Indian Army's importance has diminished because of lack of wars in 40-50 years: Manohar Parrikar

[Zarvan]

Zee Media Bureau

Jaipur: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said that Indian Army's importance has gone down as it has not fought wars over the past 40-50 years, but was soon to clarify that he was not endorsing wars.


Parrikar made the comments at a conference on challenges and solutions regarding border safety issues in Jaipur.

According to news reports, the Union Minister said that soldiers were facing 'immense difficulties' because 'people's respect for the Army has reduced during peacetime'.

"I have written to many chief ministers (over defence matters). Some have acted on it and at many places it (response) has ended. The primary reason for this is that we have not been to war for 40-50 years. I don't mean to say that we should go to war. I mean to say that without war the Army's importance has diminished."

Apparently referring to the Army's cross-border strikes in Myanmar following the killing of 18 soldiers in an ambush in Manipur, the minister said," A recent incident has changed the national security scenario and there appears to be a change in the mindset of people."

Parrikar said national security may be endangered due to internal disturbances, which could be a result of "internally or externally created problems."

He said external issues could pose a threat to national security as happened during the Bangaladesh liberation war in 1971 when people from that country crossed into India to escape "genocide".

"External issues could be problematic to a nation as it happened in Bangladesh in 1971 when people had started moving to India due to genocide. Danger to India by external factors ... I am not going into details... But it is permutation and combination of various factors," he said.

He identified cyber crime as a new challenge for defence forces.

"Cyber attack or cyber terrorism poses a threat to border security. Now this border is not imaginary, you do not know where it starts from. But it can, if it gets converted into warfare," he said.

He, however, ruled out any security threat due to hacking of defence websites as all vital information was cloud-based and protected against such intrusion.

"Zero tolerance is the only solution when it comes to the security of the country. That has to be our mind set," added Parrikar.

Parrikar termed counterfeit currency problem or "economic terrorism" as more dangerous than cyber attacks.

Apart from Parrikar, Junior Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, officers from the armed forces, local administration and representatives of local organisations were also present at the conference.
Indian Army's importance has diminished because of lack of wars in 40-50 years: Manohar Parrikar | Zee News

 

[Windjammer]

According to news reports, the Union Minister said that soldiers were facing 'immense difficulties' because 'people's respect for the Army has reduced during peacetime'.

Except the Indians on PDF, who want to show their admiration for their armed forces.
There's difference between earning respect and faking bravado which only turns out to be skin deep.

 

[nair]

Except the Indians on PDF, who want to show their admiration for their armed forces.
There's difference between earning respect and faking bravado which only turns out to be skin deep.

You dont expect Indians to be disrespectful towards their army in a forum like this...... do you????? And most of the members here are military enthusiasts and it is natural that one admire own military.....

In India Army is not worshiped, or we Indians do not believe they are the only saviors of the country..... Yes when it comes to an external threat, That is when they become relevant.....most of the population take Army as a another security agency......

My take of the statement is " Since there is no war, people do not understand or overlook the importance of army" ..... Now it can be interpreted differently, and the interpretation depends on one's interest.....

 

[Areesh]

Is there any All India Dumbas$ Competition that Indian ministers are participating in? They all seem to be working hard to beat each other to get the title.

 

[Pulsar]

There's a difference between the PA and the IA. The PA is worshiped in Pakistan as their 'saviors', never mind if the PA calls their civilians as 'bloody civilians'! The PA rules Pakistan. The sham government is just a puppet on a string controlled by the Generals.

 

[nair]

Is there any All India Dumbas$ Competition that Indian ministers are participating in? They all seem to be working hard to beat each other to get the title.

If you have problem in understanding his statement, do read my post..... Even after that you feel like trolling..... then enjoy it....

 

[Windjammer]

There's a difference between the PA and the IA. The PA is worshiped in Pakistan as their 'saviors', never mind if the PA calls their civilians as 'bloody civilians'! The PA rules Pakistan. The sham government is just a puppet on a string controlled by the Generals.

Allow me to enlighten your extensive knowledge on Pakistan, they are seen saviours as they both defend the borders and fight against both man made and natural calamities, like earthquakes and floods. The term bloody civilians wasn't directed towards the pubic but rather the politicians who were busy playing musical chairs with the system.
I believe unlike other countries who have their emergency services, India like Pakistan also relies on the army during natural disasters.

 

[ito]

Allow me to enlighten your extensive knowledge on Pakistan, they are seen saviours as they both defend the borders and fight against both man made and natural calamities, like earthquakes and floods. The term bloody civilians wasn't directed towards the pubic but rather the politicians who were busy playing musical chairs with the system.
I believe unlike other countries who have their emergency services, India like Pakistan also relies on the army during natural disasters.

As nair said...in India...army is army...nothing more nothing less. In India many doesn't even how Indian army looks like or how large it is. It is just another security agency

 

[The_Sidewinder]

Rightly said by Mr. Parikar. People treat Army as another security agency. In northeast they are mostly look down upon due to various rapes & false encounters carried out by few of the IA jawans. Which left An non fixable scar in their image. Even now, people view army personals with doubt. Maybe withselfless sacrifises IA will be able to gain trust of the common population in NE.

 

[nForce]

Ok.. that's it.. This idiot is doing a bit too much and needs to stop now..

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Allow me to enlighten your extensive knowledge on Pakistan, they are seen saviours as they both defend the borders and fight against both man made and natural calamities, like earthquakes and floods. The term bloody civilians wasn't directed towards the pubic but rather the politicians who were busy playing musical chairs with the system.
I believe unlike other countries who have their emergency services, India like Pakistan also relies on the army during natural disasters.

Yeah, they screwed up your country to start with. And then when they run to save your country from collapse because of their screw-ups, they're somehow 'saviors'?

 

[Hindustani78]

Updated: June 15, 2015 09:49 IST
Army's respect has reduced during peacetime: Manohar Parrikar - The Hindu

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said, “A country that fails to protect its Army cannot progress."

'Soldiers were facing immense difficulties because people’s respect for the Army has "reduced during peacetime." '
India has not fought wars over the past 40 years and as a result the importance of the Army has gone down, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday, while at the same time stressing that he is not advocating war.

“I have written to many Chief Ministers [over defence matters]. Some have acted on it and at many places, it [response] has ended. The primary reason for this is that we have not been to war for 40-50 years. I don’t mean to say that we should go to war. I mean to say that without war the Army’s importance has diminished,” he said, speaking at a conference on border safety in Jaipur.

This, he said, has resulted in two generations of officers retiring without seeing a war but that doesn’t mean the Army should not command the respect it deserves.

“A country that fails to protect its Army cannot progress.” In the recent past several States had withdrawn permission to Army firing ranges severely impacting the training schedules.

Mr. Parrikar also said that soldiers were facing immense difficulties because people’s respect for the Army has “reduced during peacetime.”

He said “zero tolerance” to acts of terrorism is the only way to address issues related to national security and that is related to mind set. In this context he made a reference to the Army action on insurgent camps in Myanmar last week and observed, “A recent incident has changed the national security scenario and there appears to be a change in the mindset of people.”

******************************

This statement is linked to one rank and one pension issue.

Ex servicemen are part of the military and they do deserve rights like all the other citizens of India.

One Rank, One Pension: Ex-servicemen hold nationwide protests - The Hindu

Continuing their pressure on the government over the delay in implementing the long-pending One-Rank, One-Pension (OROP) scheme, ex-servicemen took out a massive rally on Sunday in the national capital and across the country to express their displeasure. They also announced indefinite relay hunger strike from Monday. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar asked ex-servicemen to have “patience” and said the government would deliver on its promise.

The rally comes after several rounds of official and backchannel talks failed to make any headway. The veterans had been demanding that the government announce a timeline for implementation of OROP.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured us that it will be implemented, but it has been one year,” said Col. (retd.) Anil Kaul, media adviser to the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM).

Speaking at a conference in Jaipur, Mr. Parrikar asked ex-servicemen to have patience. “I assure you whatever we have promised that all would be done ... but some people need to be patient,” he said.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Except the Indians on PDF, who want to show their admiration for their armed forces.
There's difference between earning respect and faking bravado which only turns out to be skin deep.

When Pakistanis can respect their Army which doesnt believe in democracy and rules over them,which surrenders in War 93000 to be precise in Bangladesh and 6th Balouch the vrave against Taliban etc. Then we Indians can respect our Army which is apolitical and never surrenders and fights till the last man standing.

 

[Zarvan]

Except the Indians on PDF, who want to show their admiration for their armed forces.
There's difference between earning respect and faking bravado which only turns out to be skin deep.

Indian members here on PDF need to learn a lot specially that blind Nationalism will only harm you in the long run. This is most displayed when Indians in their miserable attempts try to defend failed projects like LCA and Arjun.

 

[SamantK]

Also this lack of respect from the people comes because thier role somehow has always been shadowed or not represented correctly.

I am not sure can someone tell me where in our school (CBSE) textbooks, wars we fought with Pakistan have been dealt with?