Politicizing the Indian army is destroying its internal fabric The Quint 09 Nov 17
Events in the past one year has brought the military, mainly the army, into limelight for all the wrong reasons. While it has continued with its tasks of maintaining national security, dominating the Line of Control (LoC), ensuring a near normal environment in Kashmir thus enabling the government to commence dialogue through an interlocutor, it has been witnessing criticism from many quarters including its veterans and serving. Officially the serving fraternity is silent, but there are occasional outbursts on social media.
The veteran community is aghast at the army being exploited for political ends, degradation attempts by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), manhandling of protesting veterans at Jantar Mantar and lack of positive and supportive statements by the army chief. There are signs of discontent within the serving of being let down by the hierarchy with the governments unilateral actions of stopping entitled rations and lowering of status. As per service norms, the army chief has maintained a studied silence as he is bound by rules to support the government and avoid controversies.
The question arising is whether this is a deliberate attempt by the government to exploit service rules of silence within the serving, while dividing the veteran community for its own political advantage? Is this also the beginning of politicization of the armed forces? It should be realized that it was Modi who understanding the value of the veteran community began engaging them in the hope of garnering votes. Thus, began an era of promises, which remain unfulfilled to date.
Politicization commenced with the Rewari veteran rally addressed by the Prime Minister prior to the last general elections. The presence of General VK Singh, retired army chief, and a host of other known personalities on the stage, alongside Modi, raised hopes of granting of OROP and a belief that the government under his leadership would be beneficial to the armed forces in multiple ways. However, with passage of time, it became clear that government actions would be in the reverse, while he would continue seeking to engage the armed forces personnel, serving and retired.
The pay commission under his government released its report degrading the stature of the armed forces, which the finance ministry accepted and even announced. It led to an outrage within the armed forces, compelling service chiefs to openly reject government notification, forcing the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to intervene. The military pay commission was finally announced a year later, with some anomalies yet unaddressed.
The OROP granted was contrary to the original definition as approved by parliament, leading to the commencement of the agitation, which hurt the government, as it has mass public support. Thus, the government attempted to either ignore it, sought quiet parleys with its leaders, establish media blackouts and employed every means within its power to break its momentum, including discrediting the same in various forums.
The surgical strikes launched post the militant strike on Uri, has been exploited in every election, solely to prove that the government has been strong enough to retaliate. The leadership has continued to seek political mileage on successful military actions, thus politicizing the armed forces and its proficiency. Enhanced speed in completing defence deals is accompanied by blaming previous governments actions and delays.
The Prime Minister made it a point to spend Diwali with troops, each time stating that ‘government cares for the solider and they are a part of his family’. His photo-ops with the troops are aimed at displaying his support to the soldier. In every rally in poll bound states, where the veteran population is large as also in his interactions with troops, he mentions that his government granted OROP, which others had failed to do, hinting for political support.
Directions to the army to establish three Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) in Mumbai has led to doubts on the governments intentions. The army is trained for constructing temporary structures in war, which can be dismantled once employed, for re-use elsewhere. The pontoon bridges recently constructed in Kerala or at the Sri Sri event in Delhi or the Khumb Mela’s are some examples. The FOBs may be called temporary, but are near permanent structures, unlikely to be ever dismantled. Hence questions are being raised whether this was a task for the army, with multiple agencies still at the government’s beck and call, or is it another means to seek political mileage by completing a task, which others failed to do, in quick time, especially in a state where the BJP was losing ground.
The high-handed police action against senior protesting veterans, has also come in for mass criticism. Doubts are being raised on whether this action was to implement court orders, or another means of breaking a protest, likely to harm the BJPs fortunes in forthcoming elections, especially in Himachal, where veterans have the power to influence vote banks. In any case, police action, even if implementing an order, should have been more discreet. This was further compounded when Republic TV, a known government supporting channel, in a debate, had the leader of the agitation, General Satbir Singh, rebuked for addressing veterans from a Congress platform, thus increasing dissension.
All government action, when analysed, appears to be seeking to either reduce the impact of protesting veterans or employing the success of the army in operations to its political advantage. It is aware that no opposition party can criticize the armed forces as it would face public wrath and anger, since it is remains the most revered organization in the country, hence openly exploits it. Those who questioned the surgical strikes had to back down in the face of public reaction.
It is also aware that the veteran movement is capable of impacting voting pattern in Himachal and hence had to ensure it is splintered well before it. The eviction, media blackouts, insulting its leadership on national channels and ensuring it does not regroup in the near future are some measures which have been adopted. The BJP is also aware that the immense support given by veterans to Amarinder Singh in Punjab was amongst one of the reasons for its near washout in the state, hence would not desire any such effect in Himachal.
In a democracy, there is a very thin line between right or wrong methodologies to garner votes, but riding on the successes of the only apolitical element of national power may be commencing a trend which would only increase with time. Simultaneously employing them in tasks beyond their charter, solely to gain brownie points from the public, could enhance political exploitation and lead the army to wasting its limited resources in places where it has no role. It is time the government revisited its approach as the route it is adopting could bring the army into political limelight, which may harm its internal fabric.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army