Gen praises Gujarat CM Modi, raises eyebrows at Army HQ

[SHASH2K2]

Gen praises Gujarat CM Modi, raises eyebrows at Army HQ​

AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI: In a statement which sent ripples across the armed forces, a serving major general on Monday lavished praise on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, attributing to him qualities of a top-notch army commander who sets targets and then goes all out to achieve them in time.

Maj-Gen IS Singha, who as general officer commanding of the Golden Katar Division in Ahmedabad is the seniormost Army officer in Gujarat, was speaking at the launch of the three-day 'Know Your Army' exhibition which was inaugurated by Modi at the police stadium ground.

"He (Modi) works like we in the Army do. He sets a deadline for completion of projects and then ensures that targets are achieved in time. These are qualities of a successful Army commander," said Maj-Gen Singha.

Praising Modi for his "vision of development for the state and the nation," Maj-Gen Singha also requested the CM to follow the example set by other states in providing land to the Army Welfare Housing Organization to help serving and retired military personnel. Modi, on his part, said his government would look into the request. He then went on to add that there was a need for the National Cadet Corps to impart naval training in schools and colleges in Gujarat's coastal areas, which would ensure that some youngsters opted to join the maritime force.

It is certainly unusual for a senior officer of the largely apolitical Indian armed forces to publicly praise political functionaries. Asked about this, a senior officer at the Army HQ at New Delhi told TOI that an explanation had been sought from Maj-Gen Singha. "The statement has been made in his personal capacity. We are looking into it. If he indeed said so, its inappropriate. His comments have been sought," said the officer.

Another officer, however, said "too much was being read into a customary welcome speech" at the inauguration of a military function. "Maj-Gen Singha spoke in Hindi. It has been twisted out of context in its English translation," he said.

 

[ajtr]

It is certainly unusual for a senior officer of the largely apolitical Indian armed forces to publicly praise political functionaries.

Didnt Sam Manekshaw praised PM Inidira Gandhi's leadership during 1971 while he was still in service??So what the fuss is all about..that armed forces can praise on big fake "Gandhis" and others are untouchables of indian political arena.It seems gandhis and their band of sycophants cant digest prais for others and then Gandhi family is like Gods in india above from all criticism in scams their remote control upa govt does.Poor PM manmohan singh has become public punching bag for gandhi's and public so that image of gandhis remain protected.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

is it wrong for an officer to praise the chief minister for his achievements and style of work ?

 

[JBH22]

is it wrong for an officer to praise the chief minister for his achievements and style of work ?

Any reason why isn't he Indian like anyone else? Secondly had this Gen praised Sonia or Rahul Gandhi the Title would have been "GEN Praises Rahul Gandhi for his leadership and Vision"

"He (Modi) works like we in the Army do. He sets a deadline for completion of projects and then ensures that targets are achieved in time

I don't think General said anything wrong in a country where deadline and punctuality is haraam for most its a good thing to praise someone who meet deadline

 

[KS]

Oh no. All hell will break loose over the supposed infraction by a leading general in the Hindu....ahem ahem Indian Army.

After all is it not the Gandhis who have taken full copyright to any sort of praise or sycophancy from any Government or Army personnel.

 

[Patriot]

This is absolute nonsense. What is wrong in appreciating the good work & the working style & achievements? After all something worth need to be said when NM has been invited as chief guest. There is no need or logic to seek an explanation from Mr. Singha except to please Sonia Congress. Congress can not digest the way Gujarat has done the outstanding progress in all the sectors significantly. I think Sonia is missing her cut in Billions of $$ FDI in Gujarat.

 

[Ray]

The problem is because it was Modi being praised.

Given the way this country is run in a confused and partisan manner, it would have been wise of the General to be more generalised.

Instead of Modi, he should have said 'Gujarat'.

Hypocrisy you may say.

But India's governance itself is a Hypocrisy!

 

[ejazr]

Anything anyone who knows how the Army works will know that this was unnecessary on the part of the General. The Army tries to stay apolitical and the HQ is justified in keeping that in check. IF a serving officer praises any other politician it would be the same. A retired officer is different ofcourse and they can praise whoever they want or even participate in politics themselves.


Its important to maintain that seperation between Army and politics.

In any case, lets leave it to the Army HQ to decide what was said and the suitable response. I'm sure they will take an appropiate action or not if necessary.

 

[pankaj nema]

Modi is already the poster boy of corporate India because of his efficiency

The thing is that his efficiency at work forces people to automatically praise him

Major general Singha can now surely look forward to his retirement as there is no chance of him being promoted to Lt General's rank

Secondly secularists will have a field day by claiming that the Army has been infiltrated by RSS and hindutva supporters

There will be talk shows ,Editorials , the barkha Dutts of the world will have something to crow about this weekend

 

[Tshering22]

Typical pseudo-secular panic title. not even worth a thread on this great forum.

 

[Ray]

The General should have kept his counsel.

In fact, these days too many politicians are brought in to 'grace' various occasions.

I don't understand why.

They all, irrespective of their political affiliations, should be kept at a distance.

Are they Army chaps realising like others the importance to know and be in the good books of politicians, like the police and the babu logs?

If so, God Bless!!

 

[JBH22]

The General should have kept his counsel.

In fact, these days too many politicians are brought in to 'grace' various occasions.

I don't understand why.

They all, irrespective of their political affiliations, should be kept at a distance.

Are they Army chaps realising like others the importance to know and be in the good books of politicians, like the police and the babu logs?

If so, God Bless!!

Its perspective he's a general but doesn't he have the right to voice out his opinion? How come we talk about democracy if there's going to be censorship on what should be deemed politically correct to say or not.
There's a catch though that since it's in India this can actually as you pointed out derail like the bureaucracy it would have been wrong had it been that during Modi political rally a general turns out and started praising him since it was on Army day i see little problem.

 

[Patriot]

The General should have kept his counsel.

In fact, these days too many politicians are brought in to 'grace' various occasions.

I don't understand why.

They all, irrespective of their political affiliations, should be kept at a distance.

Are they Army chaps realising like others the importance to know and be in the good books of politicians, like the police and the babu logs?

If so, God Bless!!

Ray Sir, the purpose of the event for the awareness & knowledge of the common public and develop their interest of Gujarati youth in armed services as Gujarati youth is more inclined towards business field. Mr. Modi being a charismatic leader, is the ideal choice for the chief guest for the event to draw more & more youths' attention & participation. Mr. Singha has done waht he should be doing for the event to serve it's purpose.

In Gujarat Mr. Modi's presence/involvement ensures success of any work/ programme/event as people have lot of faith in him & his actions.

 

[tarunraju]

This is utter BS, if the general had done something similar to a Congress legislator, it wouldn't have made news, if he had praised some senior Congress leader it would have made front-page positive news. Congress needs all the positive PR that it can get. At the same time, it likes to see all the negative PR that BJP can get.

Not only is Modi a superb CM, but is also a very credible candidate to be the next PM.

 

[anoop_mig25]

army-men should keep their views to themself so that non-of indian political party could guss their views or a day would come when this poltical parties would try to impose their views on armed forces

 

[Patriot]

Army studying statement of Major General on Modi

New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) Observing that the Army was an "apolitical" organisation, Army Chief General V K Singh today said the force was "studying" the statement made by a Major General on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"Army is absolutely apolitical. I don't know what statement has been made. We are studying it as to what he has said. I can only say one thing that there is no politicisation in the Army," he told reporters here.

Division Commander Major General I S Singha had said at a recent function in Ahmedabad that "Chief Minister Modi has all the qualities of a successful Army commander. His programmes are aimed at development of both the state and the nation." Modi was present at the function.

On whether the Maj Gen's statement was appropriate, the Army chief said, "I don't know in what context and how he has said anything.

 

[Oracle]

This is not bad as it is made to sound like. Modi is a good administrator and he deserves kudos for that. If we have CMs like him in every state, we'd go places.

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

this whole anti-media campaign against modi is absolutely shameful.if we had modi as pm of india rather than cm of gujarat we could easily have been the 4th biggest economy in the world after us,china and japan by now.

 

[Zebra]

Modi is just great.

Didnt Sam Manekshaw praised PM Inidira Gandhi's leadership during 1971 while he was still in service??So what the fuss is all about..that armed forces can praise on big fake "Gandhis" and others are untouchables of indian political arena.It seems gandhis and their band of sycophants cant digest prais for others and then Gandhi family is like Gods in india above from all criticism in scams their remote control upa govt does.Poor PM manmohan singh has become public punching bag for gandhi's and public so that image of gandhis remain protected.

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I do agree with you. What you said is 100% right.

 

[Ray]

Judging by media reports, this rather innocuous incident pushed up eyebrows in Lutyens' Delhi and the ministry of defence sought an explanation from the major general for allegedly violating the army code of conduct, which does not allow soldiers to make political statements of any kind.

When this writer was commanding South Western Air Command then located in Jodhpur, the area of responsibility extended through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. This was in the early 1990s and the then Gujarat chief minister had been supportive in offering the air force a large tract of land in the Ahmedabad area to set up permanent headquarters for the command, which has since shifted there. On more than one occasion the undersigned had openly acknowledged the generosity and help that the chief minister and the state government were extending to the services. Earlier, when commanding Eastern Air Command, one recalls public occasions when similar platitudes were exchanged. The national political climate was relatively benign then.

None of these instances drew unnecessary debate because they were seen for what they were: genuine respect by the armed forces for the civilian leadership in the wider context of civil-military relations. Indeed, in the true apolitical ethos of the armed forces, all that mattered was to use civil-military relations for the larger good of the forces serving within the state's borders and maintaining a good working rapport should a situation warrant unforeseen aid to the civil authority. The recent episode in Gujarat possibly followed the old spirit. It is the fractious and recriminatory politics of the country that is drawing the armed forces into its ever-strengthening vortex.

Since healthy civil-military relations are the bedrock of a vibrant democracy, this brittleness at a time of mounting security challenges, both internal and external, does not bode well for the Indian state.

Today, unbridled corruption has become the hallmark of the democracy. It is no longer limited to the political, bureaucratic and corporate worlds, but has engulfed the fourth estate and the armed forces too. Yet the nation across political dispensations has shown no determination to stem this rot. The conclusion is obvious — all are to some degree complicit and are beneficiaries.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110421/jsp/opinion/story_13878683.jsp



It is very unfortunate that the Army is being drawn into political battles.

It shows the low levels to which Indian democracy and more so, the filthy politics that has permeated the national fabric.