The OROP Conundrum: King Dashrath Envies Modi
Major
General Mrinal Suman
It has been reliably learnt from the heavenly sources that King
Dashrath has been highly impressed by Modi’s handling of the OROP challenge. In
fact, he has been feeling quite envious. What an ingenious way to renege on a
promise – just claim that you were ignorant of the complexities involved.
Unquestionably, it is an inventive and incontestable justification. In any
case, it is grossly unfair to hold a person responsible for a promise made in
ignorance.
In reality, King Dashrath has been lamenting that he did not
respond to Queen Kaikeyi’s demands with a Modi-like riposte.
Had he backed out of his promises under the plea of ignorance, the course of
Ramayan would have been different. As he had been inconsolable, Sage Narad was
called to cheer him up. He told the rueing King, “Rajan, do not equate yourself
with Modi. One, Queen Kaikeyi had extracted two open-ended oaths from you and not
a specific promise that Modi made to the veterans. Hence, plea of ignorance would
not have worked. Two, unlike Modi, you did not have devious, scheming and cunning
advisors. Finally, Queen Kaikeyi was not as naive as the Indian veterans who
trusted a political leader’s solemn word.”
Coming back down to earth and the current mess, I have two
confessions to make. One, like most soldiers, I have been an ardent supporter
of Modi, both during electioneering for the general elections and after the
swearing in of his government. I had always felt that BJP was a more nationalist
party that cared for the country’s security concerns. Again like most soldiers,
I felt that Modi’s arrival on the national scene was the best thing that could
have happened to India and the armed forces. I stoutly defended Modi and the
NDA government in discussions and media against mocking barbs of the sceptics
who were convinced that BJP was an equally self-seeking party, out to garner
votes by exploiting neglected soldiers’ gullibility.
My second confession is that I have been proved totally wrong in
trusting Modi and NDA. I feel let down. While soliciting support from
the services, Modi had made three promises – construction of a suitable war
memorial, establishment of a Veterans’ Commission and grant of OROP. The war
memorial did figure in the first budget but has since been put in the deep
freeze. Veterans’ Commission has been a total non-starter. The government does
not even talk about it. Finally, the grant of much promised OROP has made
little progress.
After declaring that OROP had been
granted at a function with troops at Siachen base camp last year, Modi has
realised that the issue was too complex to be implemented. Yes, we have a Prime
Minister who makes promises and declares their fulfilment, only to retract
later. One wonders if Modi feels embarrassed of the fact that his government
has been unable to define OROP and work out its modalities in 15 months. Some
competence indeed!
Bihar elections are nearing. Modi is
on a fund allocation spree and making tall promises to garner votes. The
veterans should caution the people of Bihar against falling in his electoral
traps by flooding the media with three simple posers.
- Should the people repose faith in a leader who makes promises without knowing their implications?
- Do we want a leader who lacks courage to overrule his deceitful colleagues and bureaucrats?
- If a leader can renege on his solemn assurance to the defenders of the nation, can he be trusted to fulfil his electoral promises to the naive common-men?
The Bihar electorate should be advised to compare the virtues
displayed by King Dashrath with the insincerity of Modi before casting their
votes. For King Dashrath, it was ‘pran
jaye per vachan na jaye’. For Modi, promises are mere ‘election jhumlas’.
