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| Azad's reflections on Army chief not in good taste | | Unveiling Hari Singh's Statue | |
RUSTAM
JAMMU, Apr 2: The City of Temple, Jammu, yesterday witnessed a great event, notwithstanding the fact that the Congress party hijacked the whole show or converted the otherwise memorable event into a Congress show. The case in point is the unveiling of Maharaja Hari Singh's statue and dedication of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji Park to public. The statue was unveiled and the park was dedicated to public both by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh - a function in which the NC, the PDP, the BJP and the Panthers Party leaders were conspicuous by their absence. It would have been appropriate had the organizers of the two events ensured the participation of all. After all, Maharaja Hari Singh, a great visionary, a great social reformer, a democrat of democrats and the one who in October 1947 linked the fate of his state with India, belongs to all. In any case, April 1, 2012 would be remembered as a great day because it was after so many decades the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh was recognized.
However, some of the comments made by Azad - apart from the controversial manner in which the whole function was organized - were not in good taste. I am not saying that he said something against Maharaja Hari Singh. He did not say anything against him. Rather, he took to task those who dismiss the Maharaja as a dictator and hailed him and recognized his contribution to the state and the nation. I am referring to his unwarranted remarks against Chief of Army Staff General V K Singh, a great soldier. He termed as "unfortunate" the statements the General has made in the recent past and mocked at him saying that his statements are nothing but manifestations of his frustration. He said that the "Army chief is doing wrong things". He made these unwarranted observations in response to a question put by some media persons and the question related to the letter the Army chief wrote to the Prime Minister on March 12 alleging corruption in the defence deals.
The observations made by Azad left none in any doubt that he shared the views of those who have done all that they could to tarnish the image of the Army chief and defend the indefensible or defend those who are responsible for the lack of defence preparedness. What was the crime that the General commit which made Azad to use such strong words? His only crime was that he had simply complained about lack of ammunition and obsolescent equipment. It is the General who made the nation aware of the fact that the country's defence preparedness to meet "external threats is abysmal". He simply discharged his duty as a General and as a patriot.
Azad should have supported the Army chief for the service he did to the nation by pinpointing the weaknesses in the defence preparedness, as also by bringing to the notice of the Prime Minister corrupt practices which have hampered the country's defense preparedness. Noted commentator Swapan Dasgupta has hit the nail on the head saying" "certainly, emerging tit bits of information about front companies claiming to be what they are not, supplies routed through bodies specializing in escort services, and compromised diplomats and babus serve to confirm the impression that Gen Singh did the nation a great service by making the charges public". |
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