The Prestitutes at it Again. Now the State of Uttrakhand Police..........

See more here.....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/Overweight-constable-made-to-carry-senior-at-fitness-test-probe-ordered/articleshow/50722231.cms

On last Sunday, overweight constables were summoned to the police lines. In the presence of SSP Udham Singh Nagar, they were made to go through some physical tests. Constable Manoj Kumar, posted at Kunda police station of the district was found weighing 97 kg. 

So he ordered the overweight constable Manoj Kumar to carry a Darogaji on his back in fireman lift, a very normal drill being done by army every day in the morning after Physical Training parade, because this fireman lift is most essential to ensure that a wounded soldier can be carried away from the battle field by his colleagues. For police it is even more important in the case of fire at a place or somebody wounded has to be removed from the danger. He also found many of his constables overweight and unfit, the reason for the training/ tests the SSP conducted.

Due to Negative prestitute reports and the social media, DGP Uttarkhand, Mr. B S SIDHU instead of lauding the SSP and giving him a pat on the back for a good start, treated the Physical Training/Physical Tests as harassment of constables under his Command. He stated to the Times of India "Constabulary forms the backbone of the police department and it is not right to insult a constable publicly. Yet the PhysicalTraining/Tests were carried out in the presence of the SSP UdhamSingh Nagar, on a police Training Ground which is not public. The  DGP Uttarkhand Mr. B S Sidhu also told TOI, that strict action will be initiated if it is found that the constables were "harassed." He added that the action would be taken as per the report of DIG Kumaon. 

Why the Director General of Police Mr. BS Sidhu found the need to interact with the prestitutes and to put the good work of the SSP under cloud instead of telling them, "Its an internal Police matter of Training and Administration this is not a tamasha so please fu** of "

That means the media aka TOI was kind of given liberty to decide and sit in judgment  about this Training an internal matter of the Uttarkhand Police being harassment of cops?
According to the SSP Udham Singh Nagar Keval Khurana, "Some of the policemen who were overweight have been advised to shift to armed police and reduce their weight. On the occasion, we gave lessons on lathi charge and other matters to our staff. Six of them who were in good physical shape were rewarded. But some misleading reports have been spread about the exercise meant for the fitness of cops," Khurana added. Thanks to the prestitutes.

The Real Trouble.

Some years ago I was asked to conduct a Personal Development Training Program for Ratnagiri District Police (Maharashtra Police), top to bottom by SSP Ratnagiri  . Well I used to start my program at 7 AM with fun and games, to make cops realize their actual state of physical fitness plus to break ice. To my horror nearly 65 % of cops were overweight and physically unfit for various reasons. So gradually I increased the intensity and time of the "Fun and Games" for the duration of the training Program and the subsequent follow ups. Followed by 20 minutes of  Zen type meditation which was a guided practice but to be done 3 times a day.

Then the first lecture discussion used to be on the Maintenance and relationship between our 5 Koshas. Koshas being Annamaya Kosha (Physical body or envelope), Pranmaya Kosha (Respiratory Envelope or of Life), Manomay Kosha (Emotional envelope), The Vigyanmay Kosha (The thinking or the intellectual envelope) and the Anand maya Kosha. This covered the importance of food, exercise, fitness, way of thinking giving rise to emotions. The concepts of the way we think is the way of our being from moment to moment. The internal and external effects of Positive and negative emotions, as well as effects of these on the Pranmay Kosha. Cause of Stress as related to our being and our Pancha Kosha and how meditation affects us positively.  Plus a myriad of discussions and stories to impress the need for change and for easy learning. Everything leading to the Anandmaya Kosha or that state joyfulness which is our natural state and should always remains so, whether anything happens or does not happen.

So I kind of motivated them without being negative, gave them a fitness formula, height in inches equal to weight in kgs +-10% AND chest 4 inches more than waist.  To my great delight and the delight of the cops, so also to the delight of their families (as reported by the cops themselves), 40 % cops managed to become fit within the next 6 months of follow up, as well as many stopped smoking, drinking heavily and using tobacco.  

I have very little trust in cops and I am often times very critical in my writings about these species. Yet I realized they are human beings like us and extremely good at heart.
During my training program we had a lot of feedback sessions, a lot of positive actions were initiated. However it was for the first time I had a really close and micro insight into the lives and psychology of these sometimes hapless beings. I realized the system has made them behave as they do. Basically all are very good human beings.

The amount of stress, the indignities they suffer from their superiors, their political masters, the public, going on to not getting their dues like pay and TA DA in time, to lack of leadership is mind boggling. Imagine a few cops are sent on duty to a place may be 50-60 kms from their place of posting for a few days. They have to pay for everything from travel to food to stay. No advance is given and it may take 4 to 6 months for their TA DA claims to materialize (I hope things have improved now).

Result is the policemen will travel free in State transport, will bully and not pay for their food as no one has the guts to demand, and so on and so forth, politicians and bosses will interfere in their work by telling them what to do, at times twisting their tails to make them do things which they abhor to do and corruption sets in. Harassed by being put on overtime due to the antics of their political masters, not being properly organized and administratively cared for by their superiors  during such times and left to fend for themselves. This slowly gets evolved into a system of self gratification and corruption. Yet the basic human material is good very very good.

The year before last I had the occasion of traveling by my car to Ratnagiri. Since I was stopping at Chiplun, I drove through Kumbharli ghat (mountain pass). The Kumbharli Ghat is a mountain pass in Maharashtra, India that connects the coastal Ratnagiri District in Konkan region of Maharashtra with the Satara District in Desh region. It cuts across the Western Ghats range. It is one of few link roads between the Konkan and Ghatmaatha in Maharashtra. I always stop at the ghatmatha (Pass Top) for at least 15 to 20 mins to take in the beautiful sweeping valley of the Konkan region which it overlooks for miles into the distant. As we were getting into our car, a policeman from the police post on the top approached me and said "Saheb Thamba chaha tayar ahe" ( Sir please wait tea is ready). I was totally taken aback! I said "nako Nako kashala tras gheta thik ahe"( No No please do not take this trouble its ok). His reply "Saheb tumhee amche guru ahat, amhe tumhala visarlo nahi, Aaz tumhchya mule amhala khup shikayla milala, anandaney kasa jagava hey shiklo, aaz kharach khup anandat jagtoy, mag 1 cup chaha tari amchya kadun gheun java" (Sir you are our Guru, we have not forgotten you. Because of you we have learnt a lot, learned how to live a joyful life, and today I am a really living a joyful life, then at least you must accept a cup of tea from us before you go). So at the top of a mountain one of my trainee policeman recognized me after so many years, offered a cup of tea from the bottom of his heart. Nothing could have made me more happier as a trainer and a facilitator. That cup of tea, was I think one of the sweetest I have ever had the occasion to taste.

Therefore I think, given good leadership nay very good leadership, holistic training and guidance, ensuring their mental and physical fitness, plus ensuring that they get their minimum dues and in time we can turn around this state of affairs. Yet for that to happen, change has to come in starting from the rogue and criminal politicians in state governments, the IPS bosses and a deliberate and thoughtful restructuring of the Police organization and going down to grass roots for the same. 

The above incidence illustrates how the prestitutes directly and indirectly interfere in day to day workings of this very important organization, this under the guise of "news reporting" aka getting "masala reports" for their daily news paper editions and TV TRP's. I have counted at least 20 News Channels reporting this incidence with video at prime time, and a same number of newspapers doing the same.  Was there no other  important news like the Army Veterans Boycotting the RD Parade for injustice on them by the GOI? Not a squeak from these prestitute twerps.  Why did TOI have to interview the DGP of Uttarkhand? Did not the TOI find reporting such things as trouble mongering and interference in the Organization and Administration of the Uttarkhand Police? Why did not the TOI editor act more responsibly? Did not the DGP have the 0|0 **s to support his SSP and tell the prestitutes to Fu** Off? How can one expect the State Police Forces to improve under these conditions?

During all the long years of my military service I have never heard of this word "SECULAR" not once.

This is routine in all Indian Army Units.
Please do read my civilian friends.
So all those who routinely whitewash, and mouth wash the word Secular here is the real meaning of "SECULAR". Nothing could be made more simpler to understand.

Musings from an Army friend a forward.

As a serving army officer, I never stop marveling at the gullibility of our countrymen to be provoked with alacrity into virulence in the name of religion. I have never heard the word 'secular' during all — and yet, the simple things that are done simply in the army make it appear like an island of sanity in a sea of hatred.

In the army, each officer identifies with the religion of his troops. In regiments where the soldiers are from more than one religion, the officers — and indeed all jawans attend the weekly religious prayers of all the faiths. How many times have I trooped out of the battalion mandir and, having worn my shoes, entered the battalion church next door? A few years ago it all became simpler — mandirs, masjids, gurudwaras and churches began to share premises all over the army. It saved us the walk. Perhaps it is so because the army genuinely believes in two central 'truths' — oneness of god and victory in operations. Both are so sacred we cannot nitpick and question the basics.

In another instance, I remember a Commanding Officer ordered the battalion maulvi to conduct the proceedings of Janamashtmi prayers because the panditji had to proceed on leave on compassionate grounds. No eyebrows were raised. It was the most rousing and best-prepared sermon on Lord Krishna I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.

On the Line of Control, a company of Khemkhani Muslim soldiers replaced a Dogra battalion. Over the next few days, the post was, shelled heavily by Pakistanis, and there were a few non-fatal casualties.
One day, the junior commissioned officer of the company, Subedar Sarwar Khan walked up to the company commander Major Sharma and said, "Sahib, ever since the Dogras left, the mandir has been shut. Why don't you open it once every evening and do aarti? Why are we displeasing the gods?"
Major Sharma shamefacedly confessed he did not know all the words of the aarti. Subedar Sarwar went away and that night, huddled over the radio set under a weak lantern light, painstakingly took down the words of the aarti from the post of another battalion!

How many of us know that along the entire border with Pakistan, our troops abstain from alcohol and non-vegetarian food on all Thursdays? The reason: It is called the Peer day — essentially a day of religious significance for the Muslims.

In 1984, after Operation Bluestar there was anguish in the Sikh community over the desecration of the holiest of their shrines. Some of this anger and hurt was visible in the army too. I remember the first Sikh festival days after the event — the number of army personnel of every religious denomination that thronged the regimental gurudwara of the nearest Sikh battalion was the largest I had seen. I distinctly remember each officer and soldier who put his forehead to the ground to pay obeisance appeared to linger just a wee bit longer than usual. Was I imagining this? I do not think so. There was that empathy and caring implicit in the quality of the gesture that appeared to say, "You are hurt and we all understand."

Finally, a real — and true — gem....
Two boys of a Sikh regiment battalion were overheard discussing this a day before Christmas.
"Why are we having a holiday tomorrow?" asked Sepoy Singh.
"It is Christmas," replied the wiser Naik Singh.
"But what is Christmas?"
"Christmas," replied Naik Singh, with his eyes half shut in reverence and hands in a spontaneous prayer-clasp, "is the gurupurab of the Christians.. (Gurpurab celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. This is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism). 

Amen

THE GOVERNMENT has tweaked its policy to bar Defense forces from buying electronic jammers as per the new “jammer policy” issued by the Cabinet secretariat on Thursday.

Good Morning India.....

The Cabinet Secretariat Babus have done it again. Being a Corps of Signals veteran and very much involved in EW activities during my service I was shocked to the core to read this bit of news in today's Indian Express.

THE GOVERNMENT has tweaked its policy to bar Defense forces from buying electronic jammers as per the new “jammer policy” issued by the Cabinet secretariat on Thursday.
The policy, revised after the last one was issued in July 2015, leaves out Defense forces from the list of institutions allowed to procure or use jammers with prior approval of the Secretary (Security) of the Cabinet Secretariat.
The list includes such bodies as state police forces, jail authorities and central agencies like IB and RAW.

Everything is same in the two versions of the policy — the 2015 one and the one issued Thursday — except the mention of Defense forces, settling a long debated question on whether the Army can use them in India.
The decision to keep Defense forces out of the list of authorized agencies is seen as a fallout of the Army’s now-defunct Technical Support Division (TSD) having procured jammers in the past.

The TSD was set up during the tenure of the former Army chief (now Union minister) General V K Singh. The jammers imported by the TSD for evaluation purpose could not be accounted for after the government decided to close the unit.

“Jammers can be procured only by states’ police department and jail authorities, and central government security agencies like RAW and IB,” says the new policy issued by Cabinet Secretariat.

Private firms, schools and colleges cannot use jammers. In fact, inviting open bid tenders for jammers is also illegal.

Governed through the Cabinet Secretariat, the policy seeks to control the use of jammers – which render mobile, wireless communication ineffective by blocking, jamming or interfering with the frequencies – for a variety of reasons.
PSUs ECIL and BEL are the only authorized manufacturers of jammers allowed to be used in India.

"All other kinds of jammers are illegal. The jammers are evaluated for use by the SPG and the IB, as per this policy."

Among other use, public examination conducting bodies deploy jammers to safeguard exams against cheating by use of wireless communication.

“The statutory examination conducting bodies are allowed to deploy low powered jammers to prevent cheating during examinations. They would be given permission only to take it on lease basis and would therefore have to pay only for using jammers on the specific date of examination,” the policy says.

Electronic warfare systems can effectively change the flight paths of enemy missiles, misinform enemy administrative and troop control divisions, as well as paralyze entire armies.

In effect, electronic warfare denotes a series of well coordinated operations to destroy or suppress electronic troop control systems and weapons, and to protect similar friendly unit systems.

In the past, electronic warfare was called radio warfare, antiradar operations and radio direction finding. The assertion of electronic warfare confirms the dialectical law of unity and struggle of opposites, implying that the invention of new weapons and other military systems simultaneously facilitates the creation of other systems for offsetting their threat.

The US electronic warfare force has special units for suppressing the work of military and civilian administrative divisions.
Electronic warfare systems are, in fact, highly effective multirole complexes, making it possible to quickly assess the radio-electronic situation on battlefields, to jam enemy reconnaissance, troop control and weapons control systems.

Electronic Warfare complexes can emit powerful electromagnetic impulses to disable any electronic device ranging from cell phones to fifth-generation fighter avionics and weapons control systems.

Samyukta, is a mobile integrated Electronic Warfare system. It is the largest electronic warfare system in India, it was developed jointly by DRDO, Bharat Electronics Limited, Electronics Corporation of India Limited, and The Corps of Signals of the Indian Army. The System is fully mobile and is meant for tactical battlefield use. It covers wide range of frequencies and coverage of electromagnetic spectrum is handled by the communication segment and the non-communication segment. Its functions include various ELINT, COMINT and electronic attack (ECM) activities.

Each system operates on 145 ground mobile vehicles which has three communication and two non-communication segments and can cover an area of 150 km by 70 km. System has the capability for surveillance, analysis, interception, direction finding, and position fixing, listing, prioritizing and jamming of all communication and radar signals from HF to MMW.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/…/Samyukta_Electronic_Warfare_Syst…)

The Electronic Warfare System are force multiplier systems which need high level of secrecy for maintaining surprise against adversary actions. In such a situation, it is essential that the system design, architecture and deployment knowledge is generated within the country and maintained as a closely guarded information by the services. This is essential to ensuring tactical and strategic advantage for our armed forces during an operation. Therefore a tremendous amount of research and development has gone into and ongoing in India, to manufacture EW systems domestically and keep out foreign suppliers.

With this policy change it appears that Babus are gunning for The Indian Armed Forces. As there is no mention of use of jammers by the Defense Forces aka Army in wartime nor any clarification given thereto, means that all Indian Army Electronic Warfare capability has to be disbanded.

These babus are out of their minds. I think this has gone a bit too far. At every step these Government of India Babus are whittling away the Indian Army capabilities and trying to castrate its efficiency at the cost of National Security. I am sure the Babu who signed this policy was very well aware of its implications. The politicians running the Government are totally clueless and at the mercy of the Babus. Was this change of policy reviewed by the Defense Ministry and Chiefs of all three arms specially the Chief of the Army Staff? If not why? Answers are required here Mr. RM. Not only that but the Babu who signed such a policy should be tried for treason for endangering National Security.

The RM must revisit this policy and bring in necessary changes in consultation with the Chief of The Army Staff.

I reproduce her some extracts of the Government of India Jammer Policy of 16 July 2015

(http://cabsec.nic.in/showpdf.php…)

The new policy issued for 2016 is exactly the same except the Indian Armed Forces (aka Defense Forces)have been excluded in the permissions to use jammers as per the news in the Indian Express of today (22 Jan 2015).

Extract:- (Jammer policy 16 July 2015. The new 2016 policy excludes the defense services. Rest remains same)

PROCUREMENT OF JAMMERS
For procurement and use of jammers by State/Union Territories, Defense Forces and Central Police Organization(CPOs), norms have been evolved by the O/o Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat.

Private sector organizations and or private individuals cannot procure/use jammers in India. These norms take into account the need to guard against random proliferation of jammers as well as to ensure that jammers installed do not unduly interfere with the existing mobile phone networks and with the equipments being used by security agencies.

NORMS FOR PROCUREMENT OF JAMMERS -

1. Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat is the nodal authority for
granting permission/clearance for procurement of jammers.

2. Prior permission of Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat must be
obtained in the prescribed Performa, duly filled in all
respects, before procurement of jammer(s).

3. Jammers can be procured only by Defense Forces, State Police
Departments, Jail authorities and Central Govt. security agencies.
4. The permission for procurement of jammer is granted in consultation
with concerned security agencies who maintain a database of
available jammers.

5. Jammer models manufactured by M/s ECIL 8b M/s BEL are
evaluated by concerned security agencies. Only those models can be
procured, which have been found suitable by the concerned security
agencies. List of currently approved make/model of jammers can be
found here(link).

6. Central/State PSUs, desirous of manufacturing jammers, can apply to the Secretary (Security), giving details of the
model, the source of technology and other relevant details.

The request would then be processed in consultation with security
agencies.

Corps of Signals Samyukta Electronic Warfare System, 26 Jan RD Parade....

Mr NSA Power without Accountability? Chilling facts. Time for reforms or jeopardize National Security........

I share below an article written by Mr M.G.Devasahayam a former Infantry Officer of the Indian  Army. Mr. M.G.Devasahayam is an Economist cum Administrator with a

distinguished career spanning 40 years, with direct and first-hand experience in the

working and ethos of Indian Army, Civil Services, Government, Public & Private

Sector, Political system as well as NGOs.

Post-graduate in Economics from Loyola College, Madras. Taught Economics there fora year. Commissioned in the Indian Army (Infantry, The Madras Regiment) in 1964.

During Army service he had the distinction of participating in the Indo-Pak War

[1965], anti-insurgency operations in Nagaland and Aid to Civil Power in Assam and

Madras State (now Tamil Nadu). He is the recipient of General Service Medal, Samar

Seva [War Service] Star and Special Service [Nagaland] Medal. 

After an honorable discharge, joined the IAS cadre. He retired from the IAS after an awesome career. It is rare that I share articles on my blog yet I do so when I find these to be very readable and go to the core of the subject.

Please read on....................

The Pathankot debacle has triggered serious debate on India’s national security system, which is a collective term for the defense and foreign relations of a country. As a concept a government, along with its parliament, should protect the state and its citizens against all kind of ‘national’ crises through a variety of power projections, such as political clout, diplomacy, economic strength, military might etc. India does not have a national security architecture that addresses these basics. Everything is ad hoc depending on personal whims and fancies. That is why the incumbent National Security Adviser (NSA) is facing stringent criticism on the Pathankot episode. It could as well turn out to be a blessing in disguise if out of this morass something good emerges.

This ‘good’ should be in the form of a national security doctrine and strategy. Latter flows from the former, both are inter-related but not interchangeable. Doctrine is a set of national principles, indeed ‘a statement of Government policy.’ Political Doctrine is “fundamental Government policy especially in international relations.” A country’s national security policy is determined by many factors, including external threats, geography, political culture, military capabilities, economic needs, elite opinion, popular opinion (in democracies) and its leaders’ perceptions of the country’s interests. This conceptual framework manifests itself as foreign policy or national security ‘doctrine’, which in turn guides leaders in conducting the foreign policy of a country. At its most effective, a national security doctrine is the organizing principle that helps statesmen identify and prioritize that country’s geopolitical interests.

India has no such ‘doctrine’. It is only the Army that has one and it is anchored on Kautilya’s words of wisdom: “There can be four dangers to a state; That which is of external origin and of internal abetment; That which is of internal origin and of external abetment; That which is of external origin and of external abetment; and that which is of internal origin and of internal abetment”. Accordingly Army Doctrine-2004 defines its role in national security. Primary role is to preserve national interests and safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of India against any external threats by deterrence or by waging war. Secondary role is to assist Government agencies to cope with ‘proxy war’ and other internal threats and provide aid to civil authority when requisitioned for the purpose.

To perform this role Army has a command and control structure with the President of India as the Supreme Commander. As in all democracies, Indian Army is controlled by the elected political leadership of the nation (Government of India). Executive control is exercised sequentially through the Union Cabinet, the Defense Minister and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Ministry of Defense handles matters related to personnel, financial and resource management.

At the national level there is no such structure. We have Ministries of Home (MHA) and External Affairs (MEA) responsible for internal security and foreign affairs respectively. But we have no geopolitical-based foreign policy or national security doctrine/system. From independence till the late nineties some hard-nosed intelligence sleuths have functioned as principal security advisors to the prime ministers.

In 1998, during the prime minister-ship of Atal Behari Vajpayee, the post of National Security Adviser (NSA) was created. Brajesh Mishra of the Indian Foreign Service was the first person to occupy this post with additional charge of Principal Secretary to PM. After him JN Dixit of the IFS was NSA for a brief period. He breathed his last and was succeeded by MK Narayanan of the Indian Police Service. He brought in Shiv Shankar Menon of the IFS to take his place. Now we have Ajit Doval of the IPS as NSA running the PMO where all powers are concentrated, with the MHA and MEA playing second fiddle!

Over these years our diplomacy has stumbled and India has ended up alienating all its neighbors and antagonizing some like Nepal and Sri Lanka. With the Armed Forces being meddled with and marginalized our national security is in disarray. NSA is the product of the spoils system and not part of the institutional structure of governance. In the US where the spoils system prevails in the upper echelons of government, the NSA post fits in. But not in India where governance is a combination of elected leaders and professional civil servants and the armed forces. Besides we have a fairly well structured Foreign Service and persons of outstanding merit can be laterally inducted if need be.

The rationale offered for the position of NSA was that (a) a nuclear power needed a professional adviser who would synthesize intelligence inputs and advise the PM and (b) the proliferating intelligence agencies needed a coordinating head who would provide inputs to PM on a continuous basis. Since NSAs have a critical position and enjoy complete confidence of the prime minister, they tend to acquire a great deal of informal authority. This is at the cost of institutional heads, particularly the foreign, defence and home ministers and cabinet secretary.

The NSA office is not backed by any legislative provisions nor has parliamentary accountability. So there is a lot of power being exercised by this office without any responsibility. Our system does not provide for any formal forum in which the NSA can express his opinion and which can be challenged by the civil service institutions. Thus his views do not appear in any file which can be the subject of Parliamentary scrutiny. It is only the Ministers and Secretaries who remain responsible and answerable to Parliament either in Committees (Secretaries) or the House (Ministers). Because of this structural defect and the concomitant decline of formal arrangements like the Crisis Management Group the system can never deliver results and will always create unforeseen problems. This is precisely what happened in Pathankot.

Under such chaos national security has become a sort of plaything for the Delhi Durbar comprising of vested interests from across political and business spectrum enjoying great camaraderie. This is evident from the sudden sound-byte from the Congress busybody Manish Tiwari, a former Union Minister in the midst of the pathetic Pathankot episode. He was testifying the obnoxious Indian Express news story on April 4, 2012 alleging attempted coup by the Indian Army then headed by General VK Singh who is now a Union Minister in the Modi Cabinet. Says Tiwari: "At that time, I used to serve in the Standing Committee of Defence. And it's unfortunate, but the story was true. The story was correct." Tiwari’s objective seems to be to dent the credibility of the Indian Army at this critical time and undermine its role in ensuring the nation’s security.

A brief recap. Within days of his assuming the office of Army Chief in 2010, the Durbar started hounding General Singh, who was not part of their preferred ‘line of succession’, for disturbing their cozy relationship with the arms, drugs and other lobbies. The concocted coup story was the first major open salvo to discredit the office of the Army Chief and belittle the Indian Army as an institution. By linking the Hissar (Haryana) troop movement to the 1984 perceived ‘mutiny’ of some Sikh units in the wake of Operation Bluestar, Shekhar Gupta was suggesting that General Singh was doing the same because of his grievance on the Date of Birth issue. This is a clear case of abetting mutiny punishable under Section 131 Indian Penal Code. This act being prejudicial to the defence of India and the security of the State also attracts Sections 3 (1) and (2) of the National Security Act 1980. Crime of sedition under Section 124A of IPC could also be applicable. Nothing of that sort happened because those pulling the strings were celebrities running the state by proxy!

Then there was this concoction on Technical Service Division (TSD) which was a covert operation agency set-up by General Singh, with activities directly related to the safety of the soldiers fighting on the borders, retribution on the enemy and the security of the citizens. By its very nature TSD operation was ‘top secret’. In that event, even the existence of TSD should never have been publicized. Further, if there is exposure of the actual working of the top-secret unit, leaking information about it could be treacherous, regardless of whether information is true or not. Yet this is what the media persons affiliated to the Delhi Durbar did with impunity only to hound General Singh.

Earlier, in March, 2012, someone in the UPA Government deliberately leaked out a top-secret letter from the Army Chief to the Prime Minister about the woeful deficiency in defense preparedness. Though the leakage was traced to an official in the Cabinet Secretariat this serious act of treason has gone unpunished.

As can be seen, the above shenanigans of the ‘Delhi Durbar’ have serious criminal content impacting the effectiveness of the Armed Forces in protecting citizens and safeguarding the nation’s security. Sensing the gravity of the matter General VK Singh lodged a formal complaint with the MHA in November/December 2013 categorically stating that these serious offences have been committed due to abetment and conspiracy indulged in by vested interests with corrupt intentions. According to him only thorough investigation would bring out the truth about who these persons are and what is their motive for indulging in activities aimed at destabilizing India and endangering its sovereignty.

Nothing has been done in the last over two years, even 18 months into the BJP led NDA regime which is supposed to be nationalistic and patriotic. Corruption, perfidy and treason are the worst forms of threat to national security that have caused countries and governments to crumble and fall asunder. When these go hand-in-hand it is the deadliest of combinations that could destroy any nation or people. Such combine has been in place in India for long with the blessings of the powers-that-be. Pathankot, which is a mix of corruption, perfidy and treachery, is proof enough.

Be that as it may, the immediate requirement is to put together a National Security Doctrine that should have political consensus, publicly transparent and should reflect the complex challenges facing the country. The doctrine must be accompanied by a national security strategy that spells out the command and control structures for meeting eventualities such as terror strikes, so that Pathankot-like situation never happens again. Such a strategy should be in tune with the Army Doctrine and the role of Armed Forces which is the last bastion for safeguarding the nation’s security, sovereignty and integrity. MEA also should play its rightful role in shaping a foreign policy based on India’s geopolitical concerns. These are the basics that need to be addressed without any further loss of time.

What people don’t understand about Life in the Army: Daughter of an Army Officer

I reproduce below a very touching article which appeared in the Indian Defense review blog of 19 Jan 2015  written by Amrit Mann the daughter of a retired Army Officer. I have also reproduced a comment on this blog by one Mr. Walia of Chandigarh and my reply thereto.

What people don’t understand about Life in the Army:

Daughter of an Army Officer

Nobody is a fan of loose talk and I am no exception. What boils up every drop of blood in me are misinformed conversations that give birth to misinformed opinions.

I recently overheard two so-called ‘educated, suited-booted gentlemen’ discuss the Pathankot terrorist attacks that killed seven of our brave soldiers. In a matter-of-fact manner, they discussed how the slain soldiers’ families will get ‘mota paisa‘ (a big amount) as compensation.

How and what could I possibly tell those men for whom the Army seemed to be just a four-letter word.

“Hume bhi fauj mein hona chahiye tha, bhai (We should have also been in the army brother)” – the conversation ended with a smirk and a smoldering cigarette butts on the floor.

I should have reacted, given it back to those guys, but I stood there – completely numb. How and what could I possibly tell those men for whom the Army seemed to be just a four-letter word.

The year began on a tragic note for the nation. Waking up to the news of terrorists attacking the Pathankot Air Force station shattered me. What followed were innumerable attack theories, high-level government meetings, blame-game and questions being raised on the country’s security mesh – things that typically happen after an attack in our country.

My father served in the Indian Army for 32 glorious years. Growing up, I always had my set of complaints. He never made it to even one of my parent-teacher meets, never saw me participate in any sports event, never took me school book-shopping. I do not have a count of how many of my birthday parties he missed. Why did it have to be my mother holding my finger and seeing me off at the school gate? Back then, I detested his attitude towards me.

I could never understand why dad spent hours gazing at an already shining uniform laced with glistening medals. I could never understand him staring at every fold of the uniform, trying to look for imperfections and then scolding batman ‘bhaiya‘ (designated Army help for an officer) for not doing his job well.

I could never understand his anger over a microscopic layer of dust on his uniform.

I tried hard to understand what was so different between my school uniform and his Army uniform, but could never really find an answer. For me it was a dark green dress that dad wore to office.

My father had a major share of his postings in field areas. This would mean that we would live in separated families’ quarters and not see him for months.

I still remember that winter afternoon, that red sweater, and my father at the door. He was on a month-long break. I was on cloud nine, 30 days of dad not going to work, 30 days of family time, 30 days of not suddenly going to mock drills at odd hours.

Bearing my non-stop rant, dad paused and suddenly asked me what class I was studying in. With a gulp down my throat and a shock in my tone I said, ‘papa, class 6.’

There was an uneasy calm between the two of us. I was in disbelief to see my inexpressive, yet affectionate father hug me for a long time. That evening we went to eat ‘golgappas‘ and chicken soup on our tiny-puny scooty. Life felt real that evening.

I was in class 7 when the 1999 Kargil operation took place. Though posted in the North-East during Operation Vijay, he was intensively involved in the intelligence corps.

For an entire year, visuals of bodies wrapped in the tricolor being carried in official vehicles, almost on an everyday basis, haunted me.

My mother and I were once again in separated quarters in Ambala cantonment (Haryana). For an entire year, visuals of bodies wrapped in the tricolor being carried in official vehicles, almost on an everyday basis, haunted me.

Screams of Army wives who lost their husbands still reverberate in my ears. Gun-salutes, a blanket of grief and an unspoken shared pain were a major part of our lives.

A year later, when dad came home, he had stories to tell me, stories of his ‘fauji (army man) experiences’. Something he had never done before. Maybe I was grown up to understand him, to make sense of his absence.

Episodes of young militants carrying AK-47s in milk containers, him getting frostbites in Kupwara district, being shot in the arm several times during combing operations – intrigued me. I could see the light in his eyes, the soaring passion which made me realize he wouldn’t trade any of this for all the glitter in the world.

He retired in September 2007. Sitting on the couch he said, “That uniform there, it is my pride and honor, a well-deserved fruit of 2 years of rigorous training, a commitment to my nation. Something only I can understand. It was more than a job for me.”

Yes, it hurts when people casually comment on the free ration, the pension and the so-called perks that Army personnel get. Remember, most of them don’t live through their entire life to avail them.

I see that passion in every man in uniform. For me disrespect to that uniform is personal. Yes, I see my father in Late Lt. Col. Niranjan Kumar, in in Garud Commando Gursevak Singh, in Subedar Fateh Singh, in every NSG commando, in every soldier.

Yes, it hurts when people casually comment on the free ration, the pension and the so-called perks that Army personnel get. Remember, most of them don’t live through their entire life to avail them.

One cannot expect every Indian to forcefully respect the forces, but remember- an officer dying in the line of duty cannot be fodder for a casual conversation – remember he had a family like you, aspirations like you, unluckily life didn’t give him another chance. 

Reproduced Comments

Harpreet Singh Walia : Everyone needs to be honest here ..do ppl join the defense services for their love of the nation or just because it offers job security and perks . ...every job has its own set of occupational hazards....a fireman can die of fire during his job ...a doctor is exposed to all set of infections. .a mining engineer can die in a mine...ppl from the police are exposed to all sort of retaliations from criminals. ..not trying to belittle the supreme sacrifice by our armed forces ...but kindly dont belittle others

My small reply :

Everybody needs to be honest, as you rightfully say is also absolutely true, so also what you said that we joined the Army for perks and respect and job security you are right again. But all that ended when I passed out through the hallowed portals of Chetwood Hall as an Officer and a gentleman. 

The changes which occurred in me and other officers after 2 years in the Indian Military Academy Dehradun (IMA), and these changes continued throughout my service, unfortunately are the things you will never understand, a great pity and the reason for making the statement you have. It's not your fault of course.

The day I stepped out of the IMA as a freshly Commissioned Officer, on that day my job no longer remained only my job for perks and other things. Further this emotion of what I do was not just a job, kept getting stronger year by year. 

This feeling manifested itself in being responsible for my "boys" aka my troops, for all that happened in their lives, and not like being responsible for them 9 AM to 5 PM. The emotion of ownership of my Regiment , my boys, my country manifested itself in all my waking moments and possibly in my sleep too.

Dying for these by then was no big deal. This is the big difference between you and me Mr. Walia. If push comes to shove me and my brethren in the Army uniform will not think twice before leaping into sure death situations, if that is what is demanded to save the honor and respect of my Regiment and my nation. 

Whereas people like you Waliajee will think what is in it for you personally or for your company, before you even think of endangering your life. Which I am sure you will not. No hard feelings but those are facts.

So this developed quality, of putting the  "izzat" (honor) of the Regiment and the integrity of the Nation we serve above everything else to the point of dying for our beliefs, demands respect towards soldiers from our nation, which basically means people. People like you and others which constitute this country. 

A soldier who just started soldiering as a job became the savior of this nations integrity at whatever cost, the day he was born in the Army and his unit. 

Walia saheb no body is belittling anybody. If you feel so , then it shows that you rankle inside for whatever reason, of which I do have a glimmer of understanding. I do not mean to belittle anyone but state facts here. Hope you understand Waliajee why Amrit Mann was so disturbed when she wrote the article placed above.

Jai Hind and Cheers !!!

The Road to Destruction of the Armed Forces of India or the Nation?

The Government of India must set its house in order or face a multiple breakdown of the Indian Armed Forces which is definitely not in the interest of this Nation. Pathankot has illustrated the extent of the rot that has set in the relationships between MHA MOD and others. Its worse than alliance politics. The ignorance of politicians about matters military, one up man ship and turf wars have stretched the Armed Forces to breaking point. 

One day I wont be surprised if there will be acts of revolt, may be in the near future, in the Indian Armed Forces at the topmost levels if this kind of second citizen treatment continues. When will these rogue politicians learn that handling the Armed Forces is a different ball game and not like treating and handling the IPS, police or the IAS babus or the other Central Services, which these abominable politician characters do as if they were their personal lackeys. 

These rascals engaged in turf wars and cheap glory must understand it is the man behind the gun who is responsible to see in which direction the barrel points. So also these gents must comprehend that power flows from the barrel of a gun and the Defence Forces have guns whose bores range from 7.62mm, through 155mm through different missiles and delivery systems ballistic and others. As the famous Proverb reads, the last straw on the camels back. It is quite possible that OROP, 7th pay commission, behavior and statements of politicians could have constituted the last straws but one. Alarming indeed.

DESTRUCTION OF INDIAN ARMED FORCES- PATHANKOT

- Unknowingly the Final Coup'd' Grace delivered by an ignorant NSA, an IPS/IB Spook. RIP

Was the Pathankot mismanagement a result of a turf war?
There has been no clarity about the terror attack on the Pathankot air base as insinuations and allegations fly thick and fast on how the entire operation should have been handled. The Modi government in general and the defense minister and the national security adviser (NSA) in particular, sound defensive about their belated and fumbling responses to the latest act of depredation, often issuing statements that contradict the facts on the ground.

The decision to deploy the National Security Guard (NSG) after a prodigal waste of time not only highlights grave bungling, despite the availability of credible intelligence, but also questions the ability of crack infantry divisions and Para-Commandos to do the job. Their past record, combat worthiness and vast field experience forged over decades of counter–terror operations in some of the most challenging terrains, remains unmatched and would have ensured a swift and befitting retribution. After all, why would some of world’s finest militaries bother to send their special forces for specific training in asymmetric warfare by the Indian Army if not for handling these exigencies?

In politics and public perception, optics shapes credibility. It conveys how serious any government is about protecting national interests and its citizens. The Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval’s feeble defense of the botched up operations and insistence that the NSG team comprised army men barely served any purpose. Nor did the defense minister exactly cover himself with glory when his utterances took on a personal hue. It is not their job to act like a brigade or battalion commander at the tactical level, a task best left to those trained for the purpose, but provide leadership during a crisis. Now the Army Chief has been roped in to tow the official line.

Pathankot has deflated some of the hype surrounding the NSG and the Indian Air Force Garuds. Even in a subsidiary role, Army columns eliminated all of the six fidayeens, three on the very first day itself and the fourth one later, after he had injured a quartet of NSG commandos in a grenade attack during an engagement, according to Daily Mail report. The Army’s armored vehicle blasted a building, killing two other jihadis holed in there. Some reports suggested that a DSC jawan had killed a terrorist. Unfortunately, elements of 1 Para Commando, stationed at the air base, were not involved in operations, the report added.

What Lt. Gen. Prakash Katoch, an ex Para-Commando himself, told the media is significant. He pointed out that “the Army Special Forces would have been a better option, as they do regular exercises inside bases. The decision makers did not even know the type of Special Forces we have”. There has been a steep escalation of lethal level with the terrorists planting more than a dozen, live, booby-trapped grenades, in the undergrowth's around the airbase, to cause maximum casualties after their deaths. One of the grenades, tied to a slain terrorist, killed Lt Col Niranjan Kumar, an engineer-sapper on deputation with the NSG.

Add to it is the deleterious turf wars that feed on the very system perpetuating the practice, stifling innovative approaches and solutions, besides keeping vital domain knowledge and strategic assets out of reckoning. Unfortunately, the Army may have been an unwitting victim of the ‘us and they’ syndrome, for none of its fault. The most conspicuous example is that of the highly disciplined veterans being kept out of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), post early retirement, on specious grounds.

Turf wars will also render the Army advisory on avoiding combat fatigues in the wake of Pathankot attack, inoperative. The CAPFs and some state constabularies, ditching the khaki, have appropriated the patterned uniforms for daily use. What earthly purpose or utility is being served by combat fatigues in peaceful civilian environment is beyond fathoming. After all, militaries use leafy patterns on tunics and trousers as a mode of camouflage in a jungle terrain, not to break up crowds with a baton. Policeman seldom understand how a soldier’s emotions are tied to his uniform, a source of honor and pride, for which he stakes his very life.

The home ministry zealously protects its sprawling turf with a plethora of spook, intelligence and security agencies under its control. But it might have unwittingly become the biggest hurdle in strategic matters. In the game of one-up-man-ship, the steady encroachment on strictly military domains can only be counterproductive in the long run. For instance, the northern borders need more military muscle than lightly armed Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which can neither defend the space nor handle the Chinese People's Liberation Army, but only encourage greater incursions. The force stays put at the home ministry insistence.

The Army wanted a lieutenant general to head the NSG for operational reasons, especially in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, when bungling and red tape considerably delayed the arrival of Special Action Group 51 and 52. They are the Agency’s ace combat wings, manned exclusively by Para Commandos. Predictably, the government rejected the demand at home ministry’s behest. Similarly, the ministry had also insisted on replacing Assam Rifles, an Army adjunct, with the BSF on the Indo-Myanmar border.

The BSF has a none-too-enviable record in curbing drug smuggling or illegal immigration on the Punjab and West Bengal borders, respectively. Disturbing reports have lately surfaced about how BSF constables, acting as pawns of drug mafia, in cahoots with politicians, may have facilitated the movement of terrorists through the drug route and into the airbase. Should not the home ministry put its own house in order before flexing muscles?

If IPS officers are seamlessly integrated with their parent ministry, then why are Army officers being left out of the defense ministry? They would have injected the required degree of professionalism and domain skills. Functionaries heading security agencies and CAPFs enjoy a tremendous clout and proximity to politicians, which works to the detriment of the Army. State police chiefs have even equipped their security details with sophisticated weaponry denied to their opposite numbers in olive green.

The British feared and despised the patriotic fervor of our revolutionaries, just as their inheritors disdain the soldiers’ devotion to duty. It is a passion that propels them to scale steep mountains, ignoring acute hunger, pain and privation, in order to dislodge the enemy. Why would they want to erect memorials to revolutionaries or soldiers? This is the kind of attitude that lies behind political parties raking up dead issues, post Pathankot, about Army columns allegedly spooking New Delhi. An editor of Vinod Mehta’s stature had dismissed the original report as a planted story and dared the daily to do its worst when it slapped a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against him.
Ajai Singh