New Delhi, July 25, 2006 (DefenceIndia Special)

A brief.
Recent News in the week gone by, have been filled with stories on the, 'Navy War Room Leak', and 'A Court-martial over DAL controversy'.

DefenceIndia queried a few ex-soldiers and took their views. Here is what they said:

Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd), from Pune says -'I feel its a very wrong piece of news published in some newspapers. News is not foolproof. But it's time we got alert; and Indian Defence must be very careful because it's not a small thing. Care should be taken at every step by the Indian Air Force'.

Lt. Col. Anil Bhatt (Retd), New Delhi, says, 'Corruption is not just the case in the Army, it's everywhere. They are not isolated from civilians but it's a matter of great pity & shame that some Army personnel are involved in such activities; but you can't blame the Army as an organisation for this. The Indian Army as an organisation is not corrupt but only few people are involved in such activities.'

Lt. Gen. Nagra (Retd), says, 'This should not have happened in the Army. The Army personnel should not be involved in such activities. Corrupt personnel should be severely punished. The Army as an organisation is not corrupt. We can find good honest & upright people in Army. Only 1% probably, are corrupt. Although they are paid well but their greed makes them corrupt. Corrupt people work in a chain & the wave of corruption travels from downward to the upward level. Without the supports of seniors, no junior can even attempt any corrupt practice in the organisation. Defence personnel should always pay respect to their position because they always get due respect from civilians.'

Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd), New Delhi, says, ' The Media should stay away from the cases related to Defence because there are different rules & regulations …to punish some one. The Media always creates a hype on every case. Defence works in a separate way & it has its own way to respond.'

Wng Cdr. Yuri, (Retd), New Delhi, says, 'It's a very bad thing. The Defence Should become very careful before appointing a new candidate in the forces & every candidate should be fully screened.'

Maj. Gen. Ashok Krishna, (Retd), says, 'The Army reflects what the society is. Army is not separated from civilians. Force does not become bad. The Force must have a separate pay commission. Actually The media is the main culprit, who create unnecessary hype about any thing. Why does the media point only towards the army and why not towards the politicians, the police etc. I accept that maybe one person did a wrong; that does not mean that the whole Army is corrupt. Army contributes a lot for the society, why does the media not hype our contribution. Media wants to sell its message just by creating hype to earn money.'

Vice Admiral R B Suri (Retd), New Delhi, says, 'The Media is misleading the people. I accept that degradation is coming at some steps but it does not mean whole army is wrong. Today we need good leadership and good value systems. Some people spread corruption & it is really very bad.'