Tweet by Swarnashree Rao Rajshekhar, principal spokesperson for defence ministry, has angered the military brass.
New Delhi: Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence Swarnashree Rao Rajshekhar was sent on leave Friday evening for an unspecified period, hours after she tweeted to former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retired) that military officers misuse privileges of rank.
The spokesperson for the Army, Colonel Aman Anand, has been asked to take over as the acting principal spokesperson for the ministry.
Rajshekhar’s continuance in the office had become untenable after her tweet even though she deleted it and said it was “inadvertently” done.
Sources in the ministry had told ThePrint Friday afternoon that Rajshekhar had angered even constituents and supporters of the BJP.
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Rajashekar — an officer from the Defence Accounts Service cadre who was appointed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as the Additional Director General (Media and Communications) — is the principal spokesperson for the ministry. The task is usually assigned to an officer of the Indian Information Service.
Voices from within the establishment had questioned if she should continue.
BJP MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar who is actively involved in defence issues, tweeted:
U need to be more thn worst insensitive bureacrat to tweet like this – u need to be a world class IDIOT who shd be sent back to paperpushing or whtever his/her lifes achievement is so far n NOT destry goodwill n respect for PM n govt whch hs done so much for our Armed frces. https://t.co/ocEI2vaj9J
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar ?? (@rajeev_mp) October 26, 2018
But former Navy chief, Admiral Arun Prakash (retired) to whom Rajshekhar tweeted originally from her official handle before deleting it, had advised a more measured approach to the issue of rank parity between the civilian bureaucracy and the military brass.
Rather than getting excited over indiscreet tweet of @SpokespersonMoD I would suggest sober reflection; (a) by MoD on state of civil-mil relations & (b) by Military Leadership on the aspersions cast by MoD (IDAS?) civil-servant on personal conduct of Service officers. https://t.co/PwyMzzotK4
— Arun Prakash (@arunp2810) October 26, 2018
The tweet that sparked furore
On Friday morning, Rajashekar tweeted to Admiral Prakash (retired): “What about misuse of jawans in your residence during an officer’s tenure sir? And how about children being picked up and dropped to school in Fauji (military) gaadis (vehicles)? Not to forget Madam’s shopping expedition on government vehicles. And endless parties…who pays for that?”
The defence spokesperson said that the response to Prakash was tweeted “inadvertently”. She deleted the tweet and said she had tweeted by mistake and that her message was intended for a private group on a mobile messaging app.
The response was to a retweet by Prakash of a photograph that showed the Integrated Financial Advisor appointed to the Western Command of the Army (Chandimandir) that flashed a flag on the bonnet of an official car. Civilian officers are not entitled to the privilege that belongs to military rank flag officers (Major-General and above).
But even before the defence spokesperson could delete her tweet, the response to Prakash, a war hero and naval aviator, had ignited a firestorm with military veterans alleging that the defence spokesperson was mirroring the approach of the civilian bureaucracy towards the armed forces.
The spokesperson for Army headquarters said the Integrated inancial Advisor in Chandigarh was “authorized” by the Western Army Commander.
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Prakash said that even if the misuse of an Army command’s insignia by a civilian is not a cognisable offence, “the person needs to be reprimanded by the GOC-in-C (General Officer Commanding in Chief) whose financial adviser he is”.
Why the furore
The context of this morning’s spat is on equivalence in rank parity and financial benefits that the armed forces have been seeking. The Army, Navy and Air Force officers are aggrieved that they have not been granted Non-Functional Upgrade (NFU) that civilian bureaucrats enjoy.
NFU grants financial benefits to an officer after two years if a single person from his/her batch is promoted to a joint secretary (or equivalent) rank in the civilian bureaucracy. Integrated Financial Advisors at the level of the commands are not of the same rank. But commanders often try to keep them happy because the IFAs carry out audits of military expenditure.
Army Headquarters said the IFA in Chandigarh was asked Friday to remove the flag from his staff car after the photograph went viral.
The report has been updated to correct Internal Financial Advisor as Integrated Financial Advisor. The error is regretted.
I’m going to share this article with others! If I raised my head 4 inches I would be shot: DD crew member who survived Maoist attack
There are a number of articles suggesting that a flag on a military vehicle is a perk. Come on damn it; it’s part of the military embellishments, much like badges of rank or a cap.
Now are bureaucrats going to be wearing the Army’s uniform?
Might as well ask them to man the units and cut down manpower.
Her defense that her response to Prakash was tweeted “inadvertently” and that “her message was intended for a private group on a mobile messaging app” itself is the most damning and sordid reflection of the whole affair….. This opinion/view then is what the spokesperson actually has about armed forces officers, which she ‘inadvertantly revealed’ in a public disclosure rather than to her private friends group…. One can only imagine/ presume how much more bile and rancour this IDAS officer nurses in her heart for such instantaneous ‘outing’ of her real perspective….. These IDAS officers with merely few years service get appointed as IFAs for multiple Units or even formations and the measured behaviour of the senior staff of the units/formations during their interactions with IFA and the staff for clearance of the files/proposals often get interpreted as “submissiveness and meekness” which these civilians exploit to the hilt…
I am extremely disappointed by the tone and tenor of your article which seems to be solely aimed at portraying the whole sorry episode as a frivolous over reaction by the uniformed fraternity.
I wish to point out to the author that the context of the “spat” is not an equivalence/ parity in rank that the Armed Forces are seeking (as has been inferred), nor is it due to the forces feeling aggrieved on not being granted NFU like the Bureaucrats. In fact, the huge rank consciousness and self styled equation / inflation of ranks on the part of the civil def bureaucracy lies at the root of this issue
What needs to be understood is that Flags are not a “privilege”, but military standards flown by offrs commanding troops worldwide. Therefore, when a Veteran of the stature of an ex-CNS makes a mature observation on it, the kind of ridiculous comments made by Ms Rajshekhar and that too from her official Twitter handle clearly brings out the antipathy that she feels towards the organisation of which she happens to be the Spokesperson.
Notwithstanding the same, Mr Dutta has very gallantly defended the “inadvertent” post and castigated the Veterans for their insensitive “allegations” , even before Ms Rajshekhar could delete her post.
And lastly, I would also like to counter the author’s insinuation that Commanders try to keep IFAs happy because they audit military expenditure, which implies that these are paragons of virtue who keep a hawk eye over the spendthrift military. On the contrary, this is done on account of the immense financial powers that the wield over the military as also their ability/ tendency to put a spoke in day to day functioning whenever they can.
I am veteran Col. I thank my star that my children didn’t join Army.The supporting Civilians have taken the role of Armed Forces and relegated Armed Forces into Supporting Role. This is there Reflection of Our Dear Prime Minister Shri N Modiji & Chief Bipin Rawat. Sooner than later we will face debacle of 1962, history repeats itself. Jai Hind
It was inappropriate for the PRO to use the official Twitter handle to make the critical comments, although what she said was true. But the angry response from the bhaktas were on expected lines of shooting the messenger and not the message. Although there are few in the DAD who deserve to be condemned for their complicity in many unsavoury activities, the department is by and large known for their silent but good work in their mandated jobs of accounting and auditing
Sad commentary on the state of affairs. BJP must realise that most of the Armed forces personnel and their families ( incl veterans) in their heart have been supporters of Mr Modi. But the present Govt seems to be hell bent on insulting the defence forces. Its actions have resulted in demeaning the soldier.
The only way to resolve this is to have immediate course correction with personal intervention of the PM.
Lasting solution for the seniority issue will be to issue a eauivalence table based on the last official order of precedence.
PM and for that matter no political party has got armed forces as their priority.
They are more bothered to cling to the power.
She should be removed from the duty assigned to her by the RM. She may be too youg and inexperience to hold the post and offer such comments. Isn’t she is creating a wedge between uniformed and in uniformed? An immature statement. As regards to allowing the use car flag of the army by IF A , her clan , firstly how he is misusing his position even the army Cdr has to oblize him. Sevondly it is very low of Army Cdr to have permitted him to use WC flag, ( may not be true. The statement may be cover action) . She must visit defence acct offices from CGDA to PAO (or)
will come to know how these offices fleece the the units and it’s personals.
Appointment such as IFA till a year back was provided with brand new Staff Car ex Army Pool & the appointees took great pride in displaying not only a big Red Flag but also Red Plate too albeit Unauthorised. Once these were adversely commented upon in Press, were quickly withdrawn thus inviting 1. Audit objections 2.Highlighting even minor errors etc etc.3. Retaliatory remarks. IDAS need to know that they are in advisory role & definitely NOT in commanding role.
It’s time Army CDRs exercise their administrative control over their advisors rather than giving them undue importance.
This can happen when military cdrs know their administrative job.
Sorry to say that none grows beyond food, golf, wine, awwa, gadi-ghoda etc etc
I am a Col in the Army but will never allow my kids to join the armed forces…..not because i dont love our country but because i hate this bureaucrats of MoD who have ruined the armed forces and the country
This is what happens when you have a pliant generals. Rest assured in war the polity will be left wondering what happened.
Disgusting is an understatement. As Expected from the fleet of staff which has similar arrogance and negative attitude towards the forces at the lady herself. Pray Mr Modi sees what damage these leftist moles are doing to the morale of the Army. Sickening cold behaviour.
The unqualified in mod would invite disasters when adversaries shoot through their pretence. It is unfortunate that unqualified are entrusted with the protection of image of the military.
Staff of Def accounts department to which the lady belongs are well known for their greed. They are all civilans. Their only job is to make themselves the gainers at the expense of the military.
Andhe lavde fauz me daude