Army wants young MPs to witness battle drill in Rajasthan

[Major Shaitan Singh]

The army wants young MPs to witness an ongoing military exercise in Rajasthan to gain a first-hand experience on the battle drill, involving around 50,000 troops, 300 tanks and 250 artillery guns.

President Pratibha Patil and Defence Minister A.K. Antony will also watch the exercise - Sudarshan Shakti - in Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Pokhran on December 5.

The army is awaiting nod from the government to take some of the MPs, who are below 40, to the exercise ground. Sources said the army is seeking the participation of young MPs as they would be the decision makers in the future.

In fact, several MPs had recently conveyed to Antony their wish to be given exposure to the functioning of the armed forces.

If the proposal is cleared, the MPs would be taken to the exercise area on December 2, three days ahead of the proposed visit of Patil and Antony.

Troops were mobilised over the last two months to prepare for the final thrust, beginning December 1. It will be the culmination of the army's exercise, involving Bhopal-based 21 corps, a strike formation, and the Indian Air Force's (IAF) exercise, Mahagujraj.

New technologies and concepts are being tried in the latest training exercise, in which modern battlefield concepts would be experimented.

The ground troops are being supported by IAF's fighter jets Jaguars, Su-30 MKIs, Mig-27s and Mig-21 Bisons. Officials said the manoeuvers would include swift armour thrusts, supported by the air force's ground attack offensive.

The entire span of a training exercise for a corps is restricted to three months. The exercise began in the first week of October and will reach its final stage on December 1.

 

[third eye]

A good move.

A ' feel' of equipment & life with it is more than a thousand presentations.

 

[Kinetic]

Good move, they are the future of Indian politics. I think all the young MPs (below 40 years) should stay in Army barracks and live like them for at least one month to know the army.

 

[Quick MIK]

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^^ old pics but still AESWOME, especially the first one- FEEL THE POWER!

@topic, actually a very shrewd move by IA top brass.

 

[hawx]

awesome pics and indeed a good move by Army !

 

[OrionHunter]

The army wants MPs to witness an ongoing military exercise in Rajasthan to gain a first-hand experience on the battle drill, involving around 50,000 troops, 300 tanks and 250 artillery guns.

Oh wow! Are they gonna be wearing camouflaged dhotis to the Exercise?

Here are some more images...

 

[Tshering22]

Good move, they are the future of Indian politics. I think all the young MPs (below 40 years) should stay in Army barracks and live like them for at least one month to know the army.

I'd prefer these scum politicians to be actually sent to the border WITHOUT bullet proof jackets and with tin helmets. Once a dozen or so of them die, then you see how fast the reforms for military hardware come.

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^ lol, too true. We can see after serious threats were faced by Indian PMs and ex PMs how quickly a well trained and excellently equipped elite unit was formed (SPG). Similarly when a need is felt for new VVIP helos how quickly very expensive platforms are pushed through (AW-101) despite the IA/IAF/IN plans for their own helo asset procurement still treading water. But alas we know such things. Things are changing though my friends, keep the faith.

 

[Vassnti]

Nice pics but save the fancy equipment give them a 45kg pack a rifle and a map and point out the truck to take them back to their nice soft seats in parliment is 40k that way

 

[Birbal]

I'd prefer these scum politicians to be actually sent to the border WITHOUT bullet proof jackets and with tin helmets. Once a dozen or so of them die, then you see how fast the reforms for military hardware come.

You could always have a military coup Pakistan style...

 

[pmukherjee]

good idea. some of these young MPs are very well educated and have a positive attitude with an open mind. Investing time and effort on them will be good in the long run. no point wasting time and effort on the old ones, they are beyond repair.

 

[Tshering22]

You could always have a military coup Pakistan style...

Yeah or prefer having a cowardly scamming government because "oh they are so tree hugging and equal and noble and cheery"..

Military decision making is different from military rule; stop worshipping this scamming farce of a government and put yourself in the shoes of a soldier fighting somewhere right now in the jungles of Nagaland, Mizoram or J&K mountains.

But what to expect out of someone who is so tragically apologetic of putting a Pakistani flag in "country of residence" to show his stand.