Are there any Signs of Danger Ahead for our Nation?

Some published reports indicate a cause for dismay in these words: "And now, a matter of even greater disquiet for the public is that the defence minister should need to convey his concern in writing to the PM, reportedly suggesting that 'things may take a bad turn' if timely corrective action with regard to the anomalies in fixation of salaries and pensions of the armed forces is not initiated".

If the alleged letter from Defence Minister to Prime Minister is even partially true, serious dangers lurk for India. Fortunately, a military coup is not it. This became absolutely clear in June 1975 when Mrs Indira Gandhi imposed National Emergency just to save her seat and power. While civilian officers were jumping for joy, feeling authorised for unrestrained action, defence officers were unanimous in their opinion that the move was a very serious blow to democracy in India. Yet they did not attempt a coup. Some recent comments on TV seem to hint that many journalists believe that a military coup is imminent.

Please rest assured that no coup is imminent or just waiting to happen. It is the total commitment of the armed forces to democratic principles which prevents the execution of a military coup. Some civilians blithely claim that our armed forces are incapable of a coup or running a government. But surely, everyone who reads newspapers knows that whenever any serious trouble arises, the armed forces are quickly ordered to handle the crisis. In most cases they manage to solve the problems involved, but sometimes their advice was ignored, such as prematurely approaching UN during the Kashmir War, resulting in loss of Azad Kashmir to Pakistan or repatriating more than 90.000 prisoners of war from Bangladesh without getting anything substantial in return.

Bangladesh forces did execute a coup and arrested politicians and bureaucrats in need of being reined in. Illegal acquisitions of many of them were confiscated. Fortunately, just like our forces they also knew that no country prospers in the long run under military rule. A civilian government was installed as soon as was feasible. The major cause of Pakistan being referred to as an almost failed State is the unending sequence of military misrule. No impediment prevents Indian forces taking similar action, except an undying commitment to democracy. But in the bargain they have been mercilessly kicked around.

Ever since Independence, the armed forces have seen reductions in their status, service conditions, pay and allowances, and even simple conveniences such as canteen services. Apparently, the latter have recently been taken over by the Ministry of Defence, mainly for the bureaucrats in Delhi. The greatest jealousy is reserved for the low cost liquor available to armed forces personnel. Frankly, they would gladly give up this minor palliative for a chance to spend some quality time with their families in reasonable housing and get food at even double or three times the prices charged to our MPs and MLAs in their canteens.

The Defence Minister is quite correct in expressing his disquiet about the extreme dissatisfaction prevalent in the defence services today. If the phrase, hopefully correctly reported, that 'things may take a bad turn' indicates a fear of an impending attack by one of our neighbours, a coup or mutiny, he sure has cause to worry. Our defence services may not be up to the mark in their morale or commitment to save an uncaring and ungrateful country represented by its politicians and bureaucracy. While a coup is extremely unlikely, mutinies breaking out could well jeopardise the nation.

Very few people realise that over the years the British Raj faced more than eight major mutinies by the Indian forces. We mostly recall only 1857. Some recently studied documents, including a comment by the British PM Clement Attlee, indicate that the British could have continued to lord over us if they were sure of the obedience of the Indian Forces. They would have suppressed even Mahatma Gandhi's amazing non-violent struggle. Three mutinies in 1946, especially the Naval Mutiny in Bombay convinced them that they could no longer hold on here.

If our current government wants to face a mutiny or two, it is surely moving in the right direction with the help of a scheming bureaucracy. Many Veterans had hoped that PM Mr Man Mohan Singh would announce some relief for the defence services and their pensioners from the Red Fort on August 15 this year. Independence Day 2012 speech came and glossed over it by simply saying that a committee had been set up for this. Its recommendations, when received, would be 'considered' by the Government. Despite a complaint by the Chiefs of Staff of lack of representation of the services in this committee of bureaucrats, no corrective announcement has so far appeared. Anger within the services and pensioners must now be almost at the boiling point. Only their self-imposed restrictions, prevent a drastically adverse result. Hopefully, none of our neighbours or others will invade us till we restore the might and morale of our defence forces.

Now we as citizens need to take up our own responsibility. Politics has been used as a ticket for corruption and looting national assets. This has to be fought politically. The raucous complaints that Team Anna or Arvind Kejriwal, etc. have a political agenda only exposes the great fear of the consequences of honest persons coming to power. We must remember that every Indian citizen has the right to join politics. It is not a field reserved only for the main political parties.

Now our responsibility is to ensure that we never elect a corrupt politician of any party. Our votes must also be denied to anyone accused of any serious crime. This ban should include even those politicians who make false accusations about each other to promote their own chances of grabbing power.

Corrective action to reduce corruption or provide relief to the armed forces will automatically follow if the right government is brought into power. Elections to the Lok Sabha must be held by May 2014. But as events show, we could face early elections. We need to be prepared. This preparation includes convincing your family, relatives and friends to choose their representatives wisely.

Please make the next election your personal campaign. It is our own country which is at risk.

The author is an ex soldier who has decided to with hold his identity.

The views expressed and Information provided by the author are his own and left to public to judge and rationalise for themselves.