Sir,
Nation has got its Chief of Defence Staff. It was a pressing need of the Armed forces. Army, Navy and Air Force are headed by respective Chiefs and were being represented separately and differently in the Govt. Thus cooperation and coordination amongst three remained below optimization during wars. Compelling need to have CDS was felt after the Kargil War. Kargil War review committee and Group of Ministers headed by then Dy PM L K Advani recommended early creation of CDS. Finally the Govt has done it.
Selection of Gen Bipin Rawat as the first CDS is momentous. He was Army Chief for 3 years during the worst of militancy days in the Valley. Doklam Border standoff, Pulwama attack, retaliatory Balakot Air strike as well as Pak Air Raid on our defence installations, control over terrorism & stone pelting happened during his tenure. He superseded two senior Generals for the post. His professionalism put him above them. He thus became controversial from day one and continued to be controversial till the end of his tenure for his out of turn political statements. He lost favours with the veterans for his unsavory comments against them. But he remained steadfast in dealing with all these challenges. He delivered remarkably as Army Chief. His appointment as CDS is therefore no surprise. Role of the CDs has been defined. Delivery is to be seen. Nation’s expectations are high. He has been selected by Prime Minister Modi himself (underlined) for this assignment. Army rules have been amended for him. He is given three years as CDS which goes long way with Modi’s premiership. Hence the environment is conducive for him to work and deliver. That will speed up re-organisation and modernization of the Armed Forces and take care of bureaucratic hurdles in military matters. As a Secretary of Dept of Military Affairs, his files will go direct to RM/PM bypassing Defence Secretary routing. That will also dilute bureaucratic control and delays.
We are aware of alarming security threats to the nation. Chinese extra territorial intentions are well known. Pak abetted proxy war continues. It is hoped that Gen Rawat comes out of his Kashmir centric proxy war syndrome and fully concentrates on threats from Northern and Western neighbors. New Army Chief has also hinted towards preparations against threats from both sides. With Modi at the helms and a professional General as CDS focus now will be on the frontiers instead of terrorism. I think the nation is in safe hands.
Col J P Singh
Gandhi Nagar, Jammu
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