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Sunday, March 16, 2014

An ‘apolitical’ military : convoluted theories- A surge in political awareness was expected


An ‘apolitical’ military : convoluted theories

A surge in political awareness was expected

Navdeep Singh


One keeps hearing that the military must remain apolitical. Of course in a democracy it must. But what is the definition of ‘apolitical’? Does it mean that the members or former members of the military must not take part in the political process of the nation, or does it simply mean that organizationally the military must not have political inclination and should not interfere in the political process?

While the latter thought is acceptable, the former is unconstitutional.

The advocates of the theory that individual members of the uniformed forces should be politically inert are flirting with the extreme which goes against the grain of a democracy. When the lowest ranking Sepoy or the highest ranking Chief of the Army Staff goes out to press that button in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), does he not have in mind a political party which is going to receive his vote? Or is there an option for ‘military apolitical party-less vote’ on EVMs?

In any true democracy, the military must not interfere with the political process of the nation and should not harbour any political dreams and should also not institutionally support any form of political order. But that does not mean that individual members of the military would not have a say in the political process or the voting process or that they would cease to have in their minds an inclination towards any political entity. Had it been so, then Article 326, which provides for adult suffrage, would have been suspended for members of the armed forces.

The sudden debate on military and politics stems from the fact that after an inordinately long never-ending era of being totally ignored, military personnel, veterans and their families have realized that the most potent tool in a democracy is the power of vote.

Treatment meted out to this community does not only have bearing on their votes but also touches the emotional chord of the nation at large thereby resulting a huge emotional sway of sorts, something that political parties must realize at the earliest. So when you hear that the maximum number of appeals filed by the Indian Ministry of Defence in the Supreme Court are against their own disabled  and war disabled soldiers related to disability benefits granted by High Courts and Tribunals, it does not only affect military voters but also influences the collective conscience of the nation.

Military voters suffered in silence for long. Then came a stage when they became vocal and open about their grievances, especially after the Sixth Pay Commission. That did not work, then they returned their medals, even that did not cut any ice. It is at this point that they probably realized that the only factor that could work in a democracy was not anger or dissatisfaction or exasperation, but that button on the EVM. And No, I’m not referring to the ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option!

It would be too mild to state that the Government has not treated its military well. The writing has been there on the wall- that of dissatisfaction, especially of veterans. Even well meaning Raksha Mantris and Secretaries of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) have been blinded and hoodwinked by the anti-military sentiment perpetuated by lower level staff of the said department where the show is ruthlessly run by a handful of officers who play around with the higher echelons with misleading inputs and deceptive file notings. The blame is to be shared by the higher level decision making bodies for not applying mind and not seeking across-the-table inputs from stakeholders. Even Courts have not been spared. One Under Secretary of DESW recently wrote to a Major General asking him to desist from sending letters on issues of military welfare since such communications ‘clog the department’. Another officer who since times immemorial had remained in the pension wing of DESW was clandestinely re-employed as an ‘Officer on Special Duty‘ (OSD) in DESW by circumventing and flouting rules. Ironically the said officer has been re-employed to fight cases against defence pensioners and disabled soldiers in courts but he is getting his salary disbursed from the ‘Armed Forces Flag Day Fund’ which is meant for the welfare of those very people he is pitted against. Though top brass of the DESW realizes that the department is plagued with ‘negative attitude’ they feel that they cannot do without such officers since they have become indispensable to the system. Strikingly, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) on the civil side works in a completely positive framework by inculcating positivity and an all-inclusive approach. DoPPW decisions are taken by consensus by involving stakeholders and by holding regular meetings between the ‘official side’ and the ‘staff side’, something unheard of in the Defence Ministry in general or the DESW in particular.

Repeated pointing out of such issues by serving personnel, Services Headquarters, veterans, veterans’ associations, MPs and Ministers to the set-up has not moved them into action and hence a political tinge was not entirely unexpected. Irrespective of political parties, naturally the military community would be looking at entities who promise to positively resolve their long pending demands.

While glamorous issues such as One-Rank One Pension (OROP) have hogged the limelight, it is insidious issues which have escaped notice and resolution. Today, jawans start retiring at the age of 34 onwards without any assurance of employment thereafter. The Government with much fanfare announces re-employment opportunities which are in fact not commensurate to the ranks held by such soldiers. For example, the Railways went about town advertising vacancies for ex-servicemen but what was not highlighted was the fact that they were offering Group-D (Formerly known as Class-IV) level employment  on posts such as water carriers and Multi Task Workers to ex-servicemen holding Group-C (Class-III) and Group-B (Class-II) Gazetted appointments from the ranks of Sepoy to Subedar. Thousands of appeals in the Supreme Court are proposed to be filed by the Defence Ministry against benefits granted to disabled soldiers by Courts and Tribunals, egged on by recommendations of lower level bureaucracy and blindly approved by top brass. This may bring about handsome payments to Government lawyers in the Supreme Court but would only bring miseries to the old, infirm and disabled. Disabled soldiers with non-service related disabilities with less than 10 years of service are not entitled to any pension but the employment of civil employees is fully protected enabling them to earn full pay and allowances during their service and then full pension on retirement. Why would a person want to join as a jawan of the forces and not as a civilian employee enjoying stability and a settled life probably even in his/her own hometown, employment-protection, retirement at 60, staying with family, working for fixed hours, holidays, weekends?. Women officers are being discriminated since ego-based actions become impediments in harmonizing policies and identifying the middle path. The sheen of the military rank has been on the decline, there is no role for military in the Rules of Business or in the decision making process and policies concerning them are forcibly imposed, unlike say, in the Railways which has a Railway Board looking after them. The Armed Forces Tribunal has been placed under the Ministry of Defence reflecting a complete conflict of interest and lack of independence and without any powers of civil contempt and whose decisions are simply ignored and not followed by the Ministry. The list is never-ending and moving towards infinity by the day.

What the above signifies is that though there is nothing wrong in being a part of the political process, the fact that this participation has come out so sharply in the recent past is because of the slackness in addressing long pending issues by successive governments.

Rather than debating whether this political awakening of the military community is desirable or not, efforts on the contrary should be made to ensure that they are retained as an integral process of the political system of our nation. Veterans, just like other citizens, are entitled to be a part and parcel of our rich electoral arrangement, de hors the perceived pitfalls. Special efforts should be made to inform them about the modalities of the electoral process, since they, having served away from the real world for most of their military careers, are at a loss in understanding the same, and of course, gullible too at times. Serving personnel and local military commanders should also be properly educated about the process and the various forms of voting including postal ballot. For those posted (and not merely temporarily deployed) in locations other than inaccessible field areas, the easiest and the most effective way is to get themselves registered as ordinary electors at their places of posting. This can be done during house-to-house enumeration conducted by election staff or by filling up and submitting Form-6 which appended with Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The most epigrammatic way to the aim of clearing doubts in this regard is a simple visit to the local electoral office at the place of posting. Of course, the interpretation of the Election Commission of India in this regard also remains a point of litigation now pending before the Supreme Court.

Besides educating the military community about the minutiae of the electoral process and welcoming them with open arms in light of the new found political awareness, all political parties should take a cue and devote time and energy in understanding what has gone wrong and how it should be addressed, rather than centering on whether political awareness of the military community is virtuous or not- It is, and they will. The law allows them to vote, irrespective of amusing ideas that some seem to have to the contrary, which thankfully do not find basis in the Constitution of India.

Political parties, please brace up and lend a hand.

18 comments:

HARDEV said...

The real status of Military men is replicated to that of Slave having curtailed his rights which otherwise are granted by constitution to the citizen.
While the lower cadre of bureaucracy is to blame the higher ups inclusive of the Ministers also a party to it otherwise how can they continue to act as naive beside being reminded a number of times.
They wish to follow a blunt rule that Military must be ruled by the Civilians Supremacy.That is how our PM went back on his own words for a separate pay commission & later even did not even agree to the representation on the review panel. He is being seen as siding his own fraternity of bureaucrats.
It is not only the question of OROP but all of the Military affairs are being mismanaged by the bureaucrats (for the sake of supremacy)& Military is being blamed just to pass the muck.
Imagine the FM blaming the maintenance lapse on the part of Navy, of the fleet that is at the end of its life while such complications are natural at that stage of life.
Navy Chief braving the situation had to put in resignation & RM accepting it without any hesitation (which in fact was a forced resignation).
We have fairly substandard & old Military equipment& up gradation is nowhere in the sight. The procurement & acceptance process even down to Batteries is all manged by the bureaucrats ( for the sake supremacy). How it is fair on the part of FM to make political comment & tarnishing the image of Navy.
EX JWO HARDEV SINGH Mohali

Rajesh said...

Beautifully articulated,Navdeep.

Vibha Singh said...

Dear Major,
Have been following your blog for sometimes. First let me compliment you for the outstanding contribution you have been making to sensitize the environment of the injustice MoD & bureaucrats have been handing down to the forces. I second your opinion that we all make our political choices but are basically apolitical as long as we the military does not intervene in the functioning of a duly elected Govt. To that extent ex-COAS Gen VK Singh and others by taking a plunge into politics have only helped the cause in otherwise a extremely dull political expanse involving military men. Never before the nation saw full page advertisements for granting OROP and achievement of MoD. Now what remains important is that our military and veterans should remain united for the honor of the forces. The bureaucrats, MoD and political dispensation will be forced to listen.

Rajesh said...

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ak-antony-defence-minister-scams-upa-ii/1/347190.html

john prince said...

Now an After thought, why should we remain apolitical. When the Govt and the Generals in chair and power, has not given us our due - NFG, infact they have demoted us vis a vis the Civilians who r under us. Then by remaining apolitical we will be only foolhardy. We need to publicise our problems and ensure and request that the same selfish folks are thrown out from this the positions of power, so that we get our dues in future and oru futures is in better hands.
Hence we should do all that we can to vote our the present govt in the center.
If our worthy seniors are unable to convince this govt and listen to their reasons, and are incapable to get us our deserving pay, then their worthiness in continuing in the chair also is questionable ??

ninihala said...

If soldiers dont have any political opinion, then they become plain mercenaries. Liberal democracies are based on people's engagement in all fields of public life. Citizens join Army in exercise of their duty to protect the community. If they feel no affinity to the community, they are just mercenaries. Such soldiers, history has proved, are not trust worthy.
Political class is being foolhardy in suggesting that soldiers shud not participate in political process even after retirement. They had no such qualms when MS Gill joined Congress soon after demitting office of CEC. He did so many favors to INC when in office that reams can be written.

Anonymous said...

Well written... a long overdue issue brought into the limelight...
Thank you Maj Navdeep.

Anonymous said...

The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations

written by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington must be a mendatory read for all officers and MoD Babus.

In the book, Huntington advances the theory of objective civilian control, according to which the optimal means of asserting control over the armed forces is to professionalize them.

This is in contrast to subjective control, which involves placing legal and institutional restrictions on the military's autonomy as being practiced in India. Anyone seriously interested in Soldiers participation in democracy has to come to terms with Samuel P. Huntington's The Soldier and the State''.

A must read.

Anonymous said...

Soldiers and the State :


http://www.scribd.com/doc/142827796/The-Soldier-and-the-State-Huntington

bala said...


Good and great . Contentions and views are- valid ,rational , logical and constitutional.
A retired mily person as a citizen is good enough to pursue ,participate and take part like any other citizen of the NATION .

A serving mily person also has to participate in electoral processes ..

Anonymous said...

Excellent article Maj Navdeep. I have just been posted to AHQ and the first thing I did was to apply online to the Election Commision website and register myself as a voter. It was very easy and transparent.

Considering the number of Service personnel posted in Delhi itself, we are a decisive votebank no one can ignore.

I urge everyone to register locally and make their vote count.

Commanders in the chain can make a huge difference if they passed this down as a "hukum" and asked for a "completion report". This must be followed by another "hukum" to go and vote on the D Day.

buzz said...

Sir, is there any volunteer force in Indian Navy like we have ITA in the army?? I was looking for it but cudn't find anything like tht.
But if it's there it wud b so kind of u to let me know. Thanx.
Bhuvan.

Anonymous said...

Sir,
You are a torch bearer of ESM, We have been treated as Unpad gawar as such job offered as such in Govt. By chance you get into departments where defence experience is only apt to the job, they place you in the bottom of the panel. They have no regard for us. God bless for your effort

Cdr P S Nelson said...

Beautifully articulated with true facts. Since we in the Forces already know these, is there any way to put it in the ears of those deaf and dump politicians???

Anonymous said...

The fault is our own again.

Over the years we have had Chiefs asking people to carry their KRA's in their pockets and wanting Combats to be worn on Fridays or the salutations to be changed to Jai Hind etc etc. Every order was implemented to perfection.

And then there are those dozens of Reports & Returns every CO submits starting from AWL cases to people catching Malaria to those having cellphones!

Not one Chief so far has issued a dictat that every CO will ensure that min 60% of his unit str will be registered as voters locally. And that the CO will submit a report giving the turnout in every local election for Counsellors, MLAs, MPs.

Just pass those simple orders and we'll see Service personnel influencing at least 50 constituencies across India if not more. Just the sight of hundreds of faujis lined up at election booths is enough to send shivers down the establishment's spine.

That one simple order can ensure that we will no longer struggle for our just dues.

Its so simple yet so difficult.

Anonymous said...

Excellent article Maj Navdeep. Senior military officers are also fall in the same category of shrewd politicians and bureaucrat. Many problem faced by serving and ex servicemen are created or initiated by various branches of service HQs or by senior officers who look for personal benefits at the cost of subordinates and organization.

Now a days everything moves in the def totally on PR and how well one connected and look after the interested of seniors and their relatives. Important decisions and posting are decided either in Golf courses or after couple of free single malts. Senior lot comes down to that level, there is a total trust deficit. These are the ground realities. Time has come to rewrite Chetwood Credo...

Lt.Col.(Retd)M.L.Agrawal said...

An examplary effort to educate every one concerned in the sub matter.

faransqi said...

The latest in series SC gave right to vote only to the soldiers posted in peace.The bulk 70% whoare posted in field areas are still denied their constitutional rights.What kind of democracy is this.Why doesnt military while posting advertizement for recruitment highlight this point that once in you might have to foregoyour constitutional right.
I wonder how many people will agree with my pont of view and understand its implication when on onehand all other organisations promote voting and our sr officers are apethetic towards it.