The new RM stumbles

Lt Gen (Retd) Vijay Oberoi

THE media has dubbed the recent Cabinet reshuffle the BJP plan for the 2019 general election while it views the appointment of the new Raksha Mantri (RM) Nirmala Sitharaman more in gender terms rather than abilities! Maybe so, but there was a sense of relief in the bulk of the military fraternity, that this government has stopped treating the defence portfolio as a temporary parking place for political leaders.

But Ms Sitharaman’s appointment wasn’t really a der aaye durust aaye moment though it seems PM Modi has realised that defence was neither a part-time portfolio nor one for a light-weight provincial.

Seasoned political punters were convinced from day one that an IIT graduate like Manohar Parrikar would not be allowed to survive in Delhi’s political system. Before Parrikar, PM Modi had rewarded a loser at the polls with the two most important portfolios — finance and defence — forgetting that the incumbent had a bone to pick with the military, as he blamed them for losing the only election he had fought in his long political career!

However, when he brought back the gentleman again as a temporary stand-in, it was perplexing indeed! If he had gone back in time, he may have realised that giving two major portfolios to one person is fraught with danger.

During PM Vajpayee’s time when External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh was given additional charge of the Defence Ministry, the Indo-Pak Agra Summit was a disaster, possibly because there was one less adviser in the Cabinet.

The importance of a permanent RM is obvious, as the incumbent is a member not just of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS), but also of the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) and Economic Affairs (CCEA), the three most important policy-making committees of the executive. The RM also sits on the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The RM’s presence and independent advice are therefore essential on major policy decisions.

The new RM has ingrained professional abilities: high IQ level; dedication; and common sense; the last being extremely crucial as it is the man behind the gun who is the most important component of the military. There is a need for application of mind before issuing orders and instructions that affect Army personnel. Ms Sitharaman had displayed these attributes when she was the party official spokesperson. Her competence and panache were visible in what are called ‘debates/ panel discussions’ by our TV channels but actually are verbal slugfests of the worst kind!

After the 2014 elections, she was given the important Commerce portfolio. She may have handled her portfolio well but she did build a positive reputation of being a feisty lady who kept the bureaucracy in line and carried out her assignments without the usual fanfare that political leaders are known for.  

Her elevation to head an extremely important ministry was therefore welcome. This Ministry is stuffed with a huge number of bureaucrats, including four Secretary-level officials, who need a strong leader as the defence minister. Hopefully she will be able to deflate their egoistic image of themselves!

But the new RM has started her innings by issuing incorrect orders to the armed forces. Apparently this was done at the behest of the PMO to clean up the litter left by tourists in high-altitude areas. She also issued sundry instructions regarding cleanliness in military stations, cantonments and bases. These orders are absurd, to put it mildly. Obviously, no one has recalled that similar orders were issued in the late 1950s that eventually resulted in the 1962 fiasco.

At that time, then RM VK Krishna Menon had embarked on Project Amar (construction of barracks and family accommodation by troop labour) despite objections by the then Army Chief General KS Thimayya. They were implemented by the ambitious Bijji Kaul, then GOC of 4 Infantry Division at Ambala. The result was the Division had no time to train for war.

Even when the Division had been ordered to move to NEFA (now part of Arunachal Pradesh), plans, Mr Menon was drawing up a blueprint for Project Amar II, which were mercifully jettisoned at the behest of the Army hierarchy. When the war with China erupted in 1962, it was this very division that was annihilated. One need not go into any more details, except to say that if you use the armed forces for carrying out non-military tasks, the result is catastrophic.

Our northern borders continue to be in dispute. Hopefully the sterling role played by the Army in handling the Doklam stand must be fresh in memory. Till the border problem is solved, such incidents will continue. Yet, the mandarins in the PMO have issued an illogical order asking the Army to clean up the litter left behind by uncaring tourists in high-altitude areas, obviously at the cost of their operational tasks and training. It is the dumbest order in the last 50 years. The MoD as usual has acted as a postman and simply forwarded it to the armed forces with the new RM publicly announcing it during her maiden visit to Western Command.

The authority of the civil administration extends to the remotest corners of the country and includes the entire stretch of all land borders of India. It is the job of the civil administration to administer all assigned areas under their control. Why are they first not ensuring that no tourists leave any litter? And if they fail to do so, they have the resources, funds and authority to clean up. The armed forces, both in field areas, peace stations and different types of bases have always kept their habitat clean, green and hygienic. They are actually models for the civilians to emulate. So why have such orders/instructions been issued?

The last pay commission, despite vehement opposition by the armed forces, also decreed high-altitude allowances for civil officials of all categories! Are they earning them?

It appears that since the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has made little headway, the government wants to boast of at least cleaning up the litter of tourists so that their propaganda machinery can save face. 

The RM, the PMO and the MoD must rescind this absurd order immediately.

The writer is a former Vice-Chief of Army Staff