Dear Sir,
This refers to the editorial in SALUTE, View From across the Border: The Blindness Remains: I seriously think that Pakistan is just lying low temporarily. Before the elections there could be a major provocation with two aims. Firstly, to avenge Balakot and secondly to elicit a response from us, which in the current state of our politics will be criticised by some opposition parties as Mr Modi’s attempt to win more votes. Keeping fingers crossed.
—Brig Satish Padmanabh
Dear Sir,
In your editorial in SALUTE, Volume 11, Issue 6, the situation has been well explained. The govt has rightly raised the bar in dealing with Pakistan on the issue by the air strike and the following strong stand adopted. The success achieved was unfortunately somewhat diminished by the cacophony raised by the combined opposition which seems desperate in the face of ensuing elections. The J&K problem is a domestic political issue and must be treated as such. The steps taken by attacking the roots of the problem arising out of the unconstitutional Article 35A/ 370 and the cutting off of cross border financial and military support to the terrorists are welcome steps and must be pursued relentlessly to bring respite to the people of J&K. As for Pakistan, their military obtains their mandate from the war that they conduct in J&K and nothing should be expected from Pakistan on the issue. Pakistan is not a democratic state but a military state and hence our policy towards that should be more a military policy than a diplomatic one.
—Col Yashpal Singh Chauhan
Dear Sir,
It was indeed a poor show by the veterans who sent a letter to the President expressing concern over what they felt was the misuse of the Armed Forces in the forthcoming elections. It appears that the veterans who did this have fallen into the trap of a political party. Astonishingly, such a huge number of veterans have forgotten the enormous & continuous injustice done to the military over the decades by Congress governments. And now suddenly some feel that a “Vertical Divide” has been created during the last five years. There are, undoubtedly, several actions of the current MoD that have agitated the veterans as also the serving soldier though in comparison past governments are the ones who have perpetuated the malaise.
—Col Balraj Rathee
Dear Sir,
This has reference to a letter written by some veterans dated 11 April 2019, and addressed to the President of India, in which those who had purportedly given their approval to add their names as signatories to the letter, expressed concern at the actions of the present government in what they felt was leading to the politicisation of the Forces. I respectfully disagree with the views expressed in the above letter. But more fundamentally, I think it was inappropriate on the part of those who originated the letter, not to have taken the signatures of all the officers and merely satisfied themselves with taking their consent to add their names to the letter. After all, the letter was addressed to the Honourable President of India and in keeping with the high dignity of the office, the letter should have been signed. It was also inappropriate to release the letter to the press, without having first delivered the letter to the office of the President. As a matter of courtesy and etiquette, the letter should have been handed over personally to the President by some of the signatories, after obtaining an audience. After all, the President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. While some statements made by members of the ruling party were inappropriate, the letter in question was partisan as it made no reference to the unacceptable behaviour of the opposition parties. In addition, by releasing the letter to the media, the veterans themselves created a situation wherein the military was dragged into a political controversy.
—An Aggrieved Veteran
Dear Sir,
It was indeed a poor show by the veterans who sent a letter to the President expressing concern over what they felt was the misuse of the Armed Forces in the forthcoming elections. It appears that the veterans who did this have fallen into the trap of a political party. Astonishingly, such a huge number of veterans have forgotten the enormous & continuous injustice done to the military over the decades by Congress governments. And now suddenly some feel that a “Vertical Divide” has been created during the last five years. There are, undoubtedly, several actions of the current MoD that have agitated the veterans as also the serving soldier though in comparison past governments are the ones who have perpetuated the malaise.
—Col Balraj Rathee
Dear Sir,
The Congress manifesto has stated that it will talk with The separatists and with Pakistan without preconditions. So even the fig leaf of Constitution and integrity is thrown out of the window! This is not manifesto, but 1971 surrender in reverse.
—Mayank Singh
Dear Sir,
Mission Shakti is a phenomenal achievement, which has propelled India into a select league and provided deterrent capability. Polarised reactions on the success of the mission, where an anti satellite missile destroyed a satellite in LEO, shows that national security is still being viewed through the prism of party politics. On some issues at least, India needs to speak in one voice.
—Col Shamsher Rana.
Dear Sir,
This pertains to the issue of NFFU which has not been granted to the Armed Forces and for which the case is being heard in the Apex Court. I am surprised that the MoD is opposing the demand of the services and one of the reasons given is that the military lives in palatial bungalows! Yes! We lived in palatial Bashas where walls were collapsing, the snakes hanging from the roof, scorpions sleeping with us in the bed and water oozing out of the floor. What a palace it was, even Queen of England could not afford such a luxurious living. All the Mir Jaffars, who want more information on the subject must read ‘I Married the Army’The Memoirs of Mrs Doe Nair an Armoured Corps officer’s wife.
—Brij Raj Singh Dahiya
