While the Indian military brass doesn’t court publicity the same way its US counterpart does, it does occasionally speak its mind, discomfiting the central government and sometimes the ruling party in the process.
After the Indian Army and Air Force chiefs spoke out against deploying the armed forces against Naxalites (saying the military couldn’t be expected to fire on its own people) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apparently sent an admonitory circular to them asking they express dissenting opinions privately and officially.
However, current Indian Army Chief Gen.VK Singh has broken the gag order, criticizing the Jammu & Kashmir government for being unable to build on the goodwill created in the state by the armed forces over the last two years. Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed a spate of protests recently, with stone-throwing youths confronting the security forces, prompting sometimes deadly retaliatory fire.
Gen. Singh hasn’t said anything new—it’s accepted in military circles now that the army can’t do any more than reduce the ‘minimum threshold’ of violence in Jammu & Kashmir. The political establishment will then have to build on this, through a process of free and fair elections, good governance, and so on. But while free and fair elections have been held in the area for the past ten years, robust administration, growth and rising employment opportunities, decent health care and fair educational facilities haven't materialized.
Gen. Singh’s comments have drawn flak from the ruling Congress party, whose coalition partner the National Conference, leads the government in Jammu & Kashmir. But if the past is anything to go on, and given that the military enjoys enormous respect in Indian society, this won’t be the last time that Gen. Singh speaks out. Thank heaven for that.
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Robert Mathew
If the army does not want to fire at its own people, whom are they firing at in Kashmir. It sounds clumsy and lacks prudence. Naxalites are anti national elements, fighting against India and to transform India in line with the governance of China. It has a clear perception towards this end. Naxalites are carrying out well defined strategies, with coordinated and military precision action. It has spread its wings to two third of the Indian states. Even the USA state department has alerted the Indian leadership of the potent threat to india by Naxalites. It serves the purpose to build a dam before not after the floods. What is more surprising is that if such is the logic that Indian armend forces are to be functioned, why is it then armed and provided so much assistance to the Sri lanka armed force to annihilate a community of their own people. Naxalites are towing the same line and pattern or worst as the Tigers of Sri Lanka. Naxalites are threatening the security of India both within and beyond. Naxalism is very much active in the neighbouring country, Nepal. Doesn’t it sound a threat to India. If India wishes to support the democratic principal and provide the security wherewhithal to the adjacent countries, she has to first put her country in order. Peace and harmony in the small countries around her will then be a matter of time. Naxalism in India is as old as independence of India. It is high time that India takes the imminent danger seriously. Army can involve to clean up the meance. From thereon, it can empower the CPRF to root out its re-emergence.
TJ
True, people in the J&K also are “own people”, but there is a very distinct difference between the two scenarios. In J&K the terrorism is wholly propped up by Pakistan to keep India destabilised, despite fair elections and rapid development that has taken place there. The militants are coming from across the border, and thus have to be treated like enemy combatants. In Naxalism, however, it is the people who have taken to arms due to continued corruption, decades of lack of governance and deprivation of livelihood. No doubt our adversaries would like to exploit a very ripe situation that we are throwing in their laps. This here, is taking form of an insurgency, which we have fueled and help foment. Instead of entering into a confrontation that can not be contained, we should bring in clean governance and afford them their fundamental rights – livelihood, inter alia fairness, and nip it in the bud. Give them the power and let them govern themselves, like the Mizoram model where we ultimately handed over the reigns to Lal Denga inc; Mizoram is a very peaceful state today, isn’t it?
TJ
Part II:The Army Chief has very wisely disagreed with the proposal of fighting the Naxalism by the Army for many reasons. One that the Army is already spread too thin with J&K, Pak border, China border, and insurgency in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. Where can they spring out additional troops for this new front. Two, to what extent can you keep burdening the Army with every problem that this country of ours creates. You will have to double the strength of the existing Army to accomplish anti Naxal operations. Three, besides the Army, India has a mammoth force in the form of CRPF, CISF, IRB and RDF and the State Armed Police Forces to name of a few, created precisely to help the state govts maintain law and order. Why they can not do their designated tasks is anyone’s guess. They are headed by inept IPS officers who act as just mercenaries, without having an iota of loyalty towards the the troops or subordinate officers they head and are always too happy to accommodate the moneyed, ie, the politicians and the mafia.
Major Raveendran
Gen V K Sigh will never get a post retirement assignment.
The day is not far when the junior officers will also speak out.
Army is strussed to the breaking point by the IAS and the Politicians.
If one Kasab comes again and run away with the “Muddu”(Dothi) of Mr Chitabaram and A K Antony Home and Defence Ministers), what will hapen to the internal security and external threat. Both these Ministers will be naked!!!!!!
It is truly the case with our Home and Defence!!!!!!!!
Ravi
Our politicians are never interested in solving the problems.
If they are sincere the following can be implimented immediately to all the affected areas.
We have a large number of dedicated Ex services men. Employ them in all the critical jobs where sabotage can take place. These Ex services men should be from the local areas as far as possible.Entrust the district administration to a serving Col or Brigadier. Get the advice of a Major General( Retd) at the district HQ level.Don’t allow the local MLAs and MPs to interfear in the administration.These serving and retired dedicated soldiers will look after these districts like their own formations in the army.
See the results, the agitated locals will be happy as they will be impartial and will deliver the administration as required by the poor citizens of these areas.
They will be firm and fair.They will be highly secular as the Indian Army.No importance should be given to IAS babus, as they have failed to come up to the aspirations of the poor.
But who wants to improve the situation. All poloticians wants to fish from the troubled waters!!!!!!.Winners will be only these Anti social elements like Naxals and Terroriests!!!!!!!!.
Anurag
The main task of army is to defend the borders from alien raids and that what army is doing effectively since 1947. No doubt the last resort to evict Naxalite problem is Indian armed forces only but why we are resorting to the last resort.What about the forces specially prepared or raised to handle internal conflicts or state police designed to maintain law and order in the state.By involving army we will definitely make others more dependent and a force without punch. Where ever the comparison comes between J&K and Naxalite affected states then the situations in both the states are entirely different. Army is not fighting with people of J&K but defending them from foreign intruders. We should not jump to the easy solution always and every time but to look wisely into the matter why we are not able to cope up with the situation and if we did so solution will surely be there.
raja
Now it’s a high time for our elite police to show their deadly skills against naxalites eradication . Enough they have earned while standing on a highways and city roads with their mighty chests up proudly and authoritatively. When now crises are on they say we are not enough trained or equipped and it is not our task as we are not meant to tackle this type of crises.Everybody is now running towards the army , be it internal problem ,external problem or disaster problems. What the elite police forces were doing when crises were not imminent…..training….making strategies….or only cutting CHALANS. Police needs even good and experienced leaders not bureaucrats who can personally set the examples by leading themselves not by giving just orders seating on spongy sofas with AC’s on and if they do so definitely creating wonders will not be so far.
Vidyut
I think the Naxal violence will not be stopped by force. Just think about it. If a percentage of the population is under the influence of Naxals, another percentage is under the influence of separatists, a third collection of states most Indians don’t even remember independent names of and prefer to club together as the north east have their own conflicts, and a massive carpet of the poor who have nothing going for them all over then it is time to stop and think who exactly it is that is speaking on behalf of all of India. Collectively, this is a significant part of the population whom we have just ignored till they have to take drastic steps to get their will happening. The General is right. The military shouldn’t be expected to shoot at its own population – that it ends up doing that in Kashmir is a tragedy and not a free pass. If such a large percentage of the population has a problem, then we need to be listening more and changing our ideas of inclusion, our acceptance of influence till we can have more of India the rule rather than the exception.
pradeep
deploying army in naxal operation should be the last option when the situation of do or die arises for the country . Before pushing any foot soldier on the battle ground the political and military cammanders should have a clear thought of their goals and what they want to achieve from the particular operation i think this is missing in anti naxal operation . Political will and expectations change with the change in power of state thats a problem