Headlines
'Parrikar's comment on army losing respect insensitive'
New Delhi, June 16
Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar's comment that the army has lost respect because there has been
no war in the long time drew flak on Tuesday with the Indian
Ex-Servicemen Movement calling it "insensitive".
"We do not
appreciate the comment, it is insensitive on the part of the minister,"
Col. Anil Kaul (retd.), media adviser of the Indian Ex-Servicemen
Movement, told IANS.
"It needs to be understood the dynamics of
war have changed in the past few decades. We are not having world war,
or Indo-Pak war like wars, but the army is fighting militants day and
night," Col. Kaul said.
"Are you (Parrikar) trying to say we must go on war?" he asked.
Speaking
in Jaipur, Parrikar reportedly said on Sunday (June 13): "In the past,
when there was a letter from a military commanding officer to an IAS
officer or any other authority, it received attention of the highest
order."
"Today, that respect has diminished... One reason is that
for 40-50 years, we have not fought a war. I am not saying we should go
to war. I am saying that because we haven't fought a war, the
importance of the army in our minds has dwindled."
Kaul said
while the Indian forces have been commended across the world for
operations like that rescuing people in Yemen and relief and rescue
operations in Nepal, the defence minister's comment is shocking.
"Army
is there to help all the time, whether it is floods, earthquake or
rescue operations... Is the army not respected?" he asked, adding that
the sentiments of not just the ex-servicemen but also the forces have
been hurt.