War Veterans Caution Against Politicization of Army, Term Surgical Strikes As A `Routine’ Action Hyped By Modi Govt...
SPOKESMAN NEWS SERVICE: CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 7: The September 2016 'Surgical Strikes' were unnecessarily hyped by the Centre to garner political mileage, endangering India’s future defence cross-border responses to inflict enemy damage, according to several war veterans. Describing the retributive actions across the LoC as 'business as usual' for the Forces, decorated war veterans on Friday, during a panel discussion on the first day of MLF 2018, flayed the central government for politicisation of the Army's operational successes to further their political ends.
During the discussion on 'Role of Cross-Border Operations and Surgical Strikes', noted defence commentator Colonel (Retd.) Ajai Shukla cautioned against the recent trend to colour military achievements with political motives. He also underlined the need to maintain operational decency and sanctity of the operations undertaken by the defence forces.
The excessive publicity of the September 2016 strikes, which had in fact been a reactionary strike conducted after the Pathankot and Uri attacks on the Indian Army, had set a dangerous benchmark for the Indian political dispensation, which they would find difficult to maintain in the eventuality of future terror attacks.
Renowned authors Mrinal Pande & Ashok Chakradhar in the Session of Hindi Poetry
Success has its burden, Colonel Shukla said, adding that Pakistan had in fact been emboldened by the strikes as they knew now that the Indian government would be always be under immense pressure to strike across the border after each terror attack. Taking part in the discussion, which was attended by Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore and former COAS VP Malik amongst a battery of former Generals and Army Commanders, former Northern Command Army Commander LT. GEN.
D S Hooda PVSM said it was natural to have initial euphoria about the success but the constant maintenance of hype around the military operations was unwarranted. Responding to a question from the audience, General Hooda said in hindsight, it would have been better had we done it secretly. The aim of any such offensive had to be not only tactical but strategic too, which substantially hampers enemy morale, he said, adding that he could not say with certainty if India had actually achieved that objective in full measure.
Earlier, Colonel Shukla, in response to a question, said it was only wishful to assume that the strikes would have any deterrent effect on Pakistan or push it to alter its terror policy against India. Before September 2016, the Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir had suffered significant losses and this had led to a confluence of thought between the political class and the defence establishment, Colonel Shukla said, adding that in more than one way, both needed some action across the line of border.
Renowned authors Mrinal Pande & Ashok Chakradhar in the Session of Hindi Poetry
Citing the example of the 1981 Israeli air strikes on Iraqi nuclear sites, which had caused considerable damage, LT. General (Retd.) N S Brar underscored the need to ensure long-term impact on the enemy before undertaking any such operation in the future. Cautioning the political masters against being adventurists, General Brar asked if the political masters would have taken responsibility had there been any causalities in the strikes.
General Cheema also echoed this line of thought and said it was too simplistic to assume that Pakistan would rethink its course of action against India after the much advertised surgical strikes. Meanwhile, the session on Hindi Poetry on the theme of ‘Hindi - the heroic tradition ( Vir Ras) in Hindi poetry’ saw a different flavour of patriotism added to the Festival by eminent TV personality and author Mrinal Pande, who threw light on the genesis of Vir Ras in Hindi Poetry and its importance in evoking a feeling of valour and bravery.
Chairing the session, she introduced the other participants, who included noted Hindi author and poet Ashok Chakradhar, who gave a dazzling illustration of the contribution of Hindi Poetry and literature in ancient, medieval and modern periods. He gave beautiful descriptions on various wars and battles fought, and narrated how the warriors inspired from the Vir Ras Poetry sacrificed their lives to the cause of the motherland. He amused the children present at the session with the recitation of various Hindi couplets ingrained with heroic fervour.
Gurmeet Singh, Chairperson, Department of Hindi at Panjab University, Chandigarh, said. Hindi literature had made a unique contribution to the heroic tradition of India through its own form of Vir Ras. He said many literary works in Hindi were outstanding pieces of art helping to understand the great heroic deeds of the great warriors of India through the ages. He threw light on the contribution of legendary Hindi poets like Ram Chandar Shukal, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Maithili Sharan Gupt etc. in invoking the Vir Ras through their poetic renditions.
Dr. Abhimanyu Singh Arha, Assistant Professor of History in the Department of History & Indian Culture, University of Rajasthan, elaborated upon the contribution of Vir Ras in the Indian Medieval Period. He made a special reference to celebrated poets like Prithvi Raj Raso and Chander Bardai, and also recited numerous couplets of the poets of medieval period soaked with Vir Ras. Earlier, a two-minute silence was observed in the memory of our brave soldiers who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
