Harsha Kakar
Within a fortnight of assuming his premiership, Prime Minister Modi instructed the defence ministry to involve the military in all decision-making processes which affect them. However, two years have passed and it appears, that directions remain only on paper. The past few months have witnessed government departments issuing directions, leaving the military seething. This runs alongside the government chest thumping and seeking credit, on military successes, mainly for the forthcoming elections. While the Prime Minister praises soldiers, introduces an app for wishing them Diwali and spends festivals with them, his own ministries release directions which impact military morale. It has resulted in an almost open battle between the military and the government, which commenced with the OROP agitation and continues even today. The present Chiefs of the three services could have been coerced, like their predecessors, by the defence minister and implemented the pay commission and the military’s down gradation, as has been the custom, but their hands were forced by shrill voices of their subordinates emerging on social media and a highly charged veteran community.
The OROP agitation which in its first phase lasted almost nine months, left the government red faced and compelled it to release a half-baked version of the same. The Reddy commission appointed to assess its shortcomings has recently submitted its report. It would be month’s, if not years, irrespective of the words of the defence minister, before the government implements its recommendations. Frustration has compelled veterans to launch phase two of the agitation, which could be politically more devastating for the government, coming on the heels of elections to crucial states. The suicide by Subedar Grewal, a veteran, because of OROP, at the commencement of the agitation has brought the political battle to the government’s doorsteps.
The seventh pay commission, which should have been a cause of celebration for all government employees, was a despair for the military. For reasons, which are superfluous and illogical, the commission recommended downgrading the military in every manner. It left it demoralized and insulted. The government went a stage further and accepted the recommendations, despite cries from all quarters of the military, that it was being unfairly targeted. Its refusal by service chiefs was a clear sign of displeasure across the rank and file. This standoff resulted in the military part of the pay commission being referred to an anomalies committee. The anomalies of the sixth pay commission continue to remain with the committee and hence I wonder, when those of the seventh would be resolved.
If this was not enough, to add further insult to injury, was the down grading of disability pensions of the military, ill-timely announced immediately post the surgical strike. This again was part of the seventh pay commission recommendations. For the government to release this separately, when the salary issue was already with the anomalies committee was illogical, unless the intention was to increase discontent and disgruntlement within the military. If it was, then it achieved its aim. The new rules meant that military personnel, who face the brunt in every environment and suffer most casualties would be forced to draw lower disability pension than those occupying plush offices and developing medical problems due to pursuing a sedentary life style. Disability pensions are given to those, who due to vagaries of service, including fighting militancy, battling enemy action and long service in uncongenial and hard conditions, contract diseases and injuries, which affect them life long as also restrict their ability to work, post retirement. The government announcement led to another uproar and the issue has also been referred to the anomalies committee.
To further dampen military spirits was another letter issued by the defence ministry on 18th Oct, lowering the status of serving military officers viz-a-viz their civilian counterparts. The subsequent announcements by the ministry quoting earlier rulings, justifying their action, ignoring the Group of Ministers (GOM) report, accepted and implemented by the government in 2009, was a half- baked justification. Again, another hue and cry and as usual it was referred to another committee for addressing.
Government actions are never unplanned, especially when a committee, like the pay commission, only makes recommendations and the government has the power to accept or reject. Further, releasing recommendations in stages, firstly the salaries and once that issue has been fought over, then the disability pension and finally the official down gradation, appears to be planned and timed. These actions being resorted to at a time when the military battles heightened militancy and increased border violations, smacks off anti-national sentiments. While praise flows from the Prime Minister and the ruling party seeks credit, hitting the military where it hurts the most takes place by branches of the same government. While serving soldiers, are bound by their honour code to maintain silence and trust their superiors to resolve their problems, it is the highly vocal veteran community which continues to battle on their behalf. The government actions seek to lower military morale, while the veteran community works to maintain it.
How many committees would the government continue to form, only to deal with military issues, without even a single military representative? Further, no committee has been given any time limit, hence how much more would the serving soldier need to wait, before he receives his dues? Is the bureaucracy capable of reversing its decisions taken earlier of lowering military status? Is the government planning another political scoop by releasing the anomalies committee reports, partially in favour of the military, just prior to the Punjab and UP elections, only to gain political mileage? If this be so, then it is nothing but cheap politics. Time will let the cat out of the bag, till then, veterans should continue to apply pressure on the government.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army )
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