LOGINPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, February 7 stated in Parliament that the Congress party doesn’t want the armed forces to be strong. However, several reports highlight that the situation is different. The Modi government has taken many steps which have hurt the morale of the Army and weakened defence preparedness in the country.
In a recent move, the Defence Ministry reportedly announced on Monday, February 4 that it will not be processing travelling and dearness allowance (TA/DA) claims of Army officers. This includes the TA/DA given to officers when they are transferred from one post to another or when they have to travel to take part in field exercises and training programmes.
After Army officials criticised the Modi government for taking this adverse step, the information was removed from the PCDA (Principal Controller of Defence Accounts) (officers) website, ANI reported.
The estimate committee of Parliament chaired by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi had said that in the past four years the Modi government had brought defence preparedness down to the level when India faced a crushing defeat at the hands of China in 1962.
In an exclusive report, News Central24x7 pointed out that the 29th report of the Committee On Estimates on ‘Preparedness Of Armed Forces-Defence Production & Procurement’ has said that the Modi government is neglecting India’s national security and the implications could be ‘Ominous’.
3) BJP and Modi Using Indian Army to Raise Money for the Party
Reports suggested that the BJP has been seeking donations on the Narendra Modi Mobile App, using pictures of army jawans.
On various social media platforms of the saffron party, pictures of Modi posing with army men have been shared with the caption, “He works for them. Stand with him to secure India. Donate now to support NAMO again in 2019.”
Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt General Sarath Chand spoke as a representative of the Indian Army before the parliamentary standing committee on defence. He said, “A new defence procurement policy to streamline the procedures, delegation of emergency procurement powers to Vice Chief of Army Staff as also a delegation of powers to purchase up to 10 (I) of ammunition, armaments, and spares are some of the steps that have been taken. Besides this, a series of systems and structural reforms in consultation with the Ministry of Defence has also empowered us to fully utilise our allocation.”
He added: “The Budget of 2018-19 has dashed our hopes and most of what has been achieved has actually received a little setback.”
On December 7, 2018, Lt General (retired) D S Hooda, who was the Northern Army Commander when surgical strikes were out, said that there were accusations that the surgical strikes issue was politicised and that there was an “attempt to keep a purely military operation in the political domain by selective leaks of videos, photographs etc.”
Slamming the Modi government for thumping its chest over the surgical strikes issue, he added, “Did the overhype help? I say, completely no. If you start having political resonance in military operations, it is not good. There was too much political banter, on both sides, and when military operations get politicised, that is not good.”
Modi never missed an opportunity to politicise and hype the issue. Every effort was made to underline the achievements of the Army as the victory of the BJP. Even during his interview to ANI, the prime minister said, “The surgical strikes were planned as there was a rage building up within me as well as the Army after soldiers were burnt alive in the terror attack in Uri. I gave clear orders that whether you get success or failure, don`t think about that but come back before sunrise. Don’t fall for the lure and prolong it (the operation).”
