After General VK Singh had taken over as Chief of Army Staff in 2010, a retired Lieutenant General, whose name figures in the Adarsh Society Housing scandal called on him at the office ostensibly to discuss developments in Kashmir. After the polite conversation, the retired intelligence chief asked him about the pending heavy vehicle contract and blatantly made it clear that there was Rs 50 crore for him in cold cash if the Rs 400 crore deal was awarded to an East European manufacturer instead of Indo-Russian joint venture. The retired general was immediately escorted out of the Chief’s office and was declared persona non grata. The ex-serviceman was not the first or the last of his kind as greed seems to be good for Army’s top brass.
On Tuesday, the CBI registered a case against a former Army Vice Chief Lt General Noble Thamburaj for allegedly conspiring with a builder Kalpataru over a select piece of Pune Cantonment defence land. One of the companies of the same builder is also under the CBI scanner for illegally obtaining prime defence land in Kandivili in Mumbai with the support of former minister of defence production Rao Inderjit Singh and former Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor. The CBI has already registered a preliminary inquiry into the Kandivili land deal last month and moving towards registering a proper case.
After Mumbai’s Adarsh Housing scandal, involving two former Army chiefs and one former Navy chief among others, and Sukhna land scandal, which led to court martial and dismissal of former military secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash, these two illegal land deals have taken the Army’s morale to a new low. From the unsavoury sagas of Ketchup Colonel, Booze Brigadier and Ration General, it becomes quite evident that Indian military is going through marked deterioration of human resource and character.
To top it all, there is growing politicisation of the Indian military for promotions, lucrative assignments and post-retirement jobs. The rot within the Indian defence establishment is clearly evident from the retired officers who liaison for defence contractors at golf courses and bars in Lutyen’s Delhi to ex-generals and admirals being employed by hardware dealers for lobbying in South Block.
In public perception the image of an Army officer is hardly different from that of an untrustworthy police officer. It is evident from these scandals that significant section within Army is out to make a quick buck and would do anything for few pieces of silver. This mindset goes right to the top, as otherwise, how one justifies that no less than five top generals including Kapoor and Thamburaj were declared low medical category for disability pension and IT rebates. Before the health of Indian Army deteriorates further without the help of Pakistani ISI or Chinese MSS, it is time that the UPA government intervened to stem the rot.
Fortunately, South Block has defence minister AK Antony and Army Chief Gen V K Singh at the helm of affairs at this crucial juncture. Both are above board integrity wise and cannot stand corruption. While swift action and stringent punishment act as a strong deterrent, it is time that the military mounted strong vigilance on its men and started the weeding out process at an early stage.
The promotions and postings process must be made totally transparent through technology with any interference from ruling party politicians or influential arms dealers. Promotion should be based on merit and not seniority as is the case now. Postings to big cities should be rotated fast so that an officer does not develop vested interest. There should be consolidation of defence lands sprawling all over the country with land records updated so that unscrupulous Army officers cannot illegally pass it on to builders.
While it is impossible to isolate or insulate military personnel from increasingly money oriented Indian society, it is important that military ethos is maintained or professionalism will be hit hard in the services. It is important to drive home the fact that the government takes special care of the armed forces through dedicated hospitals, housing, primary and secondary education and recreation facilities.
The average facilities provided to an Army Colonel, equivalent to a director level officer of central government, are far above as compared to his or her government counterparts. Same holds true for higher ranks. Yet there is increasing tendency within the armed forces to get attracted to money through illegal means or hardware deal making. The prevention exercise has to start from the top as the trooper on the border or the Line of Control looks towards the top brass as idols. Otherwise, all the respect won by those armed forces personnel who gave up their lives will be lost and Indian borders will be at peril.
-via Hindustan Times
80% of officer entry are of mediocre quality. The bright 20% also get vegetated as they progress in service. What else can we expect when services have become another employment and livelyhood destination for indian youth. If a survey is conducted about the spending habits of officers,it will be seen that they spend only 20% of their salary on good exemplary living. Almost every one try to save their salaries and live on free lunches which they mange with in service. A little higher in rank,they accept gifts and other complementaries from those who deal with them. And still higher, they actually demand and take bribe on a percentage basis. it is sad that may be only 20% of officers are immune from this malaise. And for going up in the ranks above Lt Col,you have to be a sycophant and yes man. True merit only work in case of 20% again ! In fact an outstanding and outspoken officer would get eliminated very early in his career,especially if he has to serve under dump superiors. This culture has been inherited from our Civil services,so why lament about it. Instead Officers themselves should try to instill honest and clean habits in their children who plan to join services as a career !
You are very correct and not only disability but Deepak Kapaoor has 100% disability for minor hearing problem. Though it was return gift by AMC for bashing lowering satatus of MNS (still disputed in courts) is a matter of fact. The rot has set in deep and thorough cleansing is required. Meirt alone should be considered and ACRs system should not be given more than 5% of weightage. To get better ACRs, you need to have beautiful … and compromising attitude, so as to the product of all these can only be what you see today…
Isolating Army from the main stream should be avoided.There is no harm in incouraging political wing at par with Chinese Army in the Forces.Representation of Army in decision making body is suffering just because it becomes too late after retirement to get to know the diplomatic style of exisstance.Hardly any one votes while serving.just because difference between any party in power is not realised.Ignorance becomes a bliss.There should be more Jaswant Singhs and Khanduries.If Vadra can slip into politics because of connections,why the than ruling Govt not offer a seat to Late FM Manekshaw after his historic achievement of decisive victory of 1971.Why is discussing women in the Officers Mess a tabu when they are in the system and doing important roles as President,PM and speaker all over the world.Corruption,integrity and honour have already become relative terms due to cracks made in the system by self seeking heirachy/IAS lobby and dull envoinments of the field Areas suffered by young manpower.Satisfaction level of both serving and retired lot needs to be examined.
As far as DOB issue of the COAS is concerned my views are as follows.Facts presented by Gen VKS are clear that his actual year of birth is 1951.Why was a written communication asked at all by the Govt at any time of his service when AG,s branch had recorded 1951.As far as MS Br is concerned,it takes directions from AG,s Branch on this particular subject.There should be no reason that both the Branches of Army have there individual records on DOB.Govt has dual policy of treating men and women in uniform while selecting there ultimate leader.For example Gen Sinha was dropped in spite of the fact that he was senior most.Similarly Kiran Bedi was sidestepped for the appointment of DGP,Delhi.Gen Panag was made to exit Northern Command just because he wanted to highlight corrupt practises by previous occupant.
Col S.P.S. Rekhi,VSM(Retd)
U P A it self is corrupt so is defence minister how can they help in cleaning up in the army.