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Army’s internal health must be restored

The news report “Army chief orders ‘operation clean-up’ ” (April 2) by Ajay Banerjee and the editorial “Army Chief’s hard talk” (April 3) aptly cautioned the nation and voiced concern over the corruption prevailing in the Army. Gen V K Singh deserves appreciation for his decision.

Indeed, corruption has been growing at all levels. To pull the nation out of a morass of corruption is a gigantic task. Gen Singh would be doing a yeoman’s service to the nation by correcting the image of the Army by purging it of corrupt officials through exemplary punishment.

Capt S K DATTA, Abohar

It is quite heartening that the new Army Chief has taken cognisance of the deteriorating internal health of the armed forces. Honesty, including honesty of purpose, should always remain the best policy. However, one need not wear it on one’s sleeve and by default show a great institution like the armed forces in poor light.

Yes there have been some problems and there is always scope for improvement, especially when a new head assumes charge. Any case of misdemeanour and corruption is always dealt with most severely by the internal mechanism in the services and rarely swept under the carpet as elsewhere.

The new chief should have shown more concern about the need to increase the defence allocations that have remained asymptotic in spite of threats that are now looming large. Modernisation which had been on the back burner, making good shortfall in officers’ cadre, improving service conditions and the welfare of Army veterans are issues that the chief should have looked into.

Perhaps an honest introspection of the Supreme Court’s latest observation not to treat the Army men shabbily may restore the internal health of the armed forces much faster than any other diagnosis.

Air-Cmde RAGHUBIR SINGH (retd), Pune

III

The announcement of ‘operation clean up’ by the newly appointed Army Chief is commendable. I hope that it doesn’t remain on paper only.

In my opinion the easiest solution to this menace lies in the institution of fair and transparent administration. It also includes objective assessment of officers for promotions.

Dr D K SAXENA, Dalhousie

Great loss

Dr Amrik Singh was an institution. His passing away is a great loss. I can find comfort in the lines “When the heart weeps for what it has lost, the soul laughs for what it has found.” The best tribute to such a great man would be to carry on his legacy of hard work, honesty and integrity.

SHYAMALA BHATIA, Delhi

Dilemma of NRI wives
To the editorial “Deserted NRI wives: Stricter laws to protect them imperative” (April 5) I would like to add that parents are as much responsible for the exploitation and sufferings of their daughters as their NRI husbands. The kith and kin of the girls treat their marriage with NRIs as an open sesame for settling abroad.
In turn the prospective NRI husbands take advantage of their mania to the hilt. Some NRIs marry many times and extract money as dowry and exploit girls physically and mentally.
The lure of going abroad is deep-rooted, irresistible and prevalent in every section of society in Punjab. No law, howsoever stringent can, therefore, protect our daughters and sisters from the tribulations and traumas at the hands of their NRI spouses until we stop treating them as sacrificial lambs for our selfish motives.
HEMA, Langeri, Hoshiarpur