SCPC: Unfair Critism of Defence Chiefs

Dear Members of the Press,

1. The three Defence Chiefs have rightly acted to the dictates of their conscience by bringing to the Notice of the Government the serious anomalies in the 6th Pay Commission award approved by the Cabinet and informing that till such time these anomalies are removed, the award is not implementable. But the Government has displaced utter lack of vision and concern of issue of National Importance by unfairly criticising this action of the Chiefs. There is a need to inform the people of India and the Government that the Defence Chiefs owe a responsibility to their men to protect their genuine rights and interests. Chiefs are expected to motivate their men and lead them to War against external as well as internal threats. If they remain mere puppets in the hands of the Government, what respect will they command from their subordinates? How can they then provide effective leadership in a crisis situation? The present messy situation has been brought gradually by successive Governments and the present Government has not read the signals of unrest in minds of Indian Armed Forces which is one of best in the world (as brought out by Admiral Arun Parkash very correctly on NDTV prime show on 28 Sep 2008).

2. It is amply clear that the Chiefs have acted in National interest for such an issue has a direct bearing on the morale and the fighting spirit of the Armed Forces. All previous requests of the Chiefs to give Justice to the Defence Services fell on deaf ears. Government by its stubbornness not to accede to the genuine demands of the Defence Services has ensured that despondency sets in the Armed Forces.

3. Setting up of three member committee consisting of the RM, FM and the Minister of external affairs is a delay tactic since these very Hon’ble Ministers have already been associated in the decision making in this case and once again they have not included any member from the Armed Forces. It is also understood that the Govt will be investigating as to why the Naval Chief sent a signal to all his lower formation on 27 Sep 2008 regarding 6th Pay Commission. It is felt that the investigation needs to be done not against the Naval Chief but to find out the circumstances leading to the situation. Why are the Defence Forces getting step motherly treatment? What wrong have they committed? One really wonders!

4. We the Veterans of Defence Forces of India unanimously condemn this action of the Government and totally support the stand taken by the Service Chiefs. We appeal to the Government that the four demands projected by the Chiefs and "One Rank One Pension" of the veterans be accepted by the Government.

5. May I request you to cover this in your news paper and TV Channels.

With Kind Regards,
Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement