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Gen Malik concerned over reference to officer in debate

Army Chief V P Malik has brought to the notice of President K R Narayanan, the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces, and Defence Minister George Fernandes, the recent political debates inside and outside Parliament wherein the name of a senior army officer was mentioned.

Gen Malik, emphasising the apolitical nature of the Indian armed forces while inaugurating the bi-annual army commanders conference today, did not refer to the officer by name but said he had brought the matter to the notice of the supreme commander and the defence minister ''not merely for defending the honour of the officer involved, but more importantly to reiterate the apolitical stature of the army, in the backdrop of our vibrant democracy.''

Even though Gen Malik did not refer to the officer by name or designation, it was obvious that he was referring to deputy chief of army staff Lt Gen S S Mehta about whom Defence Minister George Fernandes had written to Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi yesterday. George Fernandes had urged the speaker to expunge the adverse references to Lt Gen S S Mehta made by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda during his speech on the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.

''Lt Gen Mehta is an outstanding officer with impeccable credentials and if there is any attempt to undo the confidence and morale of the defence forces it will be a dangerous trend," Fernandes had said in his letter yesterday. Fernandes had also said that army chief had spoken to him about Gowda's remarks as it had created strong resentment among the officers. He said he had to raise the issue outside the house since it affected the morale of the army.

In his concluding remarks the army chief urged the officers to continue improving the civil-army relations and educate the people on security issues.

The army chief mentioned the fluidity in strategic and military developments in the region, which, he said, needed to be carefully monitored and analysed. While the Lahore Declaration has been welcomed in India, Pakistan and the rest of the world, Pakistan has yet to translate its spirit into ground realities.

Gen Malik highlighted the fast changing and fluid global strategic environment, which apart from coercive diplomacy, unilateralism in use of force, is being increasingly used as an instrument of assertion.

Coupled with this, proxy war and other known challenges of the neighbourhood add a new dimension to the overall security scenario. Developing countries where ethnic and religious societies have not adequately integrated into nationalism remain more vulnerable than others.

Gen Malik went on to express his complete satisfaction with the dedicated and improved performance of the army in operational areas and in the field of training. He also praised the units and formations for their ready and fast response in aid of civil administration in cases of natural disasters in the north east, Malpa and Garhwal.

He, however, cautioned against the excessive and prolonged use of the army in internal security duties, since it is neither good for the army nor the nation.

Making a mention of certain anomalies in the Fifth Pay Commission and the pension structure of the defence personnel, he said all efforts are being made to resolve them with speed, as delays in their resolution may affect the morale of the troops.

The army chief also released a book titled Leadership authored by Lt Gen M L Chibbar. The book is a publication of the Army Training Command.

UNI

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