Opening of cantonment roads must be reviewed The Statesman 03 Jul 18
On 20th May, Nirmala Sitharaman issued directions for the opening of all cantonment roads across the country. Her claims of the army being taken on board appear to have been misleading as despite the army chief defending her statement, all roads have not been opened, as reports from Secunderabad indicate. Had the army been taken into confidence and agreed with her decision, such a state would never have arisen.
This decision infuriated the serving, veteran and well-wishers concerned with security of army families. It led to the greatest divide between the army and civilians residing around the cantonments, who had taken cantonment roads for personal use as a right. It also opened doors for builders to construct more colonies around cantonments and enhance their rates as cantonments are always the cleanest and least polluted regions in cities, and colonies around them, prime properties.
The decision ignored rulings on the same by the Hyderabad High Court which had ruled in the army’s favour and directed local municipal authorities to evolve a solution. Rather than questioning municipal authorities and insisting they act, Nirmala ordered the army to open all roads. The decision was taken to appease residents and possibly gain additional votes, ignoring the army’s desperate calls for loss of security. Even post meeting a delegation of army wife’s Nirmala failed to act.
The order categorically stated removal of all barriers and checks at entry points. Thus, cantonments became freeways and laxer than even hotels and multiplexes. The political implications of the decision were evident when BJP workers celebrated outside cantonments and drove huge vehicle columns with party flags prominently displayed.
Based on her orders, in many places temporary structures created to ensure security were removed and monitoring stopped. Locals, who had earlier stayed away from cantonments fearing armed security personnel deployed at multiple places, entered, argued and even challenged those on duty. The army, which is the instrument of last resort, lives in cantonments segregated from local public and meant to be aloof as its nature of employment is such, is now no longer a force which would be feared or respected.
Her directions that further closure of roads would be decided by her ministry has clearly sent a message that she has no faith in her own army generals, who are supposed to be responsible for all those residing in the cantonments and serve under them. They can launch soldiers into battle which lead to loss of lives, direct forces capable of mass destruction, but are incapable of deciding on security within their own regions. The biggest joke of the year in decision making at the national level.
Her directions indicate her preference to bureaucrats, either officials in her ministry or members of defence estates, which is widely viewed as the most corrupt central government service and recommended for disbandment by Anthony and the CAG. Those involved in taking the decision have no clue on issues concerning security and are least concerned as it is not their responsibility.
Over familiarization of the army has reduced the fear of the force within Kashmiri’s and they have begun to challenge its presence by throwing stones. It has also been termed as an occupier in the valley. The same would be the state in most cities where cantonment boards exist, and roads have been opened for public use. In Haryana during the last riots, the army flag marched carrying placards indicating army, now in areas where public fear has been removed by open movement and no restrictions, their impact during maintenance of law and order would be reduced.
In places where all roads have not yet been opened, the public has begun to protest and complain to the MoD and other local military authorities. In these cantonments the army has begun being viewed as anti-public and hatred for it is on the rise. Non-opening of all roads has added to the army-civil divide which never existed in the last seventy years.
At the time of implementation of the order, Nirmala had promised a review of the roads after a month, based on data of usage and security issues. It is now over a month since she took the decision. The flooding of social media against her decision as also anger within the serving community should have by now woken her to the fact that her decision has caused more harm than good. She faced wrath across the board, other than from the few which it benefitted, including local politicians and builder lobbies.
The data which she would have desired would now be available to her ministry. Further actions would be dependent on what her perceptions are. If she has taken the decision to help builder lobbies or gain a few votes, then like the Reddy Commission report, which remains under study for almost two years, so would this data. She would continue repeating in every press conference that the data is under study or she has desired more details.
If she decides to continue with her present decision and does not authorise senior army authorities to consider and implement at local levels, then the message being conveyed is clear. It is that for her, the government and the BJP, army family’s security and preservation of cantonment means nothing. It could also imply that this is the first stage of encroaching on defence land and more would follow. Cantonments would in the future no longer be the preserve of the military and prime land would be sold for political and financial gains.
Further, growing anger against her decision is only reducing support to her party from those who had openly and wholeheartedly backed them in 2014. With 2019 already being billed as a difficult battle for the party, it would only become more difficult because the government and Nirmala failed to judge national support for the army.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army