Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Man behind the weapon is most important' that was published in Newsband

Man behind the weapon is most important

Subedar Ram Kishen Grewal, allegedly committed suicide over delay in receiving arrears under the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme. This has created a political storm. The ex-servicemen groups are demanding unconditional OROP. What they are demanding is uniform pension to armed forces personnel retiring with the same rank and length of service regardless of the date of retirement. The big issue is premature retirement (PMR). There is still no clarity on the criteria of PMR.

Whenever the Pay Commission report is published there will be a lot of hue and cry because it is unfortunately favoring only the bureaucrats and not others, and the members in the commission are mostly from the bureaucracy and they ensure some confusion while implementing the report. The OROP was resisted tooth and nail by the bureaucrats right from the beginning, and they least expected PM Modi to implement it. When the final orders were given for implementation this PMR was deliberately left vague; otherwise it could have been clearly stated what will be the minimum effect on OROP for the voluntary retired people.

Unlike Accountants, Babus and civilian government employees, military persons cannot have unions and association to seek collective bargain. The democratic right has been denied by law, therefore the government and society has prime responsibility to give the fair due to the military man and veterans, without a demand from them.

Rahul Gandhi is blaming Modi while his own party under Indira Gandhi cancelled the OROP and he and his mother once again slept over the matter knowing very well that they cannot handle it. Now when NDA sincerely wants to implement it, the same Rahul Gandhi shamelessly gives lecture to army veterans that this government is not doing anything.

The BJP government is all for taking credit for the bravery of the armed forces but would hide behind technicalities in giving them their due. While on the subject it is also necessary that the bureaucratic domination over the defence personnel be removed.

Another thing is that the BJP led government must realise that although it is going on an arms buying and Make in India overdrive, it is the man behind the weapon who matters. A demoralised Army is to the Nation's detriment especially at a time when India is facing an unprecedented collusive challenge from both China and Pakistan together. Time is running out, lest we see a repeat of 1962.