t is not necessary to denigrate Nehru to admire Sardar Patel

Vappala Balachandran 
Ex-special secy, cabinet secretariat

A recent report that the next meet of our foreign missions’ heads would be held ‘under the shadow’ of the towering Sardar Patel statue is welcome news. The occasion will allow  refocus on that great man, the architect of Indian unity. The title ‘Indian Bismarck’ does no justice to him. It took nine years (1862-71) for Bismarck to achieve German unification after waging three major wars. Patel secured peaceful unification of the huge Indian landmass, including integration of most of our 562 princely states, within two months of the June 3, 1947, Cabinet Mission Plan. No other person has achieved this in world history.

The ongoing inquisitorial hypothesis on whether Patel would have faced India’s early security challenges better than Nehru as Prime Minister would be meaningless unless we juxtapose such propositions against our systemic framework existing in the relevant period. Unless this is done, such discourses would do no justice to both leaders who, despite their strategy differences, worked with great affection to each other.

China and Pakistan were our biggest challenges in 1947. They continue to be so even now. An unremitting contention is whether an expansionist China could have been contained more firmly by Nehru after receiving Patel’s long letter of November 7, 1950, about Tibet. By then the intention of the new Communist government that it would reclaim the Qing-era boundaries was known all over the world. This was also after the Battles of Dengke (June 1950) and Chamdo (October 6-19, 1950) to force the Dalai Lama to accept Chinese rule. 

The story of a resurgent and combative China starts in 1919 when signs of a ‘helpless, hopeless, and inert mass of China’ (Lord Curzon) coming alive and exploding were visible. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles, dominated by the big powers, handed over the old German interests in China, including Shantung Peninsula (Cradle of Chinese civilisation, birthplace of Confucius) to Japan. The leadership for the scorching May 4, 1919, ‘anti-imperialist, cultural & political movement’ passed on to the Communists to evict Russians, British, French, Germans and Japanese from their territory. From 1949, China’s quest was to reclaim all its ‘lost territories’.

Praise for the PLA’s prowess came from an unexpected quarter. Barbara Tuchman, biographer of Gen Joseph Stilwell, says that the General had a ‘notable impression’ of the PLA during the Communist resistance of Japan in Shansi (1936). Stilwell was sent by President Roosevelt to help Chiang Kai-shek during World War II. The same impression emerges if we study their tactics during the 1950 Korean War when they deployed 1.3 million ‘volunteers’ who were PLA troops to help North Korea when the UN forces (90% American) crossed the 38th parallel on September 25, 1950. They beat back the best army in the world, pushing them back beyond the 38th parallel. They risked losing 6 lakh lives only because they feared that US would invade their mainland. 

The declassified ‘Top Secret-Eyes only’ White House memorandum on the Nixon-Zhou Enlai meeting on February 23, 1972, also confirms this fear. Zhou alleged that the 1962 incident actually started in 1959 when Khrushchev “tore up the nuclear agreement between China & Soviet Union” and instigated India to attack China. In 1959, it was in Ak-Sai-Chin, Western Sinkiang. The 1962 incident in which India crossed the McMahon Line into Chinese territory was when Russia told Nehru that “China would not retaliate against them”. “So we had no choice but to drive him out.” Zhou told Nixon that Nehru had expansionist ambitions when he wrote Discovery of India.

Nehru wrote a long reply to Patel on November 18, 1950, agreeing with him on the Chinese threat but suggesting that the military build-up simultaneously on the Western and Northern fronts would “cast an intolerable burden on us, financial or otherwise.” He recommended a diplomatic approach to seek “some kind of understanding with China” while preparing for all contingencies.

On Pakistan and Kashmir, it is very difficult to assess what exactly was in Patel’s mind. His closest aide, VP Menon, had mentioned that Lord Mountbatten, during his visit to Kashmir (June 18-23, 1947) had told Maharaja Hari Singh that “if he acceded to Pakistan, India would not take it amiss and that he had the firm assurance on this from Sardar Patel himself.” Mountbatten’s ‘Report on the Last Viceroyalty’ (March 22-August 15, 1947), published in 1948, confirms this. This has been more or less confirmed by Balraj Krishna, Patel’s biographer, quoting MR Masani that Patel had told him that he “could settle the Kashmir issue in no time by arranging that the Kashmir Valley should go to Pakistan and East Pakistan to India.”

Krishna has also reproduced a letter from the then Indian Air Force Chief, Air Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst, who was also holding the charge of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, that he remembered Patel telling him that he would be in favour of a full-scale war with Pakistan, “if at all the decisions rested on me” to “settle down as a united continent”.

The problem is arriving at any historiographical judgment only on private opinion without considering whether such action was legally possible in 1947. India was still a dominion under the Governor General to represent the British Crown till it became a republic in 1950. His assent was necessary under Section 5 read with 9 of the India Independence Act (IIA), 1947, for all purposes, including deployment of armed forces. Also, the Indian Army was under British command till January 1949. On the other hand, Patel had participated in all crucial meetings chaired by Mountbatten and also agreed with all decisions.

The moral of the story is clear: it is not necessary to denigrate Nehru to admire Patel. We owe our freedom and stability to the triumvirate of Gandhi, Patel and Nehru. Each one was indispensable to our nation.

Mahendergarh, June 28

Sanjay, an Army jawan from Patharwa village in the district who had come home on leave recently, died after being assaulted by some local youths at Satnali village. The police have arrested four youths.

Rajender of Baas Satnali village lodged a complaint at the Satnali police station on June 18 in which he alleged that some youths had attacked him and his friends Arun and Sanjay with batons and iron rods at Satnali on June 17.

An FIR was lodged on the basis of his complaint. Sanjay was badly injured in the assault. He was hospitalised after the assault and eventually succumbed to his injuries.

The Satnali SHO, Inspector Arvind Kumar, stated that four youths, namely Shakti, Amit, Chandan and Pawan, had been arrested in connection with the assault. He said preliminary investigation indicated that it was a case of an old rivalry. “The youths used to be together earlier. However, a quarrel took place some time ago following which a complaint of assault was lodged. Then, they got divided into two groups and developed a rivalry. The reason behind the enmity is not yet clear,” said the SHO. — TNS

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 26

Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited the Army formations and units deployed along both Amarnath yatra routes on Wednesday.

The Northern Command chief was accompanied by Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, during his visit in which security and administrative arrangements were reviewed, an Army spokesman said here.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was briefed by the commanders on the ground about the deployment and measures taken for close coordination with the civil administration and other security forces to ensure a safe, secure and efficient Amarnath yatra.

Lt General Singh appreciated the synergy among all security agencies and the state administration.

The Northern Command chief said all assistance would be provided to the newly inducted Central Armed Police Forces units and complimented the efforts of troops for coordinating all requisite arrangements. He also lauded the integrated approach and cooperative spirit among the agencies to thwart any possible nefarious designs of the anti-national elements.

Lt General Ranbir Singh had on June 15 chaired a key security review meeting with senior officers of the Army, police, Central Reserve Police Force and other security agencies. Detailed aspects of coordination related to the smooth conduct of the Amarnath pilgrimage were discussed during the meeting.

Briefed by officers on the ground

• Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was briefed by the commanders on the ground about the deployment and measures taken for close coordination with the civil administration and other security forces to ensure a safe, secure and efficient Amarnath yatra
• The Northern Command chief appreciated the synergy among all security agencies and the state administration
• He also lauded the integrated approach and cooperative spirit among the agencies to thwart any possible nefarious designs of the anti-national elements

A nation that does not respect its soldiers and veterans is doomed to fail. Veterans across the nation are shell-shocked by the attitude and arrogance of Comptroller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). CGDA is responsible for financial advice, payment, accounting and internal audit in respect of Expenditure and Receipts of the Defence Services and other Defence related organisations. In other words he is just a government servant and required to implement the instructions given by the government and ensure judicious use of funds allotted by the government. CGDA is not the government and does not have the mandate to alter or comment on the decisions of the Cabinet.
The veteran community that includes not only the retired soldiers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Commissioned officers of all the three services but also the family pensioners (widows) and the martyrs ’wives (Veer Naris) heaved a sigh of relief when the Bharatiya Janata Party Government under the premiership of Narendra Bhai Modi conceded to their four decade old demand and announced its decision in 2015 to grant One Rank One Pension (OROP) to be effective from 01 July 2014. The announcement followed a cabinet decision which was promulgated vide Govt of India Letter No. 12(1)/2014/D (Pen/Policy)-Part II dated 07-11-2015. Majority of the veteran community was happy though a section of the veterans who felt that the government has changed the definition of OROP as approved by the Parliament expressed their resentment. They termed it as “Langdi OROP” (Lame OROP) and staged hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. There is no doubt that there were many anomalies in the implementation of the OROP, mainly because the whole exercise was carried out by the Babus and the representatives of the three services were not associated with them. The government did realise the mistake and appointed One Man Committee headed by Justice Reddy (OMJC) to address the issue of anomalies. Though, Justice Reddy did submit his report, it till date continues to gather dust in the corridors of power due to the lethargy of Babudom. The confrontationist approach adopted by a section of the veterans at the behest of Congress which did not want the BJP to take credit for sanctioning OROP did not go well with the government. Resultantly, OROP till date remains a contentious issue.
Notwithstanding, the contentious issues, the GOI letter quoted earlier stated unambiguously, “In future the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.” Majority of the veterans who were satisfied with whatever was sanctioned by the government reposed their faith in the leadership of Modi ji and voted overwhelmingly for his return as the nation’s Prime Minister. With the thumping majority with which Modi ji won, veterans were hoping that the new government will not only resolve the anomalies but will also address the contentious issues related to OROP. Various veteran associations kept reminding the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW), the government’s face that deals with the veterans that re-fixation was due in July this year which was also acknowledged by the Department in February itself. Accordingly, DESW instructed the CGDA in November last year to finalise the tables for payment so that the payments can be made on the due date to the Veterans. Surprisingly, the CGDA rather than acting on the directive of the government, in a most arrogant and irresponsible manner, shot back a missive to DESW raising number of queries by bringing in extraneous issues like the 7th CPC, One Man Justice Reddy Commission and the Supreme Court. The action of the CGDA smacked of a conspiracy to divide a wedge and create distrust between the government and the veterans. OROP being a settled issue was announced by the government and CGDA was simply required to re-fix the pension to equalise it with the pensioners of 2018. However, he chose to challenge the very concept or requirement of OROP thus challenging the combined wisdom of the Union Cabinet.
The CGDA letter gives an impression that the organisation is unaware of the basics of OROP and they are now being tasked to do something about which they know nothing. Hence a long list of eight clarifications on the implementation of OROP-2018 (equalisation as due on 01 July 2019). The list of clarifications smacks of a conspiracy of not implementing OROP-2018 with a view to adversely influence the mind of newly appointed Raksha Mantri. Interestingly, the same organisation of CGDA implemented the OROP when it was announced by the government initially. They only worked out the methodology of payment to different categories and different ranks. The tables are available and it simply needs to revise the pension with the pension of retirees in 2018 in the same rank with same years of service. For example, the pension of Brigadiers who retired in 2018 with 33 years or more of service varies between Rs.1,04,00 to 1,10,000. The average works out to Rs.1,07,000. Thus, the revised pension of Brigadiers (33 years and above) wef 01 July 2019 should be equalised at Rs.1,07,000 for all pre-2018 defence forces pensioners. This is as per the agreed formula of the government. There is no logic in CGDA seeking clarification about the same without some ulterior motive.
The other clarification sought by the CGDA is about the date of implementation of OROP-2018. By seeking this clarification the CGDA confirms the conspiracy theory. OROP was implemented form 01 July 2014 and the government letter very clearly stated that next equalisation will be done after five years, hence OROP-2018 has to be implemented from 01 July 2019. There is no rocket science needed to work that out.
Next clarification is about what all recommendations of OMJC are to be factored in OROP-2018. The government has not even declassified the OMJC report, so there is no question of its recommendations being clubbed with OROP-2018. The CGDA is questioning the authority and wisdom of the government as if he is not a government servant but an Ombudsman. (To Be Continued)

(The author is a Jammu based political commentator, columnist, security and strategic analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at anil5457@gmail.com)

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 27

A day after the registration of a fraud case against an Army man, a high drama was witnessed outside his residence at Mahal village where a number of victims held a demonstration against him. The protest went on for around 15 minutes following which family members in the house reportedly threatened them of dire consequences, forcing them to move away. The family allegedly asked them not to create any scene.

The prime suspect, Manjit Singh, is presently posted in the eastern side of the country. The victims alleged that they took loans from commission agents and borrowed money from relatives in order to give a hefty sum to Manjit Singh, the accused. They alleged that that the accused threatened to kill them whenever they demanded money.

Gurvel Singh of Bhindi Aulakh alleged that he gave more than Rs 8 lakh after selling his land for getting his son and relatives recruited into the Army. He said he was introduced by Sahib Singh of Chak Dogra village in Ajnala. Sahib Singh has filed a police complaint against Manjit Singh.

Major Singh, another resident of Chak Dogra village, alleged Manjit also had the registry of his one-acre land. He said he gave Rs 1.50 lakh to him for getting his son recruited into the Army.

Sahib Singh said he worked as a labourer at the residence of the accused in Mahal village. Manjit Singh assured him that he could recruit their wards into the Army without any physical examination. He also asked him to inform other people in his village if they wanted jobs for their wards. Sahib Singh informed many villagers who approached Manjit through him.

He said around 67 persons had been duped of Rs 80 lakh in the past two years and he was leading a lavish life by defrauding people. He used to demand Rs 5 lakh for the same and used to take Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in advance.

They alleged that many people had complained to the police about the fraud, but the latter did not bother and even discouraged them from registering FIRs. He said they had approached the SSP (Amritsar rural) in this connection for lodging the complaint.

The Kamboh police have registered a case under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC against him. Harpal Singh, SP (Investigations) said the matter was under investigation. He said the accused would be asked to join the investigation and the Army authorities would be informed about this.

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, April 13

The Pakistan army violated the 2003 truce agreement 513 times in the last 45 days along the Line of Control (LoC), said a senior Army officer on Saturday.

“During the last about 45 days, the Pakistan army has violated the 2003 truce agreement 513 times and used heavy weaponry (artillery guns) over 100 times to target Indian forward areas and civil population,” said Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps.

He said the Pakistan army rarely disclosed its fatalities while the Indian Army gave due respect to its martyrs.

After paying homage to martyrs on the occasion of Rajouri Liberation Day, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh said, “The Army will take strong and effective action against every nefarious activity along the LoC,” the GOC said.

“Whenever Pakistan uses artillery fire on the LoC, it gets the same response. People are safe till the Army is on the border,” he said.

About the “politicisation” of the armed forces, the GOC said, “The Army is working under the Constitution and has its own task and mandate. It does not want to be involved in such disputes.”

He said the Army with the help of people, security forces, civil administration had succeeded in wiping out militancy from Rajouri and Poonch.

“Since the enemy (Pakistan) can revive militancy, the Army has not been withdrawn from Rajouri and Poonch districts,” said the GOC, White Knight Corps.

The Army’s morale was high and it was at the highest alert along the border, the Army officer added.

About the sniping incidents, the GOC said only three such cases had been reported till February 26. He also expressed his concern over the increase in militancy-related incidents in Kishtwar.

Regarding terror camps, he said, “No change has been reported and the figure is the same. After the IAF strikes, top leadership of terrorists has been eliminated in Kashmir.”

With a little under a week remaining for Lok Sabha election, all political parties are searching for ways to keep the atmosphere heated. But even then, one has to admit that the question of national security and the army is milked more frequently in battle 2019, than in any recent electoral exercises.

In the last 24 hours, two cabinet ministers, the prime minister, the head of a ruling party, the head of an Opposition party and a former finance minister have all spoken on the armed forces. If mentions in speeches of politicians could reap real-life dividends then it would not be a leap to say that the nearly 15 lakh people in the armed forces could be looking for huge benefits from whoever would come to power. Yet that is hardly ever the case, so why does the army return to everyday discourse every time there is a particular electoral test?

The year 2019 is particularly amenable to bringing up the security forces. The worst attack on security personnel in decades, on 14 February at Pulwama, ended up not just opening up a fresh soft spot for the army in the minds of the people but also setting the tone of the electoral campaigns in the Lok Sabha election.

The Pulwama attack also ended up in India “exacting revenge” on Pakistan through the controversial Balakot attack. This strike, the toll of which has been questioned as part of the Opposition’s offensive against the BJP, has now become the Bharatiya Janata Party’s favourite refrain in the campaign circuit. Narendra Modi himself has perfected a line from having used it in every speech, “We entered their houses and exacted revenge for our soldiers, and they question our army?”

“We do not question the army,” the Opposition is quick to correct, “but the government’s account.”

The army is apparently unassailable by parties on either end of the political spectrum, so ahead of the 2019 polls, the scurry for each party to establish itself as the custodian of the army’s best interests is a mad one. The Election Commission even had to categorically mention that the armed forces cannot be used as election propaganda.

No surprise then that it has found mention in the Congress’s manifesto, in the backlash to the manifesto and the rebuttals to the backlash to the manifesto.

The Congress has not only proposed to reduce the presence of the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the Kashmir Valley in its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it has also said that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act will be looked into once again. While these have pleased a section of people, the BJP has been quick to slam the entire manifesto in general and the parts pertaining to the armed forces in particular.

While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has called it “dangerous“, a true mark of how dangerous its suggestions might have been is perhaps in the fact that the Defence Minister herself was compelled to sit in a press conference to address the points of the manifesto pertaining to the army and its personnel. “Something very insidious is going on here,” Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday, referring to the Congress’s decision to take another look at AFSPA. And yet, the government on Wednesday itself withdrew AFSPA from four areas of Arunachal Pradesh, while extending it to three others in the state, proving at least that in some situations a relook is indeed merited.

But it is easy to drive the discourse towards more emotive issues like hypernationalism, when facts on ground about basic lifestyle index throw a worrying picture. It would not be incorrect to state that the more the poverty grows, jobs decrease, economy suffers and education opportunities dry up, the more a nation’s pride hinges on its army.

No wonder, then, that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath referred to the Indian Army as “Modi ji ki sena” and no wonder that Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee then went on to scold Adityanath for “such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army”.

In India especially, the places where the army and paramilitary are active to the point of affecting the daily lives of the people are sufficiently remote. It may fire pellets and injure people in Jammu and Kashmir, subjugate tribals in the name of capturing Maoists and physically and sexually harm people living in the border and remote areas, but so huge and self-important is the Indian hinterland that these human interest issues scarce develop into ones meriting Parliament time, let alone election planks. What makes news is the nationalism plank.

So solid is the army’s reputation that it is now beneficial for any government or political party to allege that questions on the army’s performance are equal to siding with Pakistan. In the warm afterglow that cascaded upon the BJP government in the days following the 2016 surgical strike on Pakistan after the Uri attack, leaders of the party, including those serving in the government, wasted no time in establishing that they were one with the Army.

The Congress may have not ridden an entire poll wave based on the army’s performance like the BJP is doing now, but it has been no better in trying to garner the support of the army’s ranks at a crucial time in its own story — the 2014 polls. In the interim budget before the polls, then finance minister P Chidambaram had allocated Rs 500 crore to the Defence Pension Account for implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme for the defence forces of the country.

“It is an emotive issue, it has legal implications, and it has to be handled with great sensitivity,” Chidambaram had said in Parliament. Shortly after the session, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi held a press conference, notes LiveMint, where they highlighted that this was “a historic and necessary” step. “The armed forces personnel should feel that the country is backing them,” Rahul had said.

OROP found its way into the 2019 budget announcement by acting finance minister Piyush Goyal too. This time, Goyal saw fit to mention that the UPA had only brought the scheme after having stayed in power for 10 years but it was his government that led to scheme coming to fruition.

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