DELHI PARALYZED

DELHI PARALYZED

The Armed forces and the MEA battled out the Chinese Incursion recently, which lead the Chinese to withdrew. But the common man of Delhi faced the heat of Chinese from 19 to 21 May. The 3 days Chinese Premier’s Incursion into Delhi.  Delhi was ransacked by his visit. The untimely closure of SP Marg, the main artery which connects North and South Delhi, created massive problems to the people of Delhi.

When commuters started moving to office on a Monday morning, they saw the roads closed, which lead to huge traffic jams all along Delhi. The Police has diverted the traffic through already congested Delhi roads due to Delhi Metro construction, caused Delhi to paralyse. People could not reach their places of duty on time, at places the jam increased the commutation time by about 2 hours. All roads were clogged due to untimely increase of traffic. Ambulances could be seen struck up in the jam; I only hope the patients in the ambulances are safe. Questions that comes to my mind is, was it a failure on our part to manage things? Or was it over ensuring a reason for this? If a patient dies in ambulance due to jam who would be responsible, is it the Chinese PM?

Well, There is always a learning because Delhi will always be prone to such VVIP movements, so a composite fool proof system should be made with out causing inconvenience to our own populace inorder to appease some one else. Certain steps which could have been taken up my the Law Enforcement Agencies:

 Location of stay: Instead of placing such VVIPs in the heart of the City, he could be placed towards onside, so that the effect is localised. If such facility does not exist why not create one.

Why Not a Stay in the Rashtrapathi Bhawan. A 350 room    building meant for the stay of our President, cant it house a    VVIP. The VVIP could be heli picked and dropped so that there would be no requirement for traffic diversion and blocking of roads.

Dissemination of information.  The law enforcement agencies have not done adequately in informing the people about the closure of various roads and diversions. This information dissemination system should improve.

Adequate alternate arrangements.         Due to large strength of Police on VVIP duties, hardly any policemen could be seen controlling the traffic. We could           understand the reason as it is due to the limited strength available. Hence measures should have been taken by utilizing the services of           NSS Volunteers, Scouts and Guides for management of traffic.

Lastly I would like to appreciate the efforts of the law Enforcement agencies for an Incident free conduct of the Chinese premiers Visit, even though some hardships were borne by the populace of Delhi. My only suggestion is implementation of some of the above things would bring necessary solace to the people of Delhi against the ever increasing VVIP movements.

Indian Army in Strong Hands

Indian Army in Strong Hands

Indians would welcome that a potential ugly spat with China had been averted after China pulled back its troops who had intruded across the LAC into Indian Territory in Ladakh. The intrusion tested Indian nerves for 20 days. The credit of handling the issue effectively without shedding a drop of blood goes to many but most importantly the man who holds the reins of the 1.3 Million Strong Army, General Bikram Singh the Chief of Indian Army Staff. He ensured the maintenance of pressure on China and suggested to the Government of limited action to cut off the Chinese post from rear. That did the trick and the Chinese were forced to back off.

Ever since the General took the reins of the Army, he had sent strong message to our nation’s opponents that “Nonsense would not be tolerated”. While going through a series of incidents during the past year one could easily get a feel of that. When the beheading issue took centre stage, media reported that “Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh announced that the army would retaliate at a date and time of its choosing for the beheading of the Indian soldier at the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani troops. He also termed the attack as “unpardonable” and in violation of the ethics of soldiering. Singh made it clear that he had instructed the local army commanders to retaliate if provoked and that the Pakistani ‘operations’ leading to the beheading of the Jawan would be met with a ‘tactical’ response.” This clearly states that he has given latitude and space to junior commanders to operate offensively. Later in a Conclave General lashed Pakistan on its double-standards, saying that India can't give up the strategically important Siachen. He also brought out the way Pakistan is supporting non state actors in terror against India.

The strong stature of the General was once again seen in his stance on AFSPA in the Kashmir valley. He categorically stated that when Armed forces are operating in the hinterland, certain safeguards were required for them to operate with ease. This argument was accepted by the Government.

With what ever information I got through my friends in Army, Singh has been doing a lot to the armed force, be it improvement in infrastructure, modernisation or Welfare schemes for the serving and retired. I am surprised that he was the same person whose name was maligned in the succession issue last year where he has come out clean, had he been victimized then it would have a great loss for the whole nation but as is said God is always with the truthful and deserving, and he surely deserved.

Very few Chiefs have had such a strong personality to put up their point of view with clarity to the Government and dig in their heels. Such Generals are rare and they deserve our whole hearted salute and support.

Jai Hind

One Sector One Force

One Sector One Force

1.       The recent Chinese incursion across the LAC is a matter which has been analysed by defence analysts and strategists. Many questions were thrown around were, How have they come in? Were our armed forces at the vigil? Who is responsible? When did we come to know? What was the ‘quid pro quo’? All genuine questions emerging from the need to unravel the incident and its complexities

2.       This is not the first time Chinese intruded into India, it has happened earlier also. The vast Chinese border is guarded by the ITBP, a police force under the MHA. ITBP battalions comprise 6-8 companies with over 100 constables in each company. These companies are located close to the LAC with their Head Quarters invariably well behind, sometimes hundreds of Km away. The vast distances in the chain of command at times create a command and control problems.

3.       Coming to the area in Daulat Beg Oldie or what is called SSN. The ITBP post of one of the two Battallions in that sector is at Burstse or Bush Area which was the closest to Raki Nala. The Chinese intrusion took place close to the Raki nala area. What was shocking was that ITBP came to know of the incursion after they had pitched up the tents ( I believe  helicopter reconnaissance sortie first saw the tents) . This is not a satisfactory response by a professional force. But what lead to it? Is it lack of command and control elements in close vicinity to guide and instruct? MHA which is responsible for the ITBP has not come out with any statement and pointed towards the MoD for answers on intrusion. This puts a question on who is officially responsible, is it the MoD or the MHA.

4.       In 2001 the Kargil Review Committe had, inter alia recommended that all unsettled borders should be under the MoD (Army) control. This is being followed in case of LOC in J&K where the BSF is under command Army and also in NE where the Assam Rifles is operationally under the command the Army. However, some disputed border segments with China are still under operational command of ITBP under the MHA. Why cant there be a unity of command and ITBP placed under command the Army? Is it the strong MHA lobby which is resisting the case? One should note that when ever multiple organisations handle a same issue, there is a possibility of overall ineffectiveness. One feels “One sector one Force”, should be the norm to ensure proper coordination and effective control.

5.       A special defence and security committee headed by Naresh Chandra which submitted its recommendations last year recommended the same. It emphasised that multiple organisations handling the same situation might not give the desired results. Let’s hope that the CCS meeting which is tentatively scheduled in August/September will take the right decision in this regard.