Dress Rehearsal or Warning or Conspiracy

- Anil Narndra

Had some members of the Indian Army launched a revolt against the Government? Had these Army Units carried forward their campaign to lay seize to Delhi in order to attempt a military coup? These are some of the unanswered burning questions circulating in the Capital since the Wednesday morning. In fact, the sensational expose in the Wednesday edition of the English Daily, the Indian Express created panic. According to a report by Shekhar Gupta, the editor of the newspaper, two big Army Units from Hissar and Agra had moved towards Delhi on the night of 16-17 January. Fully armed with arms and ammunition these Units of the Infantry Brigade had reached close to Delhi. But, the situation was somehow controlled. 33 Armed Division's Unit from Hissar had reached Bahadurgarh and halted there. Another Unit from Agra (12 Division) with arms and ammunition and tanks reached Palam and halted nearby. Was it a coincidence that the Army Chief General VK Singh had approached the Supreme Court on that very day, i.e.  15^th January? The Indian Express report created commotion in the political circles of Delhi. 'Furore' should be a better word than the 'commotion' to describe the situation. The politicians were rendered speechless. As is habitual with the Government and as is its helplessness, the Government out rightly rejected the report, but accepted that the Units from Hissar and Agra did arrive at Bahadurgarh and Palam, but this was a routine movement of the Army. The Government has, however, not been able to explain why these Army Units moved towards Delhi without informing the Ministry of Defence? The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday that this report is capable of creating fear and such reports need not be given much attention. On the question of tension between Army Chief and the Government, the Prime Minister said, 'The post of Army Chief is quite high and we must avoid doing anything that belittle the dignity of the post.' The Defence Minister, AK Antony termed the fear of any military coup by the Army as entirely baseless. He assured people that the Army will not do any thing, which may weaken the democracy. According to Antony, the patriotism of Army should not be put to doubt. The Army Spokesperson said that it is routine in the Army to carry on such exercises. Former Army Chief General Ved Prakash Malik said, 'I can only consider this as a ridiculous and mischievous report and I am of the view that this movement of the Army was part of a routine training, as such it was not necessary to notify it to the Ministry of Defence.' Former Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash said, 'It is most irresponsible example of journalism. I am not surprised about the objective of publishing such a report.' Terming this report wrong and ridiculous the former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi said, 'I do not consider it worth discussing.' An expert in defence studies and analysis, C Uday Bhaskar said, 'The report about movement of the Army towards Delhi is disappointing and it has caused worry about the alleged move of the Army in attempting a coup. The Indian Express report is not false, as no body has said that there was no Army Unit movement on that day. All have been terming it as an exercise. This report definitely causes concern. So far we are concerned; the reliability of the Indian Express report can not be questioned. Neither Shekhar Gupta is sensation-monger journalist, nor the Indian Express is such an irresponsible newspaper, then what happened on 15-16 night? There is nothing unusual in an exercise by single Unit, but the movement of two Units from different towns at the same time poses question, which needs an answer. The report is quite investigative.' He concludes that General VK Singh is a loyal and honest officer and this has been proved. Then, was it a dress rehearsal? But in a country like India, it is not easy to topple the political order. Any attempted military coup can not succeed without the knowledge of Delhi Area Commander (DAC). In case the Army is conducting an exercise, then the DAC must have the knowledge about it. The DAC must be asked about it. Whenever there is an exercise, then not only the Ministry of Defence, but the civilian authorities must have the information regarding it, so that suitable arrangements are made to avoid disruption of public life. One more thing has also emerged from the Indian Express report. It points to serious difference of opinions between the Army and the UPA Government. The Army is quite disappointed with this government. The Army is not happy with the Government due to the indifferent attitude of the bureaucracy in Delhi about the supply of military hardware, which is adversely affecting the capability and morale of the Army, whereas this Government is busy in dealing with scams. In other words, the Government is compromising the security of the country. In fact, this issue has two sides to it. This could be a routine military activity, because an Army Division conducts such exercises quarterly and it is not required to intimate the Government about such exercises. But, it was listed in the calendar for military exercises. A number of Divisions had already been deputed in Delhi in view of Republic Day. Moreover, it is impossible to take over Delhi with the help of a small Unit. On the other hand, it is unusual because information about movement of a Division from one area to another area is to be provided. Normally, Delhi is not selected for exercises. In spite of huge concentration of the Army in Delhi due to 26^th January celebrations, why this military exercise was planned? Why did the senior officers of the concerned Division fail to realize the sensitivity of the matter? There are number of such questions, which would be answered in days to come. We, however, are of the view that the 15^th January movement was not a routine military exercise. This could have been a jolt meant to awake the Government from its slumber or it could have been a dress rehearsal with a larger intent.