SHRI BIRENDER SINGH RAO (Mahendragarh): I am very happy to hear most of the speeches of the Hon Members and to note the change of attitude amongst our politicians towards our defence services I remember, it was not very long ago before the Chinese aggression, that in this very House our politicians talked about cutting down the expenses of our defence services in training Orders were actually passed by the Government of India that troops would be used for construction of houses and for cultivation of land, and it was felt that it was not necessary in this peaceful country that there should be toughening up of our defence services and that proper attention should be paid to their training I am also happy as am ex-soldier that it has been realised generally that we should attend to the welfare of our ex-servicemen and their families We are facing a great danger We were awakened m 1962 and again in 1965 Fortunately it was only China in 1962 and only Pakistan m 1965, but next time we are afraid that it will be a concerted action against India by both these neighbouring enemies. There is also talk in certain quarters that there was a defence pact between Pakistan and China immediately after 1965 We would like to know from the Hon’ble Minister if he has any definite information about this, if he would throw some tight on this, because we know that China is maintaining a huge army in Tibet of more than six divisions and they can command any number or troops more at short notice. They have got missiles and from Tibet they can hit any target in India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. These are dangerous things. We hear that Pakistan in the last three months has raised live new divisions. I hope that the Defence Minister would let us know his own preparations to meet these dangers. I earlier suggested that this amount of Rs. 1189 Crores demanded by the Defence Ministry is not adequate. I have said earlier and I would again suggest that we should treat these times as a national emergency. We should declare it so. If necessary, we should cut down all expenditure wherever it can be saved. I suggested that the amount of Rs. 785 crores which in this year we are going to give to the States as grant-in-aid should all be put in the defence budget. We should also save this Rs. 75 crores which we are going to spend on employment schemes. There should be no better employment for our young men than in our defence services. Why should this money not be diverted to defence and all our young men given compulsory military training?
There is a difference between India and other developed countries. Fortunately I had the opportunity of visiting most of the European countries some years back. I attended some of the meetings of the World Veterans. 1 saw their institutions, I came to know what voice serviceman and ex-servicemen have got in those countries, and that is why their defence is properly planned. The civilian population knows about their defence needs But unfortunately here in India you will find hardly one serviceman or ex-serviceman out of 1,000 people. We have not seen war on our soil. In other countries, in Europe particularly, one out of two has taken part in a battle and knows everything about defence. It might have been the deep rooted prejudice acquired during the British regime that in India our defence services have been an isolated compartment. The civilian administration and our urban population considered them inferior and thought that people who did not have brains went to the army. Today this attitude seems to be changing but a lot more is needed. Our soldiers have always proved their patriotism. I should suggest that there should be a system of conscription in this country as in other countries so that everybody, whether big or small, big businessmen or Minister’s son, sees military service. There should be no employment in class I, II or III, in the State services or in the Centre, unless a young man has served at least for 3 years in the army, even though it may be territorial army to form a reserve force. These prize jobs should be given only to them. This should be made applicable to the public undertakings and the commercial firms also. A young man should see army, naval or air force service and then only he can ask for these civilian jobs. We are lagging in one thing. Our defence service personnel are not associated with our policies. This is a big handicap. Soldiers are asked to keep away from politics. Even the representation of Peoples Act lays down that among the civilians only the gazetted officer is prevented from canvassing in politics. But in the defence services even a soldier or an ordinary sepoy cannot do it. Our retired officers find it difficult to go and woo the voters. We need their consultation; we need their opinion in our deliberations. In the Rajya Sabha where we have got 12 nominated seats, why cannot we put 3 of our senior servicemen every time as nominated Members? It is provided in our Constitution that we can nominate artists, scientists, litterateurs, and social service workers—a big bogus thing Today military science, the science of war, is one of the most developed and important sciences.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Do not say these are bogus things.
SHRI BIRENDER SINGH RAO: I hope you are not a social worker alone. What I mean to say is that no person who did not deserve a place there should get a place in the garb of social worker. Real social workers, I think I am also one of them if I may say so, are perfectly all right.
It is really shameful that today our soldiers and ex-soldiers remember the British days. They say that regime was more considerate to them. If there was a letter from a commanding officer about the grievance of a soldier’s family the Deputy Commissioner ran to the house of the soldiers’ family. But now it is absolutely different. Nobody cares; I think more attention should be paid to these matters.
The soldier is the lowest paid employee under the Indian Government today. You would be shocked to know that he gets only Rs. 55/- as basic pay and Rs. 45/- as D. A. How can we give dignity to soldier unless we pay him well? Even a peon in Delhi, in your Parliament or Rajya Sabha gets more than Rs. 200/-. Is this how we raise the morale and dignity of the soldier? There are certain other things which I want to mention if you can give me a few more minutes. There is one invidious distinction continuing in the army. The Britishers left the legacy, I think they did it as it suited them. They knew that there were some martial classes in India, they knew who had fighting qualities in their blood. They named certain regiments after communities and castes like the Rajput Regiment, like the Jat Regiment, the Dogra Regiment, the Sikh Regiment, the Mahar Regiment, etc. I would suggest that wherever invidiousness exists people who deserve to be given a name in a regiment, should further be recognised and the injustice done by the British removed. After all, what do they want? They only want to die for their country and bring glory to their blood, their caste, their race and their community and to the country.
AN HON. MEMBER: They kill the enemy; not die.
SHRI BIRENDER SINGH RAO: Yes; that is better. But they are first prepared to die in this noble cause. I would command this one community, a brave community ; the Defence Minister would bear me out that in Ladakh, in 1962, against the Chinese, there was one battalion of the Ahirs, the 13 Kumaon Regiment. There was one company pitched against one full division of Chinese. Out of 125 Jawans and officers, 114 laid down their lives, fighting to the last drop of their blood and killed 1500 of the enemy. That was commanded by Major Shaitan Singh who got the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in this company. Out of the 114 who were killed, about 15 got gallantry awards, which is the highest record of any military action in bravery. And yet, this Ministry has not even cared to build a memorial to these heroes in those snowy heights. I would suggest that because those jawans, this battalion came from one community alone and showed unparalleled bravery, their hands should be given to a regiment. Plenty of them are in the artillery and in other armed services. If they have one Ahir Regiment, they would still further be prepared to join it in large numbers and fight more enthusiastically. I shall be happy if Mr. Jagjiwan Ram also raises another regiment called the Chamar Regiment. Why not? They should also be given a proper place in the fighting forces.
SHRI JAGJIWAN RAM: On the one hand, you condemn the castes ; on the other hand, you demand more castes !
SHRI BIRENDER SINGH RAO: I will condemn the upper castes. Make everybody fight and make everybody equal. I would also suggest that the welfare of these soldiers depends upon giving them employment after retirement or early release from the army at a young age. I would suggest that 50 per cent of all Government jobs should be reserved or released for retired servicemen if they are fit for service and are able-bodied, particularly young men who retired early after a short service commission or after a short military service. In some of the States, 30 per cent of the posts have been reserved. It should be done all over India on a uniform basis.
Some Hon. Members also suggested that these soldiers who go the army belong to the poor families and Kisan families but they have got no land. When they come back, land should be found for them. I suggest that the hon. Defence Minister should see to it that at least the retired soldiers, if they have got no land to fall back upon, are treated on a par with Harijans and lands are distributed to them wherever the lands can be obtained. This is all that I have to say for their resettlement.
In the end, I suggest that the service officers should be kept absolutely aloof from the influence of foreign powers. Only a few days back, we read in the newspapers that our Air Chief Marshal went to the United States and he was awarded the Legion of Merit there. If our service officers start looking to foreign powers for commendation, that is going to undermine the discipline of our services. Even our Constitution lies down, under article 18(2) that no citizen of India shall get any title from any foreign power. This is a title. This is an award. It is a commendation. Why should heart burning be caused between officers and officers? Why should they award these things to our service officers? Naturally, when these foreign powers give them such awards, these officers would look forward for settling down with the help of those foreign powers, in firms that are run with their collaboration or they might find some other benefits. That is why they would try to please the foreign powers. It will have a very unhealthy influence and it should be stopped. There should be a policy that no defence service officer would get any award from any foreign power in future. Those who have got it should renounce it.