Veterans express discontent with political system

Date: Saturday, 16 May, 2009, 6:34 PM
Dear All,
For information.
This report was released by the United News of India on May 14. The same has been translated into Hindi and released by UNIVarta also.
Vijay Oberoi
(Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, Former VCOAS)

Veterans express discontent with political system
Bhopal | Wednesday, May 13 2009 IST
Even as the nation awaits with bated breath the outcome of the 15th general elections, veterans have struck a strident note of discontent with regard to the present political system and the leadership's non-comprehension of the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.

"Perhaps a presidential system will suit us better. It need not be exactly like that of the United States, but we can evolve our own system," former Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM told UNI.

The veteran, who is also President of the War Wounded Foundation, pointed out that the greatest benefit of a presidential system would be that the elected president would be able to choose the best brains in the country to assist him in governance while elected representatives would still be there.

"We have a large number of illiterate people who do not understand the nuances of elections. We are an emotional people, easily swayed by cosmetics and pay little attention to substance. We are a federal country, but have not given adequate autonomy to the states," Lt Gen Oberoi felt.

The ex-director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies alleged that the political leadership neither understood nor made any effort to comprehend the requirements of the military.

"At present, there is no formalised system of having the military in the policy formulation loop. Unless this comes about we will continue to treat security with indifference and the military would continue to get marginalised. The effect on the security of the nation would be catastrophic," Lt Gen Oberoi warned.
-- (UNI) --
Veterans express discontent with political system
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