Chandigarh, June 19
Straight talk seems to be the Vice-Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen S Pattabhiraman’s undoing. Pragmatic and matter-of-fact statements made by him on various issues seem to rake up controversies.
The Vice Chief’s reported statement that the “Army can do without women officers” has resulted in certain women’s factions gunning for him. What perhaps the vice-chief meant was that the Army could do without women being posted in certain establishments and units in the field. There are plenty of other posts that can accommodate them.
Known to be an open and easily accessible officer who doesn’t beat around the bush, his statements had also created a controversy when he was serving as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, prior to his present assignments.
In fact, addressing a special sainik sammelan in Chandimandir just before he moved to Army Headquarters, he had frankly said that the Army needs to control the rate of suicide among its personnel. The problem, he said, had to be addressed at the unit level and vulnerable personnel or those showing signs of stress or depression should be identified and counselled by religious teachers and experienced officers and JCOs.
In the aftermath of the bridge collapse in Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh last year when 36 army men, including two officers, had lost their lives, General Pattabhiraman told media persons on his return from the site a day later that given the rocky terrain and the swift flow of the Sutlej, the men were considered dead. Search efforts though, were continuing.
The General may have been realistic, but his statement touched a raw nerve in some quarters. Some felt that he was being insensitive in the face of a tragic situation where some family members had still not given up hope.
A General who does not shy away from questions and gives straight answers, he did not mince words when he told media persons during his visit here a few months ago that when he said corruption in defence deals was “disastrous” for the modernization of the armed forces. He had then also stated that incidents like the recent Denel deal exposure had a huge effect on modernisation and a lot of time was lost, resulting in the Army urging the government not to let such developments hamper the modernisation process.
General Pattabhiraman was also forthright about his opinions on various military matters, including the creation of the post of a Chief of Defence Staff.
