Guest Post: Afterthoughts — Pay Commissions & Omissions
It was about central pay scales, not about military and its personnel.
[This guest post has been penned by this blog's favourite guest blogger, BeeCee. His earlier guest posts on the SCPC imboglio are here, here and here.]
The debate on the Civil vs Military aspects of the VI CPC report, it seems, will continue to simmer, but, to me, the most interesting development on the debate this time around has been the Cabinet Secretary’s public admission that the Military will not be paid at the same levels as the Civil Services (parity was the term used). Some years ago, when it was suggested that India was probably the only democracy in the world that paid less to its military than the civil services, there were many denials, even in the military. The tragedy of the Indian Armed Forces has been that they seem to pick up these very nay-sayers to project their pay proposals to the government/ CPCs. Little wonder then, that military has a relative reduction in pay/ status with every CPC.
The bureaucracy of course had found a simple, ingenuous way of showing that the armed forces were paid more. Unilaterally declare equivalence between the military and the civil services personnel by issuing a memo elevating the junior civil service guy two steps above his logical military counterpart and ergo, the claim that level for level, the military is paid higher seems right. This was the argument followed so far, but when the debate turned nasty this time, the Cabinet Secretary has let the cat out of the bag.
While completely disagreeing with the logic of the Cabinet Secretary, I must appreciate this rare honesty (I think for the first time on the subject) on the part of the bureaucracy. Shorn of the niceties, he has merely reiterated the factual position that the armed forces in India will continue to be discriminated against, in matters of pay and allowances. I hope the armed forces take this candidness forward and highlight it in their advertisements asking youngsters to don uniform. As important, allow those who are not happy with their situation, to leave when they choose. Thereafter, it becomes an informed choice by those joining and they would have little reason to complain.
But the disconcerting development in the lead up to this admission was that a straightforward case of discriminatory (or non-discriminatory) pay-determination was being made out as some civil-military confrontation by some in the media and also bloggers who have little or no idea of compensation packages available either to the civilians or the military personnel, or of military service conditions for that matter. They also seem to have forgotten that the debate was about central pay scales and not about the military or its personnel.
If only the media had sought out the logic applied for pay determination, by the CPC or the Committee of Secretaries, this debate would have been more meaningful and the CabSec’s admission would have been self-evident. Actually you don’t need a debate; a simple graphical presentation will make it obvious even to the densest observer that the career/ pension earnings of the average military officer in India are much less that that of the average Gp A civil service officer.
We are not the only country in the world with civil and military services. A comparison with any other democratic country could be revealing. I think the very fact that it was blown up into this confrontation revealed that the GOI had no defence for what the CPC and the Committee of Secretaries did. The injection of civil-military relations into the discussion was a crude attempt to side-track the core issue. The Service Headquarters also do not appear to have highlighted the contradiction between what the CPC said (we have given parity), dishonest though it was, and what the CabSec admitted (parity is difficult) later.
An interesting sidelight was also an attempt to pitch the officers of the Central Police Organisations against the Armed Forces and some of the poor guys (who are victims of even worse discrimination) bought the bait; hook, line and sinker. The irony that the CPOs’ delegation which went to apprise the political class of their problems did not have even a single member from the CPOs seems to have been lost on the media. How on earth can the lot of the CPOs improve, if their problems become their very spokesmen?
I also found the application of CTC concept for the military amusing. Extending the logic, is the individual also expected to do a CTH/F (Cost to himself/herself/family) analysis when faced with a life-threatening situation? In any case, it is good to remember that for the Tommy on ground, CTC is like the defence budget to Sad Sack, the 60s cartoon character. The bigger the budget, the bigger the gun he gets to clean. Those not familiar with the subject will do well to remember that.
Colin Wilson, in his classic, ‘A criminal History of Mankind’, comments thus about the Roman rule in Britain. The incompetent resident procurator imposed impossible demands on the locals. Queen Boudica, who protested was stripped and flogged and her daughters raped, by order. She in turn, rallied the locals in protest and ransacked the Roman garrison. A bout of murderous attacks and counterattacks followed. After days of fighting, massacre and destruction, including the burning down of London, Boudica and her daughters committed suicide to avoid capture. The scale of Roman retribution shocked even Nero, the emperor, who replaced the Governor and military commander. Pax Romana was reestablished and the unbearable demands withdrawn.
“It is not clear”, he writes, “what became of Catus Decianus, the man who caused the whole thing by ordering the floggings and rapes; no doubt he continued to rise in the Roman Civil Service” ( unaffected by all that transpired around him)
I cannot find a closer analogy than this, to the imbroglio visited on the nation and the armed forces in particular, by the VI CPC and the Committee of Secretaries, in recent times. The pay anomaly may or may not be resolved, but it has done great harm to inter- departmental cooperation, and what is certain is that those responsible for the entire sorry episode will continue to inflict their incompetence on the country and retire (if at all) with a comfortable pension.
This is not a new thing.It is happening since Independance.The seeds were sewn by Jawahar Lall Nehru and contiued by bureocracy till scpc is announced.You can not beat a cat by locking it up in closed room.It will fight back.Now that the armed forces faught their the enemy with in,they will in future do much more to make the government to listen to them properly.They are not only wounded by the enemy with in ,they also tasted the enemy’s blood while fighting.The figthing is mostly successful.The days are not far off before,the bureocracy is shown its place in MOD.Lets wait and watch.
Sirjee, What an ENCELLENT PIECE of writing. Truly said, the aftermath of V CPC (1.1.96) and the recent VI CPC (1.1.06) recommendations laid ground for the Armed Forces to take stock, think and get ready to act (cautiously). The Chiefs have shown the way. Pleasantly surprised with appointment of CoS committees, GoM Committee, again CoS committee and final announcement on OROP. A no mean(biggest)achievement is – agreeing for Separate PC for Armed Forces (shall be constituted when needed in future). A very big ray of Hope. Thanks.
G Venkatanarayana
Bee Cee Sir,
Not withstanding the bias towards armed forces, this is the most honest and ‘near to the truth’ article written on this goddamned blog.
cheers to prags, for the courage to publish this. but then friendships override our natural instincts.
it was surprising to read a true and pro armed forces article on this blog.It is unfortunate that despite working the most and round the clock, some people feel that armed forces should be treated lower than people who are working much lesser and producing much lesser.Perhaps time has come that armed forces ask for their due more strongly and refuse for the works which are in the ambit of self proclaimed upper class ias and ips such as flood relief,disaster management and counterinsurgency.if they are better and need to be paid more then they should do their own work as well
Dear Prag,
Thanks so much for putting this post on your blog. It is a welcome surprise.
IMHO the bulk of the armed force bloggers have given up on their grievances regarding 6CPC being addressed with any sincerity. So now we go back to our daily toil till eventual retirement with an occasional outburst on an error of judgment made by us at an impressionable age, long- long ago.
Some AF bloggers already await the next (separate) Pat Commission- Dream On!
What piece says is excellent and simple articulation of the gross fact that the sick Indian society lead by the netas and the baboos and the policewalas and cheered by the sold out media has decided to commit harakari by now coming in open and proclaim that yes!! ‘ we treat our protectors shabbily and will continue to do that and these silly men just beause they have put on the uniform will continue to keep getting themselves killed and maimed for us. How foolish the Indian society can be. This attitude will deny them the freedom that they enjoy today and will make them slaves ; a state which they so richly deserve . This sick society simply does not deserve AF like this and they are in process of destroying it; what sickness of mind is this that you cut the branch on which you sit; can such a man survive. What ever we say things will not improve. Indian people have got freedom so cheap and they will lose it. The animosity and ill will and chicanery towards the forces is the genetich reaction of a race used to constant periodic rape plunder and ‘cultural mixing ‘ of which india is so proud. It is the army which is preventing the forced gene mixing of this ever ‘absorbing’ society and hence the not so clever campaign of hostiltry toward the forces . I pity this society and the progeny which will follow. Can someone think of any other reason for this maddening attitude and the purile belief that these suckers in olive green will bear all insults with a grin and a still salute. And lastly; bravo Brother Pragmatic. Etu???? Is it a real change of heart to recognise the truth or is it another tactical move of the ias
Very touching detail .Please get it printed and distributed to every citizen of the country. Post it with all TV channels.Serving and retired Fauzis must read and get ready for final face off with Babus and Notorious Netas.
An excellent piece of article by BeeCee. In fact kudos to Pragmatic for publishing the same without any apprehensions and in the right earnest. The country will surely taste the consequences of downgrading the defence forces when the same downgraded defence forces taken on China in not very far future. May be most of the serving lot would have retired by then and specially the ones who have created this ruckus. Anyway, we have a history of not learning from history.
Dear readers, The points put up by BeeCee are only half truth. The pay of Army personnel even in British days was less than civil pay. The army officers when posted to civil posts were given civil pay which was generally higher. The status was not better than what is today. In UK today there are more than 10 civil officers drawing more pay then Chief. Over the years the army officers have cornored huge financial benefits in terms of perks which they donot want to surrender. Army/AF/Navy specially officers today have double the benefits than civil. As a lot they are much richer despite having lower skill set at entry point and at retirement, speaking on average basis. While perks like resevation in admission and farm houses/flats are based on total size of org only officers corner them, leaving little for men. To many it may look absurd, as all truths look in this untruthful world.
I am surprised that you have not been bribed or threatened by these guys & am sure someone will approach with a invitation to a good … .It is surprising to see a such a good article & that also in favour of the AF . Thanks sir I think we the gullible do require some honest support Otherwise in this world of Aya & aaloo it is difficult to survive !!
@dev. I wonder what the sources of some of the comments are. Is the author sure if his own facts? I wonder.
Well it’s good that the readers have at last realised that my friend Pragmatic is actually really into ‘national interest’.
Let’s rise above all this and grant freedom of expression its due
Col Venkatesh, where are you Sir
Another relevant issue is the effect of the steep pyramidal ranks structure which is an organisational compulsion for the armed forces. Almost 80% of the armed forces retire at the rank of Lt Col, while 100% of those in civil service become a JS, equivalent to a Maj Gen (three ranks higher). An army officer reaches the rank of Maj Gen at almost 30 years of service, while their counterparts become JS at 20. In effect, if the average pay of an IAS vis a vis armed forces officer is considered, the difference over the entire service works out to over Rs 2 Cr. A very insightful piece on the facets of comparision between civil services and armed forces can be found here .
@ dev – the C-in-C was the second in the order of precedence, next only to the Viceroy, pre-independence. In fact, the Teen Murti Bhawan, which subsequently became the PMs residence and is now a memorial to the first prime minister, was the official residence of the C-in-C.
As for perks and fringe benefits are concerned – if the overall compensation package vis a vis the service conditions in the armed forces were really all that attractive, they wouldn’t have to spend money on advertising to attract volunteers. I have not seen any ads saying ‘Join the IAS / IPS / Railways / Forest Services / Revenue Services / Customs etc etc ‘. Wonder why?
There is an old saying ‘if you throw peanuts, you will get monkeys’. Maybe the government feels that if monkeys are good enough, considering how they trounced Ravan’s army.
I wonder what farm houses / flats are being talked about? I hope you are not getting mislead by the nomenclature of the posh ’sainik farms’ of Delhi – I wonder if any of the owners have ever been remotely connected with the armed forces? And the flats – AWHO makes flats for officers as well as JCOs / OR, which are well subscribed to. Incidentally, civil servants probably don’t need such trifles – take a stroll across sector 15A of NOIDA, which is inhabited mainly by retired bureaucrats, and then go over to Arun Vihar, which are the enviable flats you mention.
Apparently the table referred to in the article is missing, but can be seen in the print issue of the magazine, and is extremely illustrative.
“A criminal History of Mankind”, the same telecast every 5-6 years. A great post by Beecee with some facts, but the agony still remains as most of them in armed forces are clueless as to what is to be done about it; i guess just sit on the couch and watch it and don’t forget the popcorns.
Of course they can’t do what Queen Boudica did after being stripped and flogged. So rallying the locals in protest and ransacking is not an option. What’s the solution then??????????
Thanks pragmatic for still keeping the issue alive and posting this piece.
@Swordarm
A small clarification
Civil officers of the IAS reach the Senior Adm Grade with Rs 10,000 as GP (equivalent to the pay of a Maj Gen) in 16 years. They are further empanelled as Joint Secys to Govt of India in appx 20 yrs. IPS offrs achieve GP of 10,000 in 18 years.
However contrary to popular perception, the C-in-C was never No 2 on the pre-independence WoP. He was on No 9, or rather 9A. Today the Chiefs are on No 12. Not a great fall for a democracy. The imbalance in today’s WoP is only on Article 26 which equates a Maj Gen with a JS to GoI. Rest is acceptable.
the article is good, fine. but now what? is there any organized or unorganized effort going on to bring this issue to the forefront? can we help in some way?
major navdeep, u mentioned a while ago about delinking salary with rank and linking salary with number of years put in by armed forces officers and men! that seemed like a fine and fair proposal! any news of that, which u wud like to share with us!!
pls post link to said admission by cabinet secretary!
@Whocares
Sir, I already shared it with ‘you’ on 01 April 09 (Hence was taken as a joke by some
)
http://www.indianmilitary.info/2009/04/only-practical-way-out-for-parity-in.html
@dev
“As a lot they are much richer despite having lower skill set at entry point and at retirement, speaking on average basis.”
Would greatly appreciate if @dev could in the interest of clarity, explain his/her assertion “despite having lower skill set at entry point and at retirement, speaking on average basis”.
At entry point would logically mean when due for the first /start salary.
Thanks
Sathye
Is it really all a question of money? what worries me is the state of our AF’s. Yes beter remuneration will help. But what we need is an audit, independant and fast. Lets not wait till it is too late. In that sense I have always found Prags outlook, well, pragmatic.
In a globalized community , where the national borders can be crossed in seconds by email , GPS and 3 G mobile, armed forces all over the world (including that of india) are having difficulities in accepting the fact they are becoming redundant with each passing day.
In indian context, their complete case for higher perks and pay hings on just one argument that we are special and give us more then civil services. The informed people in the govt. and elsewhere know very well the fallacy of this arguments as the skill set required for a modern nation to progress are vastly different than that was at the time of fedual societes, when the armed forces (and skill set required for it) were given higher place in the society. We are not living in medival ages , but in 21st century, where war has ceased to be an instrument of policy and national borders are crumbling before the winds of e commerce and communication technologies and spread of modern education across the globe.
The younger generation is sick of war ( which it self is a barbaric act, and which create a hero out of a cold blodded murderer in the name of nationalism) and burden of history in the form of nation states. this is reflected in their career choices also. higher perks and salaries will not make armed forces an attractive career, rather the concept of service in armed froces as a 35 years long career need to be questioned afresh and deliberated upon as 21 century societies don’t need standing armed froces as every modern citizen don’t need to carry a weapon with him all the time, in utter contrast with the past when carrying a sword was considered a matter of pride.
“I also found the application of CTC concept for the military amusing. …”
BeeCee appear to be oblivious of the fact that every profession apart from armed forces carry its inhearent risks- a sweeper cleaning a manhole – A labourer constructing a multistoried building. A police man fighting with angry protestors, a fire brigade personnel entering a building engulfed in fire and smoke, an engineer executing a work has risk of getting caught in accident, doctor working in hospital has always risk of exposed to infactions. War happen only a few and far in between. last war about fourty years ago, while these unsung professional carry out their job day in and day out without any recognition and awards.
@ Global
The last para is really amusing & somewhat validates what ashok articulated in comment no.6. If we had a system of a compulsory military stint of 2 years for all youth, much of such comments would disappear.
@ Bee Cee Sir,
Actually sir u r lying.
And it is a very bad habit that u have developed. U r non sensical views based on perversion of truth are taken by many as True Gospel.
Here is why ?
Ur entire argument, blog is based on Cab Secy (reported) admission that Mil people are not paid at par or that there is no parity.
Actually Sir, he never said anything like this.
In the middle of very bitter campaign, all he said and meant what – that there is no real sense of parity between civil employees and Military.
What u have turned into this is a potful of half lies – put some spice of Roman Legend, mixed some chinese spices and served it up to gullible and not so gullible gentlemen.
Dear Sir – my advice – please stop misleading people – hope u know that it may incite lot of people, who are taking cues from wise people. (this is the third time).
@Maj Navdeep
Freedom of expression is a double edged weapon.No one should misuse it since it will otherwise boomerang.I am careful with mine & i hope every one will be with theirs.
Being an Info Tech professional ,I realize that the blogs are not just outlets for freedom of expression.They try to shape public opinion too.Public too have their own opinions
Frankly the serving AF officers should have their own blog to explain their own viewpoints.Since the rules do not permit it, they have no way of revealing the truth & every one else takes advantage of it.
I am also very suspicious when some one does not want to reveal their identity when it comes to blogs.I wish there was a law against it
@ Global
Are there really other people with your kind of viewpoint in this country too ?
God save this country, if yes!
P.S. Wonder what your ’skill sets’ are !
@ Whocares/ Sandeep
This is probaly what Admiral is talking about
http://gconnect.in/gc/6cpc-matters/pay-parity-for-armed-forces-a-difficult-task-govt.html
@ Global
U are a creature outside ” The Milky Way” (I have said this earlier too !!)
@global, do read up on the 1962 debacle. The arguments being propounded by you were, in a slightly different vein, the common belief of the political class and bureaucracy after independence upto then. Only, the theme at that time was not globalisation and economic interdepence, but the belief in non violence and the role of India as epitome of world peace and brotherhood. It was naively believed that since we strive to live by the values, who would bother to wage war with us. We found out soon enough to our great disadvantage.
If the younger generation is sick of war, will the wars stop? Or do you think the older generation welcomed wars with open arms? Remember the anti-war protests in US during the Vietnam war – weren’t the youth then sick of war. So what happened? Or for that matter, aren’t we all sick of terrorism? Will that stop it? And we are not overly fond of criminals – so do we scrap the police force also? Shouldn’t the modern society also live free of crime besides being free of war?
Living in a country that has disputed borders and other disagreements with three of its neighbours, has fought wars with two of them who are also armed with nuclear weapons can we do without the insurance policy of a strong military? I am sure no one likes paying the premium for their insurance policy, but it is definitely a necessary expenditure.
But, if global can assure us that none of our neighbours will wage war with us, lets just go ahead and disband the armed forces. If he turns out to be wrong, we can always learn Chinese.
Dear Bloggers/Readers,
Let’s face the fact – the politicians favour the IAS/IPS ,for they need them for their dirty work. The Annual budget 2009 has quietly put the hazzard pay of PMFs at par with the Defence.The pay of even a PMF officer is much more than the Defence-eg NE allowence is Rs 500(max) for Def but 12% of basic for PMFs,a PMF man can claim upto two HRAs if posted to NE but you will not get even one unless you know someone in CDA , and so on.
But we have no right to crib,for we are a divided lot – the haves(Gen officers)* and the have-nots (all ranks below Gens) and the bureaucrats know it and exploit it.Its our own senior officers who do not project requirements in the right perspective or accept half decisions for petty/personal favours.You will always hear a Gen officer very vociferous about the demands of the Forces, but only after retirement .If you ask him what did he do when he was in a position to change things(even within his own ambit)and you will get no reply. Why did the Army HQ decided on a policy to throw out LMC jawans (27,000) when a PMF/Police personal can serve upto 60 yrs of age? What was the fault of that JCO who had lost his two fingers in an ammunition accident ,in a peace location, to be asked to proceed home just bacause he had become a LMC performing a legitimate duty ? Once talking to a very senior bureaucrat, I broached the oft repeated topic of the rank parity on retirement in the Central Services.He almost mocked and mentioned that when the Army was given go ahead to promote officers upto the rank of Col, before retirement ,what did we do ? We created a new rank of Col(TS) .If tomorrow the Govt accepts that an officer from the Forces can reach ,on time scale basis, upto the rank of a Joint Secy ie Maj Gen ,will we have a Maj Gen(TS) who will not get his rank pay/perks and probably be travelling in the officers’ bus to office?
Till such time we become one entity and take care of ourselves, don’t expect the world to rush to your rescue. The Forces must learn to relay on its honest and dedicated officers and not the Ketchep Staff Officers(KSO) who work from one ACR to another.
Let us start from within and see how we can improve our lot and then ‘ask for more’.
* it includes most but not all, for we do have some very concerned and fine Gen level officers also.
I quote Bee Cee “but, to me, the most interesting development on the debate this time around has been the Cabinet Secretary’s public admission that the Military will not be paid at the same levels as the Civil Services (parity was the term used).”
I quote the reported observation of cab secy “With the armed forces insisting on a pay hike, the government has said it is “very difficult” to maintain a balance in salaries of government servants doing varied jobs.
“It is a very difficult exercise. Because it is not just a question of ensuring that people get better salaries. It is also a question of parities…. balances,” Cabinet Secretary Mr. K M Chandrasekhar said in an interview.
He was responding to a question on what steps the government was contemplating in view of the armed forces’ demand for pay parity.
Mr. Chandrasekhar said issues become more complicated when people start feeling that they are being discriminated against by the Pay Commission recommendations.
“It is very difficult when people feel that this chap has got more than me…that feeling is there. So, to maintain that kind of balance…. it is very difficult,” he said. ” Unquote.
So how does Bee Cee start with this assumption that mil wil not be paid at par with civil and then involves the entire Roman history into it.
Actually dishonesty has seeped into each bit of thing. No wonder there are stock taking boards of the stock taking boards.
@Global!!!! You are realllly wonderful. What range and depth of thoughts ; sublime and uplifting thoughts ; you almost sound like Chacha Innocent Nehru( Ask the old soldiers what they paid for the fanciful naivety of Chacha Nehru; how they died horrible deaths in snow in canvas shoes and cotton shirts). But you really sound so good. I wish you are right. Then we can disband all the forces and send soldiers home releasing them for their miserable and thankless existence. And I can tell you we all can do some silly MBA course and learn to sell soaps or toothpastes or potato chips or some cola; making living is not that difficult outside. Or we can join the dazed and ‘not knowing what to do’ police and help them fight the friends in the red corridor. There is so much to do for the faujis. We will never starve. And for you why dont you take a walk to the west with your jhola and visit the Talibans whose thinking is so akin to yours; they too do not believe in borders but one uniform world . You have a beautiful mind ; and your mind fascintes me. I am sure the people who live around the Somnath temple which was robbed 12 times shared your pacific mind. With great minds like you we should get ready for the 13th ransacking of the Somnath temple. And the Pakis and the Chinese will love you. Amen!!
@Sandeep
The CabSec chooses words a bit more carefully than bloggers who seem to be rather free with it. Those who can read the nuances will know what is intended. I did not see any report quoting him, “but they already have parity” or something like that.In this case, and to his credit, he just accepted the factual position.
But like the shift from pay scales to civil- mil issues, let us not get side-tracked from ‘equitable pay formulation’ to ‘what the CabSec did or did not say’.
If your point is that military officers are as well(or as badly) paid AIS/other Gp A officers are(which incidentally, is what the post is about) we could compare notes.
Also, the essence was not in Roman history, but Colin Wilson’s comment on it.
@ Sandeep
Thanks for exposing lies in BeeCee’s guest post to the world at large.
The Generals can never err, they are God like! The present Army Chief had written to reduce the Pay of Army Nurses. They changed their Uniform and now wants to remove the Commissioned Rank also. Do they know anything about Military Nursing in other Nations ? They are all out to destroy this force.
Not only the Nation’s, the Army’s meomory is also very short. It has forgotten the sacrifices made by the brave women of Military Nursing Service over the past 121 years. They changed their uniform and made them aliens in Indian Army, made the Government to lower their pay scales, still not satisfied and wants to remove the Commissioned Officer tag also.Excerpts from the Nation Remembers Army Nurses:- “They nursed, they comforted, and they made sure no patient died alone. They selflessly endured countless hours of their patient’s pain, sorrow, screams, blood, mutilation and at times death. And when it was over, they quietly withdraw to the background. They all paid an emotional price for those selfless services to humanity, though not always physically scarred”. Read more http://mnscorps.blogspot.com/
@ global
When all else fails armed conflict is the answer. Your comment that war is no longer an instrument of policy doesnt hold water. All over our country AF’s and PMF’s are deployed to put down unrest and disorder. That is because all ‘else’ has failed and the only instrument left to enforce the ‘policies’ of the babus is armed men. The men in uniform are taking care of the mistakes of others. As an aside, if you ever looked into the eyes of a jawan just about to go into battle within his own country against his own country men, your (and many others) comments would certainly have a shodow of reality around them.
There is a famous proverb in Hindi/Punjabi !
“Apni izzat apne haath mein hoti hain”
Unfortunately, the armed forces have chosen to remain in their barracks and
salute politicians and bureaucrats alike .
This when these two classes of people are those responsible for
the ruin that our nation is today .
Looking around us , i find that for 60 yrs we have achieved nothing as a
nation as far as basics are concerned .
And all that the armed forces have done is to ask to be left alone.
It is not the external enemy which is the bigger threat .
It is “the enemy within” which is responsible for the ruin that we face.
I am not saying that we must have military rule because that wud undermine
the armed forces themselves .
What i mean is that they must exert their power against “the enemy
within”, the bureaucracy and the political class .
Look at the example of the Turkish army , the moment they find
secularism threatened or the govt dithering ,they issue a warning to
parties concerned to shape up .
All in all, the armed forces must stand up !
They are the only respectable and loved institution in this nation.
But that wont happen till we have an army chief who is not looking
to be a Governor/Ambassador.