| vf[ky Hkkjrh; iwoZ lSfud la?k All India Ex Soldier's League web site sainiksangh.org Telefax 011-26891513
Tele: 011-26891513 HQ : 6090-B8 Vasant Kunj |
| To: H'ble Raksha Mantri | FAX | From: Lt Gen GS Growl, PVSM (rtd) President AIESL Maj Gen APS Chauhan (rtd) President Sainik sangh Vice President AIESL |
|
| Fax 23015403 |
| Pages: 4 | |
| Copy to Defence Secretary |
| Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 | |
| Security: Unclassified |
| Transmitted by Maj Gen APS Chauhan | |
Firstly: Greetings from our fraternity and integrated Graam Samitees.
Secondly: This memorandum is a fall out from the regrettable controversy on COAS's date of birth attracting a public debate causing great concern at the grass root level.
Thirdly: You are conscious of the assault on reputation and virtues of the military institution on a continuous basis which must have a telling effect not only on our national prestige but pointedly on those sections of rural which field our fighting elements. Now it is the controversy about the date of birth of the incumbent Chief of the Army Staff Gen VK Singh.
On the face if it and simplistically an error or anomalous entry but irreconcilable and incorrigible being on his record. The ramifications of this are however grave and which cannot be wished away or disposed of as simplistically as may appear. This faux pas introduces extremely undesirable and damaging conflict of interests and a predicament for the establishment as to which date should decide the date of retirement of the General. Any choice will be tantamount to becoming arbitrary and challengeable.
Fourthly: We take this opportunity to share our position on this is a matter of concern for the entire veterans community as tarnishing of military image must hurt it most. There are a few postulates which stand out and give direction to resolving this extraordinary and exceptional case.
A: That the anomaly exists and was allowed to, over the entire period of the General's service speaks poorly of our efficiency in house keeping, responsibility for which rests entirely with the Ministry.
B: That the anomaly has been made public, when this is part of a highly confidential document and taken with its timing , raises alarm on vulnerability, the lack of integrity and reliability of those handling these sensitive documents. It follows that this lapse has remained covered in books even if by neglect but leaked with full knowledge of the repercussions of this thus a deliberate act of felony. This requires immediate action to fix responsibility and book the culprits.
C: Per say and axiomatically the clerical error thus assumes a diluted status becoming inconsequential when taken in context of the larger implication and gravity of the act of leaking the information. This must become a primary concern at the Ministry as it manifests a threat within, in these troubled times and more ahead, with which there aught to be no delay in dealing.
D: Security ramifications aside, a controversy of this nature involving the head of a military service of the nation should never have come to be debated as a law problem in public making us a laughing stock. Military management is not playing snakes and ladders as much as battles not won in court room's .This points acutely at our insensitivity to nuances beyond the immediate for the impact this can have at national level. Specifically sending wrong message to the soldier that the system that fields his commanders is highly suspect, which we think it is , denting his pride and trust which can result in breakdown of discipline, which is showing so and for which only the Ministry is finally accountable to the people.
E: Gen VK Singh took charge at an unenviable moment when our military image was already getting a battering at hands of sub-calibre generalship which logically led him to pledge publicly to attend to the health of the institution as his top priority. As any duty conscious incumbent would in the troubled circumstances and restore confidence at large. That despite a protracted neglect of the institution no earlier incumbent found it necessary to engage such, was in itself extraordinary and a relief. Indications are that is being apparently pursued vigorously as evident from the indictment of two previous Chiefs for involvement in land scandals. Indeed his predecessor had not only brought along a dim reputation from Northern Command of which you are fully seized, raising another public controversy, but understandably did all to cover misdemeanors of other senior officers under his charge some to our knowledge later indicted or waiting to be for similar misconduct. The fact that despite his reputation Gen Deepak Kapoor had been clearing successive rungs of advancement was itself bewildering and intriguing which we are sure is receiving your fullest attention as there cannot be a greater urgency at the Ministry than to shore up its invulnerability, both the MS Branch and the JS (G) not always carrying the distinction of upholding the credibility of their own offices. Officers with 5 point reports have made to Army Commanders. The leaking of information thus has an uncanny but definite connection with the previous Chief during whose tenure this leak was presumably detected. This affair therefore smacks of a deep conspiracy which must be exposed with urgency in national interest.
F: The higher interest of the Army and national security must remain the overriding factor to set the case at rest without further speculations and delay. An unsettled state of this nature is bad for military morale, distracting and impeding the COAS to conduct his business and disrupting continuity where this may be vital and critical in implementing measures to clean up the inherited mess which is deep and extensive. For this his services must be available for the maximum period possible much this may mean against vested interests wanting to extract their pound of flesh from this anomaly. We must instill confidence in the military and set a route for much needed corrections and reforms in officer grooming without which the military cannot be fitted out to deliver the consequences of which can be mind boggling; provided ofcourse there is a will and inclination to correct the decay.
G: The clerical anomaly must therefore not fog the exercise of decision making in the best interest of the country. Both military and civil bureaucracy must not disconnect with the psychology of the soldier, understood so well by the colonial masters nearly brought to their knees once, which understands only one language that his Chief cannot be brought under dispute whatever the nature as he must be spotless in every way to lead them into battle. We have been avoiding this test so far.
H: RM's advice to the military not to fonder media is sound but must be addressed to his Ministry too to create conditions to obviate the need for this.
Fifthly: This memorandum is not a brief for any individual or a lobby for any interests but one against such what is inimical to the interests of the soldier and the nation. An alert on setting right the standards of functioning and conduct which has a bearing on lives of men.
Signed
chauhan
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