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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Betraying Our Soldiers

The civilian government and to some extent the top brass in our armed and para-military forces have betrayed our foot soldiers again and again. While, the decision makers wallow in complacency and directionlessness our men are left as sitting ducks for the enemy. Our soldiers are made to watch and seeth over the butchering of their colleagues while the powers that be mouth the usual nonsense.

They can very well retaliate with equal measure and avenge their honour, but the political establishment teeters and dithers and talks of ambiguous things like taking steps at the appropriate time. And when may one ask would that be. Death stalks a soldier always and he more than knows that and is ready to face the bullet for his thankless nation at all times. But, to be subjected to medieval methods of brutality is not what he signed up for. Beheading a brother in uniform even if he happens to be from the enemy side is something only people lacking completely in military decorum can do. Is this the 21st century or 19th? Inspite, of constant dialogue between DGMOs such things are happening. It speaks volumes of the duplicity of our neighbours and ofcourse the guilessness of our leaders. And what about intelligence? Were there any inputs from them? If not why? And if yes why were they ignored.

The Indian government is always late in its reactions. While, Pakistan is going all out to stall the so called confidence building measures, internationalising the events, stopping bus services; India is just posturing. And our Prime Minister ofcourse has never anything to say. After Indira Gandhi every Prime Minister and central government has failed its soldiers. We are expediting visa clearances of separatists who go and hobnob with leaders of terrorist groups!!!!! Why don't we just tell them to take Pakistani citizenship.

And what about the Maoists using soldiers bodies as booby traps; planting bombs inside them surgically. How did we as a nation and a state embolden them to such an extent. Because we forget every brutal incident like the terrible massacre of Dantewad. Not only was it an absolute failure of intelligence, planning and leadership at the highest levels; but also a complete abdication of moral responsibility of those at the top. And now we hear all 10 accused of killing those 76 men will walk free for want of evidence. Clearly, nobody is doing their job. We have seen in what abysmal conditions the CRPF men live. Shame on us as a country which just doesn't care for people who are there to protect us. While, our men are braving sub zero temperatures, avalanches and blizzards in Kashmir, the political class goes about their business as if this is just another skirmish.