Do recent elections convey a positive message to the military community (English version) Rakshak News 19 Dec 18
http://www.rakshaknews.com/vishesh/how-much-better-will-the-military-communitys-recent-election-results
Do recent elections convey a positive message to the military community (English version) Rakshak News 19 Dec 18
The recent state assembly elections had the ruling BJP lose ground to the Congress. Statistically the figures may project a different picture when percentage of votes, anti-incumbency factors and margins of defeat are considered. The reality remains that the party lost ground. The results at state levels may not be indicative of a similar result at the national level, however, would compel the BJP to introspect and act to prevent similar losses in May.
The party would now be seeking to win back support from communities which they had angered or ignored. The most revered community in India, ignoring whom has resulted in anger from all spectrums of society is the armed forces community. While it has done what no other government had done in history, by granting some form of OROP, it has caused heartburn and anger by their actions and decisions in other areas, notably in recent times.
Moving back in time, when the Ministry of Finance (MoF) accepted the 7th pay commission recommendations, it was the service chiefs who unanimously refused to accept it. Their refusal led to interjection by the PMO. Though it was finally cleared, however anomalies which exist have yet to be resolved. This is because the government has taken the armed forces for granted, knowing they would neither strike nor protest. In a recent action, the MoF turned down a major anomaly concerning hiking the Military Service Pay (MSP) of JCOs from Rs 5500 to 10,000. This single decision has angered the entire military community and its supporters, as the figure involved is a measly 600 crores.
Actions undertaken under the stewardship of Nirmala Sitharaman in recent times has only raised questions on the intentions of the government and in turn the ruling party. Her unilateral decision of opening cantonments to the public and seeking to open military hospitals to those under ‘Modicare’ while cancelling medical support to the Short Service Commissioned officers has increased heartburns.
While she has announced her intention to reduce appeals in the supreme court against decisions on pensionary benefits granted by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), on ground there appears to be no forward movement. She stated on twitter ‘At the AFT, cases are handled by service HQs. Appeals to the Supreme Court are taken up by the civil services of the MoD, again with inputs from service HQs’. Her implying that it is service HQs which are behind the appeals has no takers. Her claiming ‘am looking at reducing litigation’ has shown no reduction on ground. The nation is aware that directions by her can change the situation, but these are not forthcoming.
Simultaneously, the government has refused to fill AFT vacancies almost making them redundant. This will add to problems faced by the veteran community seeking justice. The approach taken by her ministry to oppose Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) granted to all other services, which had impacted civil-military parity, has shown the true face of the MoD under the present leadership.
While politicians may feel that the military community remains uncoordinated and apolitical, they miss the reality that each individual controls multiple votes from family and close friends. When their rightful dues are ignored, anger rises, which is finally reflected in the polling booth. Thus, the military community can be termed as a disorganized- organized community.
The BJP had gained immensely in support from a vast majority of the military community post the Rewari rally of Sep 13, wherein Modi had made specific promises. There was a flicker of hope that this government may grant what had remained ignored for 70 years and restore the status of the armed forces. It did make some progress, especially in the case of OROP. This itself may be acceptable to some members of the military community, however what would remain as anger are the decisions taken in the past few months by the Nirmala led MoD.
If the BJP seeks to regain support of this disorganized-organized community, then it needs to look at decisions which it has undertaken in the past few months and reverse those which have impacted this community. If the party can claim votes on the excellent performance of the military in the last few years, then it should be willing to resolve their grievances and loss of faith in the government. It should remember that the nation loves the armed forces more than any political party.
The party has forgotten that the battle of the military community against the government has never been for money, as some may feel, but for justice, rights, status and security of families residing alone. Will the PMO listen and direct the MoD to act positively is the question.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army