Stale poll gimmick

This refers to the news item “Badal opens 26 projects in 13 days”. As the Lok Sabha elections are approaching, the Badals are laying the foundation stones of new projects in Punjab, little realising that this election gimmick has become stale and outdated.

In view of the economic scenario in the state, when the government is unable to disburse pay to its employees on a regular basis, can any competent authority spell out the source of funds for such projects? Or will they meet the same fate as the many projects launched during the last tenure of this government that are still lying unfinished for want of funds? The government should inscribe the source of funds to be made available and the date of completion of the project on all newly laid foundation stones.

COL KULDIP SINGH GREWAL, Patiala

OROP a poll sop?

The acceptance of the principle of one rank, one pension) for the defence forces is welcome and it will meet the long-pending demand of ex-servicemen. However, the timing of the acceptance of the demand raises a question mark. Is it an election gimmick or a well- intended move?

Ranjit K.Chandan, Balachaur

Coup by Army impossible

Even if Hitler is reborn in India and he becomes the Chief of the Indian Army, the Indian Army would not attempt a coup. The reason is that the ethos of the Indian Army, the training of its generalship and rank and file is such that it can never ever think about a coup. Those who have attempted to malign the present chief and the force have simply indulged in sensationalisation of a normal news item.

Two Army units, one from Hisar and one from Agra, moved towards New Delhi on the night of January 16. Both the formations are under different Army Commands. Such a move could not have been executed without clearance from the HQ Central Command at Lucknow and South Western Command at Jaipur.

Even if such a clearance was obtained, these two units with a combined meagre strength of approximately 1,500 men could not have even attempted a coup. All officers beyond the rank of Major are trained about civil-military relationship and they are aware of the fact that the Army is under the control of elected representatives and the executive of the nation state. No officer is even allowed to discuss the subject of coup.

The Indian Army is supposed to defend the territorial integrity of the country from external threats and protect the democracy and people both from external and internal threats. At no stage in the past 65 years has any attempt of coup been made.

As a fourth generation retired Brigadier, I can assure the Indians that they need not fear any such apprehension from the most professional, most disciplined and most democracy-supporting Army of the world.