MoS Defence Subhash Bhamre was surrounded and subjected to sloganeering, souring the mood in the government a day before Army Day.
New Delhi: A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman skipped the annual Army Day celebrations in the capital on Monday, the mood in the government had been soured by an unusual ruckus and heckling of the junior defence minister by military veterans, ThePrint has learnt.
Modi and Sitharaman were both conspicuous by their absence from the celebrations on 15 January, despite being in New Delhi. It is said that they were busy with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s India visit, something armed forces veterans have openly questioned.
Eyebrows raised
Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January, with the President of India being hosted at the Army chief’s home in the evening. As per tradition, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister as well as other senior functionaries take part in the hour-long ceremony that culminates with an informal tea session.
This year, however, no senior government minister was seen at the event. Both Modi and Sitharaman were said to be busy attending to the Israeli PM and his delegation. The government was represented by junior minister Bhamre, while officials present at the function included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and both the foreign and defence secretaries.
Official records of the Ministry of External Affairs, however, contradicted this explanation for Modi and Sitharaman’s absence. They showed that the agreement-signing ceremony and formal lunch for the Israeli delegation ended by 3 pm, an hour-and-a-half before the Army Day function.
Eyebrows were raised at the function over the absence, with several veterans openly speaking out.
“Unusual definitely. Much speculation on that among retired senior officers,” former Army chief Ved Prakash Malik tweeted.
The PM had skipped the last Navy Day and Air Force Day functions as well, as he was travelling to Gujarat at the time. However, previously, he had regularly attended the events.
The Bhamre incident
On 14 January, Bhamre was chief guest at a Veterans’ Day open house meeting at the Army’s Manekshaw Centre, organised by the Ministry of Defence.
What should have been a cordial event deteriorated into a ruckus with a group of veterans surrounding the minister, and raising slogans demanding better pensions and “full implementation” of the One Rank, One Pension policy.
The protesting group included Maj. Gen. (Retd) Satbir Singh, who has had a controversial run spearheading street protests for enhanced pensions.
Bhamre had to be escorted out of the venue, with most veterans present condemning the ruckus and sloganeering at the function.
Since the commotion, several emails and messages have flooded veterans’ forums against Satbir Singh.
“It was a very poor show on part of those along with you who raised slogans during the Veterans’ Day Function at Delhi,” one message read.
“It was unbecoming of a veteran General even to attempt sabotaging an austere function organised to honour veterans – a happening that you never even bothered about when you were in service. Let me tell you openly and honestly, whatever respect I had for your efforts in mobilising armed forces veterans to unite for the cause of OROP is diminishing due to your activities and conduct with malicious intent. You are only doing damage to the veteran community and family pensioners,” another said.
“Was not expected from veterans when participated and organised by serving soldiers and was against our decorum,” yet another read.
Several photographs of the heckling and surrounding of the junior minister have also been circulated.
(ThePrint tried to reach out to Satbir Singh for comment but he did not respond. The story will be updated if and when he does.)
We Veterans donot behave in such a manner.It was not a political event which Gen Satbir tried to make. But equally PM and Defence Minister should take pride in attending such Events and not make excuses for absence.
Sloganeering se darr lag gaya ?
The way these top appointments are behaving, the unrest will only grow worse.
PM and RM supposedly work 16-18;hours a day, then why did they need to take a nap after the Israeli function ?
What a farce they have made of institutions which are the pillars of our nation ! Painful !
14 Jan 18 was Veterans’ Day Rally with wide publicity that RM will attend. Large number of Vetetans came hoping to hear her, as full time RM, announce far reaching govt deciaions. She skipped it with no warning. Veterans came to know of this only on noticing that her name missing from the table on stage.
Secondly, after ritualistic opening addresses by 3 august people on stage (each repeated, like tutored parrots, why we celebrate Veterans’ Day on 14th Jan) they wanted to close the deliberations and break for tea. When a polite request was made by some veteran that some selected veterans be allowed to Air their views on this Veterans’ Day, it was turned down and Mr Bhamre abruptly vacated the chair & came down from the stage. He did not wish to hear either the Chairman of Ex-servicemen community, Maj Gen Satbir, or any other Veteran or answer any questions (including one raised on the filthy utterences by one of BJP ministers about army wives delivering babies when their husband r serving in forward areas).
Can someone tell us as to why have a farce of Veterans’ Day Rally where Veterans can’t even speak?
Though the Indian politician may be deserve this only, but being a Retired from a disciplined Army, we should not leave our decency and I think that it is total unbecoming conduct by vaterns,
I wish that these “Concerned Veterans” should have expressed their “concern” on the absence also of both PM as well as RM on Annual Celebrations of all the three Services i.e. Air Force, Navy as well as on Army Days, under one pretext or the other.
I strongly agree with the views of Vijay Kr, and therefore would not like to repeat here.
In short, it is due to the dedicated efforts of Maj Gen Satbir Singh and Col Inderjit Singh along with their teams, that we could get merely a part of our legitimate entitlement of OROP, after a struggle of more that 30 years.
Was it on design , a rebuff of some kind ?! If yes then, be it known that the repercussions thereof could be far reaching ! “Izzat – o- Iqbaal” is what Army lives by.The Armed Forces tree bears the fruits that the Politicos enjoy. So DO NOT cut the roots of this invaluable tree, please Netajis. Lately it is seen that more and more shabby treatment is being meted out to our armed forces’ parents – the veterans. For God’s sake do not convert the push into a shove – it may culminate into an uncontrollable disaster. The PM and and the Def Min are very intelligent personalities and surely can read the writing on the wall. May I call it a timely warning (Notice). No offence meant and a lot of sincere thanks.
What is it that Maj Gen Satbir Singh wants. OROP has been given. Yes he says it is not OROP but he is wrong. He originally wanted pensions revised every month because every month someone would be retiring in all ranks. Now the revision is perhaps every year. They are asking it to be every quarter or 6 months. Can it b said only because of this that OROP has not been implemented ? Is it fair ?
Mr Gagroo, You have no clue about OROP!
The PM and MoD should have been present at the army day.Its unwarranted on their part to give it a miss.
It is Maj Gen Satbir Singh and his team who spear headed the agitation for grant of OROP for the veterans. Why we ignore this aspect when we enjoy the benefits of OROP, and the General is still on his fight , may be in a crude form, to achieve full OROP. I have the highest regards for the General who have mobilised the veteran forces. There is no decency left with the so called politicians and they deserve the behaviour and resentment of the General . The veteran community has crossed all limits of patience waiting for OMJC report. Col Vijay
Absolutely unbecoming conduct by those who behaved in unruly manner.I strongly condemn it
Varun Sharma is Right! These ‘concerned citizens’ are none but BJP members.
Wow….. Where were tbese ‘concerned veterans’ when their brethren and sisters were heckled, lathi-charged and thrown out of Jantar-Mantar???
How can you forget the cowardly treatment then???
These stupid people have no right to ostracise this behaviour of these veterans!
Everyone knows, crying babies get the feed!
This is very sad, those are real backbone of Armed forces they have been neglected,because they are belongs to most discipline organization. Our government must fulfill their legitimate demands as earliest.
Maj Gen Satbir Singh (Retd.) has some design. He misguided ESM on OROP knowing fully well that Govt. has given more than required. He has shamed the veterans. He has joined Cong & should not have attended the function.