03-23-2006, 07:44 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Mar 17 2006, 12:24 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Mar 17 2006, 12:24 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>ARMY HEAD COUNT: A MOMENT OF TRUTH?</b> Â --by Col R Hariharan (retd.)
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I did not want to write on the issue earlier as a full-blown debate was fought in the arena eight-second dispensers of wisdom on the TV and the hallowed op-ed pages of national media. When the heat and dust has settled now, I want to caution, perhaps a last hurrah, on the dangers of meddling with a complex working organism like the army. I fear if they treat the issue of headcount in the armed forces like any other issue, it requires no great foresight to say the nation would pay the price for such casualness. We will then have an army fighting with itself, than the enemy. All those who have served in the army would agree to this. Not because army is the ideal institution where no wrong is ever committed in the name of caste or creed but because it is not accepted part of the culture, unlike most of the other limbs of the government. But if the representatives of the people still want to go ahead with it let them have the courage of conviction and follow the due process of law. Amend the constitution; create reservations for all communities in the armed forces; have promotions made on the basis of caste and religion.
And thank God, I have retired from the army well before all this happens!
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I don't get this though. if indian government wanted to know how many muslims serve in indian army why can't they just get break down of army based on everyone's cast/religion rather than singleing out muslims? why not to say "give us the break down of army on the basis of age,state of origin, language,.... and oh ya, religion too" that would have not raised any alarms.
<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->.............
I did not want to write on the issue earlier as a full-blown debate was fought in the arena eight-second dispensers of wisdom on the TV and the hallowed op-ed pages of national media. When the heat and dust has settled now, I want to caution, perhaps a last hurrah, on the dangers of meddling with a complex working organism like the army. I fear if they treat the issue of headcount in the armed forces like any other issue, it requires no great foresight to say the nation would pay the price for such casualness. We will then have an army fighting with itself, than the enemy. All those who have served in the army would agree to this. Not because army is the ideal institution where no wrong is ever committed in the name of caste or creed but because it is not accepted part of the culture, unlike most of the other limbs of the government. But if the representatives of the people still want to go ahead with it let them have the courage of conviction and follow the due process of law. Amend the constitution; create reservations for all communities in the armed forces; have promotions made on the basis of caste and religion.
And thank God, I have retired from the army well before all this happens!
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[right][snapback]48640[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't get this though. if indian government wanted to know how many muslims serve in indian army why can't they just get break down of army based on everyone's cast/religion rather than singleing out muslims? why not to say "give us the break down of army on the basis of age,state of origin, language,.... and oh ya, religion too" that would have not raised any alarms.