gazetted ‘group B’ employees. Commissioned Officers are equal to ranks of all-India services and the IPS. 

In July, the Army had written to the MoD saying that JCOs are accorded gazetted status as per an Act of Parliament and have legally defined status. However, when posted at South Block, a JCO is issued an identity card equating him with group C, the lowest in the government employee cadre. 

Tomorrow: Helpless, despite announcements

            RANK RANKLE IN FORCES

                        PART-III

[  http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/status-parity-issues-remain-despite-announcements/485765.html ]

Status, parity issues remain despite announcements

October 22



Almost nine years ago, on December 27, 2008, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a detailed note asking for setting up a high-powered committee to resolve the issues of status and parity among the armed forces, the Central armed police and also the civilians.

This implied having a well-defined parity among the forces and other cadres like the IAS and IPS.  Certain ranks have been “added” at the higher level in the past three decades in the IAS and IPS.

In all these years, no committee has been set up that could, for once and all, decide on the matter. In the hierarchy-driven forces, encroachments on status are a strict no-no. Announcements are made and then noting happens, noted a senior functionary.

The December 2008 PMO note originated after forces protested against what they termed as “lowering” of status by the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Besides then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the decision makers included then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and then Defence Minister AK Antony.  

The non-functional upgradation (NFU) is yet another issue. The 7th CPC report tabled in 2016 said NFU should be given to forces. The government differed. The matter is now before the Supreme Court. A “non-functional scale (pay) upgradation” is allowed by the government to Group-A officers. Meaning they get the same scale as a Joint Secretary, but after 24 years of service. The NFU increases the salary of an individual by taking it to the upper scale. In the government, all facilities, perks, accommodation, travel allowance, vehicle, etc., are decided on basis of pay scales.

Strangely, the armed forces are neither classified as group “A” services nor are they termed as “Central services” like the IAS or the IPS, hence, they do not get an NFU. Now, with others getting NFU the gap gets widened. On the operational side, all civilian officers in Border Roads Organisation or the Military Engineering Services get this NFU, making them “senior” in hierarchy to the armed forces officers, who are otherwise senior in warrant of precedence  (WoP) defined by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In November last year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) notified a three-member committee to study rank equivalence between the armed forces and the civilians employed in the Armed Forces Headquarters, called the AFHQ cadre.

The MoD appointed an Additional Secretary as head of the committee, while a Lt-Gen rank officer, who as per the WoP is ahead in status, was made a member of the committee. How the Armed forces accepted this, is not known.  The committee has made 21-page draft report that has not yet been presented to the MoD.

 The armed forces are protesting vehemently at the proposed “lowering” of their status.

In case of the forces, the ranks and their roles, functions and names have remained more or less the same since the British era. No more than 20 per cent of make it to the rank of Colonel as there are no automatic promotions. The percentage drops sharply for Brigadier, Maj General and Lt General.

(Concluded)

DEGRADATION OF ARMED FORCES : INDIAN ARMY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING PROVISIONED WITH STATE OF THE ART NEW LETHAL WEAPON SYSTEMS

SOURCE:
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/NewsDetail/index/1/11810/Is-This-The-Job-of-the-Indian-Army-Or-Of-The-Inept-Civil-Administration




 DEGRADATION OF ARMED FORCES INDIAN ARMY   IN THE PROCESS OF                 BEING PROVISIONED WITH 
                 STATE OF THE ART 
NEW  LETHAL  WEAPON SYSTEMS

Defence Minister Falls To A New Low With                       Ridiculous 

              'Clean The Garbage'

                Order To The Army

                    Lt GENERAL VIJAY OBEROI

Friday, September 22,2017

In just three weeks, the new Raksha Mantri has moved from the top of the charts to below the mid-way point.

Unless she understands and applies her mind to the legitimate tasks of the armed forces and their pride and ethos, she is unlikely to be accepted fully and the charts will keep sliding south.

Her latest and only ridiculous order, so far, is asking/tasking the army to clean up garbage and litter in the high altitude areas, left behind by uncaring and uneducated tourists. Preposterous comes to mind immediately, but let me not jump the gun, so that the reader fully understands what I am talking about.

The media had dubbed the recent cabinet reshuffle as the BJP plan for the 2019 General Elections and the appointment of the new Raksha Mantri (RM) more in gender terms rather than abilities! Maybe so, but my take, as well as the bulk of the military fraternity, was a sense of relief that this government has stopped treating the Defence Portfolio as a temporary pastime for its cabinet ministers.

It seemed that after three years of governance, the Prime Minister had at last learnt that Defence was neither a part-time portfolio, nor one for a light-weight leader, who had to struggle/muddle through the maze of the entrenched party members, who thought only about their own clout and the powers they wield.

They had become carpet –baggers, with their own agendas; and were prone to look down on light-weights as a species to be sent back to their small fiefdoms. They had no time or inclination to change the entrenched system.

Unlike a political novice like me, seasoned punters of the political scene were convinced from day one that an IIT graduate like Manohar Parrikar would not be allowed to last in the rough and tumble political system of Delhi, where power and pelf combined with the Indian Crab Syndrome had prevailed for decades and continues to flourish, irrespective of changes in the ruling parties. But let me not digress!

Prime Minister Modi, despite being a seasoned politician rewarded a loser at the elections with the two most important portfolios, viz. Finance and Defence, possibly because of political compulsions and maybe inadequate talent. He glossed over the well-known fact that the incumbent did not like the military, as he blamed them for his losing the only election he fought in his long political career!

However, when he brought back the gentleman again as a temporary stand-in, it was clear that he did not understand the importance of the defence portfolio! If he had gone back in time, he may have realized that giving two major portfolios to one person are fraught with danger. Let me amplify.

When the then RM, during PM Vajpayee’s time was forced to resign and Jaswant Singh, the competent Minister of External Affairs was given temporary charge of the Defence Ministry, the disastrous Agra Summit took place, possibly as there was one less adviser at the cabinet level!
The importance of a permanent Raksha Mantri is obvious, as (s)he is a member not just of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS), but also of the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) and Economic Affairs (CCEA), the three most important policy-making committees of the Executive. (S)he is also a member of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Independent advice is therefore essential, so that major policy decisions are taken after due consultations.

With the above background, let us now talk about the new RM. My initial reaction to her appointment was positive – as in my view she was a professional; was intelligent; dedicated; and possessed common sense.

The last is most important for an RM, as it is the ‘men behind the gun’ who are the most important part of the military and there is need for application of mind before issuing orders and instructions that affect them. I had observed these talents in her, initially when she was the official spokesperson of her Party, and later when she was given the important commerce portfolio. She had handled her portfolio well and not only used her considerable abilities to good effect, but built up a positive reputation of a feisty lady who kept the rapacious bureaucracy in line and carried out her assignments quietly, without the usual fanfare that our political leaders revel in.

I therefore welcomed her elevation to head an extremely important Ministry, especially as the indolent MoD officials, including four Secretary-level officials, need a strong leader to keep them in line. I earnestly hope that she is able to deflate their egoistic image of themselves!

Let me now come to the main purpose of this article. Many military and other analysts have offered their advice about defence and military affairs. Initially I had also planned to do the same, but before I could do so, the new RM has given me an opportunity to highlight the incorrect orders she has issued to the MoD (read armed forces) relating to handling litter.

Apparently this was done at the behest of PMO to clean up garbage left by tourists in high altitude areas and other sundry instructions regarding cleaning up military stations, cantonments and bases. These orders are absurd, to put it mildly.

Obviously, no one has reflected on some similar orders that had been issued in the late 1950’s that eventually resulted in the 1962 fiasco, as outlined in the succeeding paragraphs.

Project Amar (construction of barracks and family accommodation by troop labour) was carried out at the behest of the then RM-Krishna Menon, despite objections by the then Army Chief – General KS Thimayya, and were implemented by the ambitious Bijji Kaul, then GOC 4 Infantry Division at Ambala. The result was no training by the Division for war.

Even when the Division had been ordered to move to NEFA (now part of Arunachal Pradesh), plans were made by the then RM for Project Amar II, which were mercifully jettisoned at the behest of the Army hierarchy. When the war with China erupted in 1962, it was this very division that was annihilated. One need not go into any more details, except to say that if you use the armed forces for carrying out non-military tasks, the result is catastrophic.

Our northern borders continue to be in dispute. Hopefully, the sterling role played by the army in handling the over 70 days stand-off with China’s troops in the area of Dokalam only recently must be fresh in everyone’s mind. It ended well as our troops were well trained and well lead. Everyone agrees that till the border problem is solved, such incidents will continue. Yet, the mandarins sitting in the PMO have issued a stupid and illogical order stating that the army will clean litter left behind by uncaring tourists in high altitude areas, obviously abandoning their operational tasks and training. It is the dumbest order I have heard in the last half a century, if not more. The MoD as usual has acted as postmen and forwarded it to the armed forces and the new RM has publicly announced it during her maiden visit to Western Command!

The authority of the civil administration extends to the remotest corners of the country and includes the entire stretch of all land borders of India. It is the job of the civil administration to administer all assigned areas under their control. Why are they first not ensuring that no tourists leave any litter and if they fail to do so, they have the resources, funds and authority to clean up. The armed forces, both in field areas, peace stations and different types of bases have always kept their habitat clean, green and hygienic. They are actually models for the civilians to emulate. So why have such orders/instructions been issued?

I must also point out that in the last Pay Commission, despite vehement opposition by the armed forces, high altitude allowances for civil officials of all categories have been decreed to be more than the soldiers! Are they earning them?

It appears to me that since the Swach Bharat Abhiyan has made little headway, the government wants to boast of at least cleaning up the litter of tourists so that their propaganda machinery can at least save face by tom-toming this!

I would urge the RM, the PMO and the MoD to rescind this absurd order immediately.

(The writer is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff)

SOURCE:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/no-doubt-army-for-people/399154.html



        PART TWO OF TWO PARTS

PART ONE :  

 [A]      

http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2017/05/an-army-for-people-m-g-devasahayam.html

PART TWO:

[ B ]

http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2017/04/no-doubt-army-for-people.html

***********************************************************************

       No Doubt, Army for People

                              by

         Lt Gen R.S Sujlana (retd)

IN LINE OF FIRE: Army personnel guard the Panzgam camp, 120 km from Srinagar, which was attacked by militants recently. PTI



The Oped titled, "An Army for the People?" (April 26, 2017) conveys a matter of serious concern as it expresses doubts that the Army it is no longer for the people of this country (specially in relation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir). It ends with the question: “Should our Army be different now?” 

A reference has been made to tying up of a stone-thrower in front of an Army jeep, evidently inspired by methods of the Israeli Occupation Force in illegal occupation of Palestine. Tellingly, it has also been conveyed that armed with the so-called draconian powers the Army has under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), instead of defending democracy, it has become oppressive at the whim of an autocratic state. 

Let me first address the episode of tying an individual (who was one among the many others pelting stones on the security force personnel performing their duty) in front of a jeep. This impromptu action by the quick-thinking commander at a critical juncture warded off a potentially dangerous situation, saved many lives and it needs to be commended. What were the options and expectations from the young Army officer? Realising the inadequacy of his small force to counter the large hostile crowd out to lynch the security personnel on duty, his first reaction could have been to pull back to safety, in which case he could be charged with dereliction of duty and cowardice. Another reaction could have been to open fire, leading to heavy collateral damage and civilian casualties and get charged for use of unwarranted force and fuelling the nefarious propaganda machine of the sponsors of terrorism sitting across the border. It would have been foolhardy to be at the receiving end of the hostile stone-pelting crowd, leading to many own casualties. Expectedly, the young Major did not choose to take any of the above options but showed presence of mind. His ingenuity ensured safe evacuation of all security personnel with no casualties to the rioting civilians or collateral damage and needs appreciation. It must be reiterated that this is a clear example of the Army advocacy and teaching of maximum constraint despite extreme provocation at the risk of even suffering own casualties. 

The credit and mastering (if these two words can be used loosely) the art of using humans as shields goes to the terrorists who shamelessly position women and children in front of them. The terrorists literally hid behind skirts (or rather phirans) and then from the safety of this screen of hapless citizens not only inflict casualties on the Army but make good their escape, leaving women and children in the lurch and in danger. Can anything be more unmanly and cowardly? Does it leave a doubt of what treatment the population will receive in the vaporous and no-longer- talked-of idea of "Azadi" but of radical Islam and world-wide jihad?

The very thought of the Army taking a leaf from the Israel Occupation Force is outlandish. The Indian Army is not an occupation force but operating in its own land. Moreover, operations are always launched ensuring minimum collateral and discomfort to the local population or giving a reason for any discord. The Army in its' over six decades of experience in battling insurgents/ terrorists/ anti-national elements has refined strategy and tactics to fight the terrorists, while interacting with and providing solace to the affected local civilian population. Such has been its' expertise that armies the world over (ranging from the US, UK, Russia, to Central Asian Republics, Japan to South-East Asia and South Asia) have sought joint training through exercises with the Indian Army at various levels to learn from its experience. Their outstanding contribution to effectively fight the scourge of terrorism has been widely appreciated. Yes, the armed forces does procure Israeli weapons and advanced technology but it does not need to import any lessons to fight battles.

In the Army's fight against terrorism, an important and well-structured thrust has been on being people friendly. Under the aegis of Operation “Sadhbhavna” in Jammu and Kashmir and Operation “Samaritan” in the North-East, the Army has earnestly taken up the duties of a failed civil administration and literally brought to the door steps of the population a range of elusive facilities: education and exposure to technology through institutions like “Good-will Schools”, medical, veterinary, sports and travel facilities etc. 

A question that may rankle: Why, despite all these measures the population is still hostile and the security forces are not appreciated? Resolving the Kashmir problem is a national challenge and not the sole prerogative of the Army. Rather, the latter has only a minor role which is restricted to controlling the hostile situation to enable the civil administration to take control of the reigns. Such a controlled situation was created in 2014 which enabled the conduct of peaceful elections and witnessed heavy polling, the terrorists sway was down. The yeoman service of the Army during the deluge and disaster caused by the waters of Jhelum and people-oriented actions added to the confidence of the locals. However, what followed was disastrous. The advent of winter saw the Darbar with all politicians and bureaucrats shifting to the salubrious environs of Jammu. Even the separatist leaders flew away and left the population in misery to fend for themselves. 

While the Army and other security forces had done their job, when the need was for the politicians and the civil administration to proactively perform they failed to do so. The Pakistan-based sponsors saw an appropriate opportunity and lashed out with every trick in perception management, while we failed to counter and exploit the success of elections. Just two years down, we witnessed the result of thumb twiddling and losing the narrative — a 7 per cent election turnout with smashed EVMs floating in the Jhelum. An integrated national effort, the need of the hour, is nowhere in sight.

The Army's resolve to ensure mission accomplishment, apolitical conduct and preserve democracy is no different today than the days of Emergency when all pillars of democracy — including the judiciary, bureaucracy and media — crawled to submission. It was left to the Army to stand sentinel over the citizens' liberty and rights. Like in the past, so too in the future, whenever the need arises even for any secondary task the Army will always endeavour to ameliorate any hardship that people may face. 

No doubts need to be raised and no witnesses are needed, their selfless conduct, with thousands having made the ultimate sacrifice, bears testimony to this. The Army led by gallant soldiers and officers at all levels will continue to outperform the enemy within and without. The nation must  TRUST  them. A start would be to raise a National War Memorial, which remains a pipedream despite repeated promises

including one by the present 56"-chest 

regime. 

The writer is former Commandant, IMA & ex-Chairman, PPSC. 
The Army in J&K, facing hostile stone-throwers and cross-border terrorism, needs to be supported by proactive political measures. Paramilitary forces in the Naxal-affected areas too need to be backed by technology, synergy and development on the ground.