15 January 2025, Headquarters Rashtriya Sainik Sansthan, 133 B Model Town East, Ghaziabad: 76th Army Day was celebrated here today. On this day in 1949, General Cariappa took over the post of Commander in Chief from British General Butcher. The first mistake starts from here.
The then Prime Minister did not have the experience of running the country, but he argued for not appointing an Indian General that he did not have experience. The result was that in the first war fought with Pakistan over Kashmir, British General Lockhart was the Commander in India and the second British General Douglas was the Commander in Pakistan. General Lockhart was inclined towards Pakistan. There is ample evidence that General Lockhart posted in India had complete information about the entry of Pakistani soldiers in India in the disguise of tribals. Which was hidden from Sardar Patel.
In October 1948, the then Prime Minister went to Campshire, the resting place of Mountbatten in Britain, to rest for 4 days. Mountbatten went out due to his busy schedule in England and left his wife Edwina with the then Prime Minister of India who pressurized him to ceasefire, which was testified by Major General Gulwant Singh. Major General Gulwant Singh was refused to move ahead. That is, the army on the ground was ready and capable to take back Gilgit Baltistan but ceasefire was declared. The war was lost at the table.
In 1962, without preparation, without equipment, without personal kit, the army was sent to fight China at high altitude. The defeat was of the government, not of the army. In Rechangla of Ladakh, 119 soldiers of Major Shaitan Singh's company killed 1300 Chinese soldiers and did not let China capture the air base. Here also the war was lost at the table.
Even after winning the war in 1965, Haji Pir Pass was returned. Similarly, in 1971, even after taking 93 thousand Pakistani soldiers as prisoners of war, neither the Kashmir issue was resolved nor was a promise of not attacking in future signed by Pakistan and 4 times more territory won by Pakistan was returned. Even in 1999, even after winning the very difficult Kargil war, a safe corridor was provided to Pakistani soldiers and terrorists to escape. Thus they kept on losing wars on the table.
There has been no war since Kargil but 100 times more soldiers have been martyred than in Kargil. There has been no decrease in the bravery of the soldier, but there is a need for change in policies such as appointing a soldier as the Lieutenant Governor of Kashmir, appointing a commander for the army, paramilitary forces and police for Kashmir, responding immediately to terrorist incidents, destroying enemy launch pads from our own land by Apache attack helicopters, arresting a big leader like Farooq Abdullah who lives in the country and praises Pakistan, etc.
Army Day is celebrated to praise the courage and sacrifice of the army. If courage was sold in the market, every leader would have bought it. First of all, an army soldier has natural courage, otherwise why would he join the army? And secondly, the battle inoculation of the army (practice of passing under a shower of bullets) creates new courage.
The second reason for celebrating Army Day is to appreciate the sacrifice of the soldier. Is it enough just by saying that we are proud of our soldiers? If a politician loses an election, he can fight again but a soldier can sacrifice his life only once, that is why it is called the supreme sacrifice. Crores of rupees for winning a cricket or wrestling match and only a few lakh rupees for the supreme sacrifice.
Even after the above, the army has never let the country down.
Today on Army Day, we only want that at least on the issue of the army, the whole country should say “Jai Hind” in one voice. The following statements are not acceptable:
1. The army returned after being beaten in Tawang.
2. Pakistan is not wearing bangles.
3. There is a nexus between terrorists and the Indian army.
Today, the National President of the Rashtriya Sainik Sanstha, Vir Chakra awardee Colonel Tejendra Pal Tyagi, Ghaziabad District Unit President Gaurav Senani Gyan Singh, Gaurav Senani Ganesh Dutt, Shri Rajendra Prasad Tripathi, Shri Surendra Chand Sharma, Youth Wing representative Shri Pushkar Singh Bisht held a meeting offline and other top members held an online meeting and today we make a demand that all of India should chant Jai Hind together.