By – Lt Col SS Sohi, Retd :Govt may remember Martyrs & Kargil Day or not but we the Ex-Servicemen Bodies of Tricity will join up at War Memorial to pay Homage on 26 July at 10:45 am, in dignified & peaceful way. We request our ESM brotheren & families to kindly join up to honour our most neglected martyrs.
People are over busy in Delhi horse trading for the number’s game, without caring for how many number of Soldiers are being killed daily on duty, while fighting militancy- a political problem. Every day 1-2 soldiers are being killed or wounded in J&K, NE and on other borders, with one line media cover. When Aarushi was killed, media covered this news for 50 days with 4-5 hours daily coverage. On the other hand Foreign media blow up the house, when ever their Soldiers are killed on foreign land or borders. They understand the human value and want to value each killing. That way, Govt is compelled to make proper note of it & amend policies immediately to avoid further killings. It is most applicable & needed in India now.
2. None stop regular killings of Soldiers are mainly due to Militancy, suicides & killing each other. Main reasons of deaths are due to, high tensions/ pressure duty, prolonged stress & strains of fighting militants, insecure home front due to poor & corrupt civil admn and poor remunerations by Pay commissions. Soldiers are unskilled workers & being paid the lowest in the world, with no social value. Hardly any one attends their funerals & neglected care for widows. That’s why, there is a great shortage of Officers & jawans. The soldiers from supporting arms are also being pooled to fight militants. There is very limited good quality intake in to the forces, which is still not bothering un professional MOD Babus. They prefer to lower the intake standards, than paying due value & remunerations, so that, we face the worst historical defeat.
3. No body had time to Join Funeral of Field Martial Sam Manekshaw. UK national flag was at half mask, when our Gen Bhagat Victoria Cross died in late 80s. Australian PM also joined funeral of their sergeant recently killed in Afghanistan. Same way American Forces Chief & ambassador came to attend last rites at Chandigarh of their sergeant Uday Singh. UK Govt has announced compensation in crores for their Injured Soldiers. On the other hand our PM announced Kirti Chakra (equal to MVC) gallantry award for IAF officer who died in Afghanistan blast, w/o showing any type of gallantry in peace. His family is given much more, than our soldiers ever dream of. Don’t they read news? to tell our bureaucratic Pay commissions for soldiers welfare.
4. Maoist problem is another failure of Civil admn & wrong Political priorities for developments & use of Funds. A Govt driver in Delhi enjoys 400% time more remunerations, family care & social value, than Soldiers. He also gets over time but soldiers are totally ignored. Such things have brought up highest level of dissatisfaction & injustice to Forces. Then, who will come to strengthen National security. Women in Army for 14 yrs will keep adding further problems only.