In an unprecedented move, the government of India arrested a former Chief of Air Staff for allegedly facilitating a helicopter deal for personal gratification. It is the first ever such incident in the history of democratic India, although a serving Chief was earlier dismissed from the service most unceremoniously. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat was sacked in December 1998 under the provisions of the constitution of India and the principle of civilian supremacy. A terse note from the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, was handed over to him, relieving him from the service with immediate effect. How then Defence Minister George Fernandes was able to prevail over the statesman like Prime Minister to dismiss the Chief in this reckless manner was rather surprising.
In the case of the former Air Chief S P Tyagi too, the Modi government seems to have acted rather irrationally. Why arrest him now at this juncture? Apparently, his arrest had not been seriously deliberated. Interestingly, in both cases it is the NDA government that has taken this drastic step.
EXERCISE RESTRAINT
This habit of belittling or humiliating the Service Chiefs publicly is fraught with danger. They are institutions in themselves. They function on the basis of traditions, loyalty, and morale. The services have their own characteristic ethos, which is not easy for an outsider to understand. The implications of affecting the morale of one and a half million men who look up to their Chiefs with awe and reverence must not be lost sight of. Their institutional sanctity must be maintained. They should be treated with a certain degree of restraint and caution. The best of the armies come a cropper because of low morale and doubtful loyalty. There are better ways of dealing with errant officers.
The government has displayed total insensitivity by first dismissing the naval Chief unceremoniously and now arresting a former Air Chief hastily. Surely softer options were available to the government in both the cases. The naval Chief could have been moved out laterally elsewhere or even asked to resign quietly. View this in the light of Chief of Army Staff, General K S Thimayya’s resignation, which jolted Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He literally beseeched the Chief to withdraw his resignation, knowing full well its consequences. In the case of the former Air Chief’s arrest, he could well have been dealt later along with the bigger fish, if found culpable. Where was the hurry to arrest him now amidst all this publicity? The government action has created ripples in the air force and dealt a severe blow to the morale of the entire defence community. The government does not realise that the bond between the serving and the retired defence personnel is very strong. The presence of a large number of senior retired air force and army officers in the court was a clear manifestation of this bond. Loyalty still plays an important role in the services.
SIMMERING DISCONTENT
Apparently, the government doesn’t seem to be aware of the widespread discontent that exists in the armed forces at present. Their progressive downgradation, problems pertaining to OROP and the Seventh Pay Commission, deteriorating civil-military relations have all led to a general discontent in the armed forces. And now to make matters worse, the CBI has gone and arrested a former Chief of Air Staff under intense media scrutiny.
It goes to the credit of military leadership that this simmering discontent within the armed forces has not been allowed to manifest into some sort of popular reaction. The defence forces are the only institution that are not yet sullied, and the only one that keep the integrity of the nation intact. They certainly deserve a better treatment from the nation. Pushing them hard will only force them crossing the threshold. India’s armed forces may not revolt as they did in 1857 and 1946, but let us not forget the 1997 air force revolt that was no less than a mutiny.
It’s a serious matter that may affect the national security in the long run. The government must ensure that such incidents do not dent the morale of the armed forces and create a sense of insecurity amongst them. The feeling that the Chiefs can be got rid of easily can have a devastating effect on the rank and file. The notion that the Chiefs who stand up for a cause can be dispensed with easily can affect the very functioning of the higher hierarchy in the armed forces, which is neither good for the government nor for the services.