Agnipath: Veterans on Warpath, Need to Exercise Restraint

Veterans must have faith in the elected representatives, civilian
leadership and the services top brass. They have been entrusted with the task of ensuring defence of the country and are quite competent to carry out the said assignment. It is not for the veterans to meddle in the affairs of the state. For the nation’s sake, do not add fuel to the fire!

Major General Mrinal Suman

#Agnipath_scheme was announced by the government on 14th June 2022. Opposition to the scheme was always expected from those quarters that are inimical to reforms and whose sole agenda is to oppose and impede progress. However, what has come as a surprise is the reaction by some of the veterans. Many have used unduly harsh (and even crass) language to express their disapproval of the scheme.

Veterans’ opposition to the scheme lacks judicious, rational and insightful reasoning. It is apparently based on some outlandishly preposterous misconceptions.

It is alleged that Agnipath is a slapdash scheme introduced without due application of mind. The above statement is a fallacy. The scheme owes its origin to the Kargil Review Committee that had recommended reduction in the colour service of soldiers to improve the age profile of the troops. Various options have been under consideration since then.

There have been numerous brain-storming sessions and seminars. During the last three years, several foreign models were examined. Once the broad contours of Agnipath scheme got crystallised, expert committees were constituted at different levels to fine- tune all the provisions. Issues raised by various constituents of the armed forces were duly addressed.

The final document has been unequivocally accepted by the services – not only by the top brass but at other echelons as well. Once finalised by the Defence Ministry, the scheme was submitted to the Union Cabinet (the highest decision making body in the country) for final approval. Thus, the scheme has been thoroughly thought through and evolved after consultations with all the knowledgeable stakeholders. It is not a hurried reform.

Some veterans appear to be convinced that the current crop of decision makers (the elected government, security experts, bureaucracy and the top brass of the services) are nit-wits. They know nothing about the ethos of the services and are degrading its fighting spirit. It is conveniently forgotten that the ruling dispensation consists of the best brains in the country, both in Civil and Military fields. They have risen to their current position of eminence through sheer competence.

Many veterans, who hung their uniforms decades earlier, believe that they are far more intelligent than the serving decision makers, their fossilized mindset and rusted knowledge notwithstanding. Some ‘well-known self-proclaimed know-all’ veterans have gone to the extent of stating that the government should have consulted them before finalising the scheme.

There can be nothing more preposterous than such a suggestion. For, the veterans have no access to the latest inputs about the challenges faced by the country; they know nothing about the threat analysis, geo-political compulsions and financial constraints; and they are also not privy to the intelligence appreciations. Yet, they have the audacity to fault the current dispensation, just because they wore uniform once upon a time.

Another set of veterans openly accuse the top brass of the services of lacking spine to be able to stand up to the government and thus easily succumbing to pressure. It is a most uncharitable allegation. The entire top brass of the services has backed the scheme. In addition to the Chiefs, we have witnessed PSOs addressing press conferences to allay all misconceptions and apprehensions.

Even the Army Commanders have endorsed the scheme publically. To say that all of them lacked courage to question the scheme is rather farfetched. More importantly, the services are never coerced to accept any policy change that impacts their fighting potential.

Most ludicrously, some veterans have stooped to abysmally low depths. They allege that a coterie consisting of NSA and the bureaucrats have conspired to degrade the fighting potential of the services to settle scores. Can there be a more eccentric presumption? Are they enemies of the state who want to weaken the armed forces of the country? Some veterans tend to believe that they are the sole repository of national security interests and all others are lesser Indians. Such an attitude blinkers their thinking.

Agreed that some veterans may be finding the Agnipath scheme to be unsound. Fair enough. They have a right to their opinion. However, if they have any constructive suggestions to offer, they should write a private letter to the Chiefs or the Defence Minister or the Prime Minister. But, why publish articles and write open letters?

Critical articles by veterans are ruling the social media and are being quoted extensively to spread disaffection and disinformation amongst the public. Do the veterans want to be a party to the social unrest that is being unleashed by the elements inimical to our national interests by fanning a sense of insecurity amongst the youth? Is that the veterans’ sense of loyalty to the country and commitment to its well-being?

It is time all veterans exercise restraint. Enough damage has already been done by some inflammatory articles. Veterans must have faith in the elected representatives, civilian
leadership and the services top brass. They have been entrusted with the task of ensuring defence of the country and are quite competent to carry out the said assignment. It is not for the veterans to meddle in the affairs of the state. For the nation’s sake, do not add fuel to the fire.

#Agnipath #Agniveer #Army #Veterans #PMOIndia #NSA