Aam Aadmi Party today criticized BJP and Congress for playing with the feelings of Ex-Servicemen and expressed solidarity with the defense personals. In a press Statement Convener, Ex Servicemen Wing, AAP, Captain Bikramajit Singh Pahuwindia said that the contempt with which the Politico-bureaucratic combine holds the ‘Fauj’ has been ascertained time and again. This has been demonstrated yet again in the 7th CPC, pushing the Faujis further down in the protocol ladder.This time however, the three service chiefs have decided to take a stand and not accept the unjust pay commission. The Govt however, as has been the practice in vogue, decided to abide by the advice given by the bureaucrats and ignored the plea of the Armed Forces. The Defense Minister has asked the Chiefs to implement the 7th CPC. He has told the Chiefs that any grievances will be resolved later.
The Defense Minister has said that any grievances will be resolved, does somebody has to remind him that there are 46 anomalies being passed on from the 5th Pay Commission which are still not resolved thus with what hope can the Armed Forces have faith in his assurances? The Politicians must remember that the Armed Forces work on Faith in each other. They are trained to work on faith because in the challenging environment in which the Armed Forces operate, they lay full trust in the ability of their buddies and superiors to save them from enemy fire. And in the Armed Forces if this ‘Faith’ breaks the outcome can be catastrophic. Taking a peak at the historic facts, can anyone blame the Armed Forces for doubting the shallow promises made by the politicians?
At the time of Independence the Armed Forces were above all services, with the Commander-in-Chief standing 2nd in hierarchy. Over the last 67 years the Armed Forces have been progressively pushed down to 33rd in the order of precedence. In the 1971 Indo-Pak war our Armed Forces achieved victory which is unparalleled in conventional warfare. After this phenomenal victory however, the Congress Govt reduced the pension of Armed Forces personnel from 70% to 50%.While on a peaceful agitation at Jantar Mantar to press home their demand for OROP, the BJP Govt let loose Lathi Wielding policemen on these agitators who were all senior citizens. This is really ironic. The Soldier feels proud to be of service to his countrymen in any calamity and has always moved forward as per the expectations of his countrymen. But when he grows old, retires and pleads with Govt for the ‘promised’ OROP he is suddenly declared a ‘security hazard’ and beaten by the policemen.
This kind of attitude by the Political class is detrimental to the future of the country. The height of discrimination against the Armed Forces can be seen from the fact that while the Armed Forces with 13 lakh personnel forms the biggest chunk of the central Govt employees, it has not been allowed to have a representative in the Pay Commission while IAS, IPS, Railways etc all have their reps With hostile borders around our country and very fragile Internal Security issues in J&K, NE and the Central Naxal corridor, it is important that the morale of the troops be kept at its peak. Pahuwind said that,"Hope the Modi Govt understands that it is not only the availability of machines but the man behind the machine that would make the difference when the chips are down. I wish somebody had advised him about the necessity of ensuring high troops morale before airing lofty visions about POK and Baluchistan from the ramparts of the Red Fort."Kautilya, known also as Chanakya gave his king this blunt warning: “The day the soldier has to demand his dues will be a sad day for Magadha for then, on that day, you will have lost all moral sanction to be King!”