The Water-gate scandal in the early 70s in the US seems to have set a precedent for India. We have so many of these 'gates'! dont we? And I like to call the latest one, caused by Gen. V K Singh's sensational claims in a leaked letter to the PM, the 'General-gate!'
So the whole General-gate has brought out the uglier face of the Indian political scenario. We all knew it was ugly. But whats disappointing is that the institution that we thought was the most 'imandar' in the country turned out to be falling down to newer levels of pathetic lows. Of-course with the guns already trained on the Congress led UPA government, the BJP found yet another issue in the what could be described as one of the most scam-filled governments ever. The Sukna land scam, the MMRCA controversy, Gen. V K Singh;s ugly age row and now the General's letter to the PM, which seems to be pretty timely! But what could be the reason for the General's 'timely expose'? The Chinese premier is on an India visit...something to do with that? Was is because the General wanted to divert attention from is age row to more serious issues? Was he just getting back at the Government? I mean after all he did face embarrassment in the Supreme Court!
Whats interesting is that after the letter was 'leaked' to the media, and I purposely use the word 'leaked'; the Defense Minister said in Rajya Sabha that he is in knowledge about the letter and and that the Government will respond on a timely note. Really?! Something both the General & the government agree was happening, took a leaking letter to come forth the nation? If they knew it, why dint they take action? What was keeping them back? I would like to share with you though that this isn't the first 'truth' to be hidden by the Army and the Governments of yesteryears. In a conversation with a very senior ex-army officer who now has retired in Mumbai, I was made aware that during every hostility the nation faced, both the army and the government in command at that time betrayed the nation by holding back what I would describe as shameful and embarrassing goof-ups that lead the country to compromise its territorial integrity. Following is an excerpt of an e-mail that was provided to me by this senior ex-army officer. Its about what the Indian people do not know about the 1971 war. We all thought we won fare and square. We won, of-course, but this is what we lost! Have a look:
"When the whole world and the Indian Govenment, buckling under the international pressure, returned the 90000+ PAKI prisoners, it firstly never bothered to ask the Paki Govt and never put a 'SHART' that unless they return all the POW's and other Indian prisoners and secondly part of Chamb which we (and Indian army) had lost to Pak Army we will not return those 90000+ . Lt Swittens was one of those held in Civilian Jails of Pakistan along with criminals to avoid detection and returned only after the international organization interfered. BUT HERE THE STORY DOES NOT FINISH.
Though we had a clear edge, the government did not even ask Pakistan to return the area of CHAMB which they had captured then AND THUS DREW A FRRSH CEASE FIRE LINE which should have not been acceptable to the Indian Government and the Nation thus lost quite a few square kilometers to Pakistan. WAS THIS NOT A BETRAYAL BY THE ARMY BY NOT LETTING THE PUBLLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE LOSING THIS MUCH OF TERRITORY TO THE PAKI'S? WAS IT NOT THEIR DUTY TO INFORM THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA THEN ABOUT THIS LOSS???
As if this was not enough, during and after KARGIL both the Army and the Government have not told or have not been telling the Nation that we accepted the ceasefire under the American pressure even when WE COULD NOT CAPTURE BACK TWO ARMY POSTS AND THUS LOST ANOTHER FEW KILOMETERS THIS TIME ALSO and a new cease fire line was drawn up again. THE ARMY NEVER GAVE THE DETAILS OF THE TWO POSTS and THE GOVERNMENT, THOUGH KNEW ABOUT THESE POSTS BEING NOT CAPTURED ACCEPTED THE CEASE FIRE.
Both the times India had an edge but the spineless governments thought it good to betray the nation."
Wow!!! My jaws dropped. Before forwarding me this mail, when he narrated the incident to me, this officer had tears in his eyes.
So the whole General-gate has brought out the uglier face of the Indian political scenario. We all knew it was ugly. But whats disappointing is that the institution that we thought was the most 'imandar' in the country turned out to be falling down to newer levels of pathetic lows. Of-course with the guns already trained on the Congress led UPA government, the BJP found yet another issue in the what could be described as one of the most scam-filled governments ever. The Sukna land scam, the MMRCA controversy, Gen. V K Singh;s ugly age row and now the General's letter to the PM, which seems to be pretty timely! But what could be the reason for the General's 'timely expose'? The Chinese premier is on an India visit...something to do with that? Was is because the General wanted to divert attention from is age row to more serious issues? Was he just getting back at the Government? I mean after all he did face embarrassment in the Supreme Court!
Whats interesting is that after the letter was 'leaked' to the media, and I purposely use the word 'leaked'; the Defense Minister said in Rajya Sabha that he is in knowledge about the letter and and that the Government will respond on a timely note. Really?! Something both the General & the government agree was happening, took a leaking letter to come forth the nation? If they knew it, why dint they take action? What was keeping them back? I would like to share with you though that this isn't the first 'truth' to be hidden by the Army and the Governments of yesteryears. In a conversation with a very senior ex-army officer who now has retired in Mumbai, I was made aware that during every hostility the nation faced, both the army and the government in command at that time betrayed the nation by holding back what I would describe as shameful and embarrassing goof-ups that lead the country to compromise its territorial integrity. Following is an excerpt of an e-mail that was provided to me by this senior ex-army officer. Its about what the Indian people do not know about the 1971 war. We all thought we won fare and square. We won, of-course, but this is what we lost! Have a look:
"When the whole world and the Indian Govenment, buckling under the international pressure, returned the 90000+ PAKI prisoners, it firstly never bothered to ask the Paki Govt and never put a 'SHART' that unless they return all the POW's and other Indian prisoners and secondly part of Chamb which we (and Indian army) had lost to Pak Army we will not return those 90000+ . Lt Swittens was one of those held in Civilian Jails of Pakistan along with criminals to avoid detection and returned only after the international organization interfered. BUT HERE THE STORY DOES NOT FINISH.
Though we had a clear edge, the government did not even ask Pakistan to return the area of CHAMB which they had captured then AND THUS DREW A FRRSH CEASE FIRE LINE which should have not been acceptable to the Indian Government and the Nation thus lost quite a few square kilometers to Pakistan. WAS THIS NOT A BETRAYAL BY THE ARMY BY NOT LETTING THE PUBLLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE LOSING THIS MUCH OF TERRITORY TO THE PAKI'S? WAS IT NOT THEIR DUTY TO INFORM THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA THEN ABOUT THIS LOSS???
As if this was not enough, during and after KARGIL both the Army and the Government have not told or have not been telling the Nation that we accepted the ceasefire under the American pressure even when WE COULD NOT CAPTURE BACK TWO ARMY POSTS AND THUS LOST ANOTHER FEW KILOMETERS THIS TIME ALSO and a new cease fire line was drawn up again. THE ARMY NEVER GAVE THE DETAILS OF THE TWO POSTS and THE GOVERNMENT, THOUGH KNEW ABOUT THESE POSTS BEING NOT CAPTURED ACCEPTED THE CEASE FIRE.
Both the times India had an edge but the spineless governments thought it good to betray the nation."
Wow!!! My jaws dropped. Before forwarding me this mail, when he narrated the incident to me, this officer had tears in his eyes.
During both the wars in 1971 & 1999, India compromised its territorial integrity. The Army would have certainly rammed a decisive blow to the enemy, but poor political will and lack of diplomacy has brought as far as to ugly incidents like 'General-gate'. While the Government put its tail behind, the army lied about it. This is the great country that we live in.
Even as I speak, more than 1.2 lakh troops are massed up on India's borders. Without proper equipment and led by a politically weak and diplomatically stupid government. Malfunctioning rifles, 100+ defective Bofors guns, no weapons-locating radars, 97% obsolete air defenses, as the General puts it i his letter, and scams even in their ration supply. This is how we are defended!
More soon!
4 comments:
So basically, everyone just wants to pull the other person down...dt way, da country will neva progress
Pulling the person down is just one thing. This is about the Army and the Government lying to the nation. Betraying the nation. If we cant trust the Army, tell me who can we trust in this country for our security?
Trust? that doesnt exist anymore. of course we are not safe. the only safe person in this country in Kasab!
No wonder the creme de la creme of Indians prefer to stay in the US or even in a racist country like Australia where Indians r killed. But security here? No way!
Oh yes. Kasab killed, but he lives! HUH! Democracy!
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