General V. K. Singh’s Statement that withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power’s Act (AFPSA) is demanded by politicians for their narrow political gains must have created some ripples within the political establishment in Delhi. The statement comes close on the heels of his junior officer, Jaiswal’s assertion that AFPSA is like a holy book to Indian Army. This statement runs against the grain of Army, packs the possibility of problems and on the whole does not augur well for the Indian democracy.

It is well known that the political establishment in Delhi was seriously considering an amendment in the draconian law to make it more humane. Even a note in this direction is reported to have sent by Union Home Minister to Prime Minister’s office. The Army chief’s statement is a clear attempt to pre-empt that move. In effect the Army wants the status-Quo-Ante to be maintained, even though it is a common knowledge that militancy in Kashmir has been contained to a large extent.

While the government in New Delhi claims to be heading the biggest democracy of the world, it remains a fact that it has actually been held hostage to the desires and policies of its military leadership that has always been against India's efforts to forge peace with its people and neighbors, specially Pakistan and this military establishment of India has always been at odds with political establishment at New Delhi.

The paradigm shift in the policies of Indian Army started in 1990s. That was the decade which saw India plunged into serious communal polarization and riots. That was also the decade which saw a spectacular rise in the political fortunes of the BJP. There are many number of examples from 1998 to 2004 (when the BJP led the coalition government) of the army being involved in the BJP's political/religious activity. A report in the Outlook Magazine points out that in 1999, for instance, the 3rd Division of the army "worked overtime to facilitate the Sindhu yatra, an event that was planned and executed by the Dharma Yatra Sangh, an arm of the VHP". Incidentally & unfortunately, Our then Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abullah, organized & facilitated that yatra  knowing fully well that it had communal undertones pasted all around it.

Not only did the BJP draw the armed forces into its politico-religious activities, but in the years since, several retired officers have joined the BJP. The presence of ex-army officers in extremist outfits linked to this party was to be expected.

But what of serving army officers? In India, the BJP's "muscular approach" strikes a chord among a section of the soldiers. The communal and hate politics practiced by right wing politicians in India is bound to have its impact on many soldiers. To expect the armed forces to remain completely impervious to the virus of communal politics is rather unrealistic. The involvement of serving & retired army personnel in the Malegaon blasts with further links to Makkah Masjid  & Samjutha Express blast have revealed the involvement of a handful of serving and former army officers. But to brush this aside as an aberration would be a blunder

Another area of concern is involvement of army in managing the internal conflict Zones of the country. The more it is becoming involved in the local affairs, the more it gets exposed to corruption & material gains. Remember the commander caught for selling subsidized alcohol in the black market, and the “ketchup colonel” who faked photographs of successful battles against militants in Kargil Sector, thereby winning promotions, by pouring the red sauce on civilians. Similarly the infamous Machil fake encounter to obtain medals & promotions. All these things develop into a  vested interest in keeping the war machinery in perpetual motion. As a natural corollary, this also demands a legal cover in the form of AFPSA.  to escape from prescribed accountability.

General Omar Bradly once said that 32 years of peacetime Army service taught me to do my job, hold my tongue & keep my name out of papers. General V.K.Singh has precisely done contrary to what that decorated American Soldier said.

(Feedback at amzargar1@indiatimes.com)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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