A Veteran’s Wife Visits Ladakh

Veena Suman

Ladakh....a region that till a few decades ago was like the mythical "Shangri-La" in the minds of a lot of people, is now on the bucket list of many. For the armed forces, however, Ladakh is viewed very differently. It is a frontier that has to be defended from external aggression, an area where the mind, body and spirit are tested to their limit.

My husband, an army veteran, had commanded his unit in the Kargil-Nimu-Siachen sector almost thirty-five years ago. Now well into his golden years and a comfortable retirement, he developed a sudden urge to revisit the area where he had once spent a highly satisfying period of his professional life with his regiment. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I immediately decided to accompany him, much to the agitated concern of our children and well-wishers. "Ladakh!! at your age? Have you forgotten the altitude? "Why don't you go to Goa, Udaipur, etc etc.....”. However, turning a deaf ear to the well-meaning concern and choosing to ignore the long list of "Places to be Visited by Senior Citizens", we decided to go ahead with our plan.

My decision to accompany my husband to Ladakh had nothing to do with the tourist circuit. Having visited Ladakh four times during my husband's tenure, I had visited all the historic gompas, tasted the gur-gur chai, seen the picturesque masked dances, picnicked at the banks of the Indus and the Shyok rivers, purchased a couple of thangkas, et. all. However, during that period, families were not allowed to cross the Khardungla Pass for reasons of security. As the scenario was different now, it became a huge motivating factor for me to venture into the beyond.

The flight from Delhi to Leh took off in favourable weather, for which we were grateful, as any turbulence could have resulted in cancellations. Looking down from the window as we flew over the Himalayas, I felt a strong twinge of disappointment. The majestic peaks, once covered with a thick blanket of snow, appeared so barren! Global warming had taken

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its toll, and the snow had reduced drastically. Sadly, those lofty peaks looked more brown than white.

We began our sojourn after a day of mandatory acclimatisation with a visit to Nimu. This was a trip down memory lane for us. Thirty-five years earlier, my husband had commanded his unit there. Never, for one moment, had we imagined that we would revisit the area. Looking around at the landmarks that still looked so familiar, I felt myself going back in time to the days that we had spent here.

Tea at the Confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar Rivers

A lot had changed, and yet it looked as if nothing had changed. At the request of the troops, the unit had been tasked to build a temple there, and we were very keen to see it now. Entering the temple to offer our obeisance was a surreal experience.

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It was also very gratifying to see that the small apricot sapling that had been planted long ago, was now a fully grown tree, ready to bear fruit.

Nimu: The Location of Our Regiment in 1988-89

Hot lunch had been organised with great thought by the local Brigade Headquarters, in a glass house constructed by my husband's regiment on the banks of the Indus River. The officer who dined with us was totally fascinated by the incidents that my husband related to him while he was serving in this area. Escorting us back to our vehicle, he told us, much to our mild amusement, that he hadn't even been born at that time.... a fact check that became common during a large part of our trip!

We also got an opportunity to see the place visited by Prime Minister Modi to view the expanse of the River Indus. The view-point provides a breathtaking panorama of the majestic Zanskar Ranges and the serene waters of the mighty river that spawned the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.

I also made friends with a local dog who kept following me for quite a distance.

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The afternoon was spent making a short trip to Leh market. Thirty-five years is a long period of time, almost a generational change. Yet nothing prepares one for the change till you actually face it. Leh, the capital, once a sleepy ‘one yak town’, was unrecognisable...gone were the locals in their traditional dress, the goncha or sulma, prayer wheels in hand, smilingly greeting the few people they met with a "Juley"! The city was bustling with tourists from every part of India, many totally ill-equipped in their clothing for that kind of weather and terrain. The one solitary shop that had once sold pearls that it claimed were from China, was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a thriving market, full of local and Kashmiri goods. Cars could be seen everywhere, and the erstwhile polo ground was now a "Pay and Park". The local economy was obviously going northwards!

In the evening, we had the privilege of visiting the Hall of Fame, located near the Leh Airfield. It is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian Army, in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars. In addition, the museum imparts a lot of information about the rich culture, as also the flora and fauna of Ladakh.

While going around the museum, and listening to the powerfully delivered commentary by the uniformed personnel, one is reminded of the exemplary bravery displayed by the soldiers in defending the motherland.

A "Sound and Light "show depicts a documentary on Operation Vijay. A particularly moving sight is a framed letter, on a wall named "The Last Post." This was the last letter written by Capt. Vijayant Thapar to his parents, a few days before he laid down his life for the country.

We set off for Khardungla the next day on a cold, crisp and bright morning. In no time at all, the weather changed, as is common in the hills. It started raining, followed by heavy snowfall. The clouds seemed to be touching the road, making visibility difficult. Our very capable driver had to alight from the Fortuner to tie ice chains to the wheels of the vehicle to prevent it from skidding on the sharp bends. Amongst all of this, I felt a lot of admiration for the bikers driving up to Khardungla, the highest motorable road in the world at a height of 17,982 ft, undeterred by the weather.

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The drive to Khardungla is captivating. Every turn of the road gives one a different glimpse of the icy beauty of the mountains. On reaching the pass, one feels as if one is literally on top of the world...as is claimed very proudly by the Border Roads Organisation.

The organisation is doing a stupendous job by constructing roads in the most challenging terrain. Not only do the roads connect far-flung regions, the ride is smooth, there are no pot holes, no speed breakers, safety railings are in place.... a far cry from the jolts and bumps one gets on the city roads.

Khardungla Pass wore an air of cheer and merriment because of the number of tourists frolicking in the snow and enjoying the snowfall. One almost expected to find the proverbial Maggi or Momo stalls there. On the other hand, the area was also full of the men in olive green, most of them going up to man the various posts at the border.

Faujis stand out in a crowd, even the retired ones. On seeing us, many of the soldiers billeted there came over to meet us. Piping hot tea and biscuits were served in the bukhari -heated warmth of their shelter, which I felt privileged to share. Their care and concern in escorting me back to the vehicle, lest I lose my balance on the slippery road, was touching!

Our journey resumed with a short stop at North Pulu, and for lunch at a detachment that had its very own charming wishing well, all of two feet deep, making a pretty picture. After crossing the picturesque Nubra Valley, and undertaking a very bumpy ride on the riverbed, as the road was closed for maintenance, we reached Hundar in the late afternoon.

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After a short stop to view the sand dunes and the double humped Bactrian Camels, we reached Partapur. The two-day stopover at the comfortable guest room was a welcome one! The quaint gift shop, built around a tree, had some very interesting items, including a 'Modi Jacket ' made out of organic debris that had been collected at the glacier and recycled.

The next destination in our itinerary was one that I had been looking forward to most eagerly...a visit to the Siachen Base Camp, something I felt would never have been possible for me earlier.

Siachen Warriors are the real heroes, officers and men who serve selflessly and willingly at the most inhospitable battlefield in the world, at heights of 20000 ft and above. It was amazing to see their spirit and eagerness to serve at the

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glacier after their mandatory period of acclimatisation (or climate, as the troops called it), was over. There was no hesitation, no qualms, no fear to be seen, just 'josh', and a desire to be at their posts as soon as possible.

We were very fortunate to meet a group that at that very moment had descended from the glacier, still wearing their protective gear...the parkas, sun-goggles, ropes that tied them to each other to prevent an inadvertent fall in a crevasse, among other items. They were welcomed by the religious teacher under a tent, where big containers of water, tea and juice had been laid out. After a brief rest, all of them went to offer their thanks at the unit ‘Sarv-Dharm-Sthal’, a place of prayer unique to the armed forces – all religions are worshipped as one, and religious symbols of different faiths find a place together. The conflict between your god and my god finds no place here.

The ‘Sarva-Dharma-Sthal’ at the Siachen Base Camp is unique in another manner. It is called OP BABA MANDIR, and has a photo of OP BABA...a highly revered martyr, who, it is believed even now guides the

soldiers posted there. It is a regular custom for the soldiers to visit the temple before ascending the glacier and descending from it, to seek blessings while fighting the enemy, the weather and the terrain, and to give thanks on their safe return.

The army is anything but superstitious...this gesture of paying obeisance can best be understood by those who have served in that inhospitable terrain, where not even a blade of grass grows, breathing is an exercise by itself, and constant vigil is required against the enemy.

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Chance Meeting with Border Roads Personnel on Road Partapur-Pangang Tso

Our next stop was at Pangang Tso, with its beautiful waters in changing hues of blue and green. The lake is situated at a height of 13,860 ft, and is the highest saltwater lake in the world. Waters of the lake are considered holy by the locals. I was mystified to see that a feature called Garnet Hill that I had seen looming large and prominent during earlier trips, was no longer existing. Raw, unpolished garnets were found there, and we, ecologically insensitive, would get a thrill in picking up a piece as a keepsake. No small wonder that the hill had got denuded to a small mound.

The Bombay Sappers IWT detachment posted there took great pride in escorting my husband, himself a Bombay Sapper, around. I was fascinated to see the boats and the way they were equipped with armaments to keep the enemy at bay. Not so fascinating, to my mind at least, were the scooters lined up on the river bank for tourists to drive "Three Idiots" style. The garish plastic chairs placed there looked totally out of sync with the serene environment. But then, tourism does come at a price!

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A major highlight of our trip was to the heritage abode of Col. Chhewang Rinchen, MVC and BAR, SM, of the Ladakh Scouts. During the 1947-1948 Indo-Pak War, Col. Chhewang Rinchen, along with twenty-eight volunteers had successfully blocked the advance of Pakistani raiders to Leh for over a month. He was just seventeen years old at that time, and became the youngest recipient of the Mahavir Chakra. In 1962, he was awarded the Sena Medal for his brave deeds in the Indo-China War. He was awarded the Mahavir Chakra for a second time for his unorthodox technique based on guerilla warfare during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Our escort, also from Ladakh Scouts, Hav. Mohd Salim, was justifiably full of pride when he showed us around the house, now converted into a well-maintained museum.

Tangtse, at a height of 14,145 ft, was our next stop. The guest rooms, situated over the river, made a pretty sight. Breathing became slightly laboured now, the wind icily cold, no running water as it had frozen in the pipes, electric supply by the generator....and a warm welcome with the hot chai that one had got so used to having, wherever we stopped.

The guest rooms overlook a small lake, full of healthy trout. The local Buddhist population believe that the souls of their departed rest in these fish. As a mark of respect towards the local tradition, no fishing is done in the lake. Pashmina goats, which I saw for the very first time, foraged peacefully for the few blades of grass nearby.

After an early dinner and the daily mandatory check of BP and O2 level, we decided to retire for the night. The helper, after lighting the huge kerosene fired bukhari bid us goodnight, telling me to press the bell in case of an emergency. I was slightly mystified, but didn't give it too much thought, as my medical parameters were just fine. However, feeling uncomfortable, I woke up in the middle of the night. Fortunately, being a veteran of two high altitude tenures, my husband quickly shut the offending kero-bukhari and opened a window partially, to let the icy cold fresh air in. After a little while, I started

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feeling better and slept peacefully, while my husband, not wanting to take any chances by closing the window, had to suffer the cold through the rest of the night. Our helper, prescient as he was, was puzzled to see a half-opened window the next morning. We preferred not to enlighten him.

I had read somewhere that certain events are linked together by the threads of time, even if they occur far apart. In the 1980's, waiting for our turn for army accommodation in Jodhpur, we had been allotted a house in a civil area that belonged to Maj. Shaitan Singh's family, aptly named 'Rezang La House'. This significant fact came to my mind as we proceeded in our journey to Chushul, to visit the Rezang La War Memorial. The Memorial was constructed in 1963 in Chushul, situated at an altitude of over 15, 000 ft, at the Indo-China border. It was constructed to honour the troops of Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon Regiment, who on 18 November 1962 had defended Rezang La and the surrounding areas of the Kailash Ranges in Eastern Ladakh from the Chinese aggression.

This attack was led by Maj. Shaitan Singh, who with the troops under his command, fought against all odds in the battle in sub-zero temperatures. Their valour in making the supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives for the country resulted in stopping the Chinese advance into Ladakh.

The memorial, renovated in 2021, stands as a magnificent and solemn testimony to Maj. Shaitan Singh and the brave soldiers who fought to the 'last man, last round '. Our own life and presence pales totally into insignificance, as one moves around seeing the various scenes of the battle depicted here. It is here that the fortuitous chance of having stayed in the house that belonged to such an illustrious war hero struck me with full force.

Chushul is also the place where the BPM hut is located...hut being quite a misnomer. The Border Personnel Meeting point is a beautifully ordained building where meetings are held between senior officials of both India and China. Standing outside the building, one could get a clear view of the Kailash Ranges and the Rezang La Pass and visualise how the enemy would have come down from the high mountains.

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We were privileged to be conducted inside. The tastefully appointed interiors come as a mild surprise in the midst of the snowy wilderness. Two anterooms, one for the Indian delegation and the other for the Chinese delegation, are furnished in accordance with the respective cultures. The main hall, and the conference hall, where the meetings are held, are meticulous in the attention to the smallest detail, while showcasing the rich culture of

India in a discreet manner. As we were requested not to click any photographs inside the building, we dutifully put our cell phones away, and decided to enjoy the hot tea and pakoras instead.

The pride that the soldiers on duty took in maintaining the Hut was evident from the manner in which we were shown around the building. Thanking the staff, who had so willingly taken us around, I was impressed to see the tarmac outside, which had got slightly smudged due to the snow on our shoes, being repainted. A meeting could take place any time, I was told, and everything had to be just perfect.... which it undoubtedly was!

Our last and final halt was at Chumathang, at an altitude of 13,000 ft. By this time, I had learnt how to coexist with a kero-heater, so the warmth in the guest rooms was welcome. Chumathang is fast becoming well known for its sulphur springs. The guest room too had a jacuzzi filled with sulphur water, which, however we decided to give a miss.

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An early dinner, a good night's rest, and the next day we were ready to take the long drive to Tso Morari, the beautiful lake at 14,836 ft. The waters at Tso Morari form a breathtaking sight.... blue, serene, unpolluted. At many places the lake was still covered with a thin layer of winter ice. While admiring the beauty of the lake and the surrounding mountains, I felt a renewed sense of admiration for the officers and men who lived and served the nation at these altitudes.

Returning to Chumathang for the night, we left the next day for the last leg of our journey, the drive back to Leh via Upshi. After a night's halt at Leh, we boarded the flight back to the hot, dusty, but oxygen infused plains ……. and home.

It a known fact that the armed forces never forget their own. The respect and deference shown to the veterans is legendary. We bore testimony to this fact and more during our entire trip. The amount of love, affection and warmth showered on us by the officers and the men whom we had never met and shall probably never meet again, was truly overwhelming. They were fascinated to know that my husband had commanded his unit in these areas long back .... nothing unusual in itself for a large part of the army, but to want to revisit the difficult terrain, wife in tow, to relive those memories, seemed to strike an emotional chord in them.

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The memories of this trip shall remain with me for a lifetime...something to be treasured and revisited in my mind over and over again, cherishing every moment of the time spent amongst the brave defenders of the nation.

 

Agnipath: Time to Stop This Detrimental Diatribe Against the Policy

 

Major General Mrinal Suman

 

Agnipath scheme was announced by the government on 14 June 2022. Trained Agniveers have already joined their units and are deployed on the national frontiers. Here is a first-hand ground report.

·         Unit commanders and other officers are extremely happy with their professionalism, commitment and drive. Most of them find no difference between the fighting prowess of a regular and an Agniveer

·         JCOs who interact with the Agniveers more intimately are impressed with their education and ability to absorb military norms – they are fast learners and are quick on the uptake. They appreciate the speed with which Agniveers have imbibed regimental spirit and become an integral part of the unit family.

·         Regular soldiers are full of praise for their physical fitness, enthusiasm and keenness to excel. They bond well and have developed strong group cohesion.

·         The services are delighted that the scheme is proving beneficial without any adverse effects. They are eagerly looking forward to having soldiers with a younger age-profile.

·         The government is satisfied that a long overdue reform has been a success. It has declared its intent to streamline and finetune the scheme further, as it gains experience and receives feedback.

·         Most importantly, Agniveers are highly excited about the opportunity that they have got to serve in the military and earn a badge of honour. Not a single Agniveer in the terrorism-affected Kashmir and the high-altitude areas of Ladakh showed any sign of remorse or discontentment. They were braving the challenging environment cheerfully and enthusiastically.    

If everyone is happy with the scheme, why is this din against it?

Well, we have a group of veterans (some retired two decades ago) who appear to be more concerned about the combat effectiveness of the military than the present commanders. When a retired Chief states, “The fact that this scheme will degrade combat effectiveness is known to all who understand national security”, he casts aspersions on the professionalism of the current leadership. His assertion conveys an impression that either the current top brass does not understand national security, or it is grossly inefficient/ spineless. It is a very serious allegation that paints the present Chiefs in a very poor light.  

Many opponents have called it a hare-brained scheme of a few bureaucrats who know little about the matters-military and national security concerns; and, the scheme was forced on the military. As no one resigned in protest, all military top-brass including the CDS and the three service chiefs lacked courage to resist it. It is a most uncharitable allegation.

Some have gone to the extent of terming the scheme a slap-dash attempt at reducing the pension bill. They keep harping that reduction in financial burden cannot be justified in respect of the services. Very conveniently, and somewhat deviously, they ignore the primary purpose of the scheme, i.e. acquiring a younger profile of the soldiers. They also overlook the fact that the services will benefit immensely by absorbing the best 25 percent of Agniveers.          

Three points need to be flagged here.

One, the final document has been unequivocally accepted by the services – not only by the top brass but at other echelons as well. The scheme has been thoroughly thought through and evolved after consultations with all the knowledgeable stakeholders. It is not a hurried reform.

Two, under Indian Army Agniveer Recruitment Notification 2024, a total of 25,000 vacancies have been released. In response, over 12.8 lakh applications have been received.  Incidentally, it is 10 percent more than 11.3 lakh applications received in 2023. It shows that the popularity of the Agnipath scheme is growing and the misplaced apprehensions peddled by the cynics are abating. The Air Force seems to be doing even better. It has received 7.5 lakh applications for 3,000 vacancies.

Three, many critics have voiced their apprehensions about the likely adverse effect of the scheme on the morale, ethos and regimental spirit. When questioned, all unit officers were effusive in their admiration of the way the Agniveers had got assimilated in their units in such a short time and become valued assets. Due to their youthful profile, Agniveers are much sought after. Most commanders felt that the scheme has improved the combat effectiveness of their units.

Incidentally, a retired FOC-in-C attended a naval function recently and got an opportunity to interact with serving officers and other ranks. According to him, all of them considered Agniveers as a great asset. Everyone admired their enthusiasm, commitment and keenness to excel.

Finally, a Request

The services environment feels that the Agnipath scheme is a resounding success. Units are happy; officers and JCOs are happy; and the Agniveers are happy. Remember the opposition faced by GST initially. It is considered a unique achievement now. Similarly, as the government gains experience, fine-tuning will be carried out to refine the scheme progressively. As the acceptance of the scheme gains further ground, the services will attract more talented Agniveers.

Agreed that some veterans may be finding the Agnipath scheme to be imperfect. Fair enough. They have a right to their opinion. However, if they have any constructive suggestions to offer, they should write a private letter to the Chiefs or the Defence Minister or the Prime Minister. Critical articles by veterans are ruling the social media and are being quoted extensively to spread disaffection and disinformation amongst the public. Worse, such articles end up casting aspersions on the professionalism of the current military brass.

Do the veterans want to be a party to the social unrest that is being unleashed by the elements inimical to our national interests by fanning a sense of insecurity amongst the youth? This detrimental diatribe against the scheme is serving no purpose except helping the enemies of the country who are happy to see our recruitment system getting questioned.   

We must have faith in the competence of our elected representatives, civilian leadership and the services top brass. They do not lack professionalism; and, they are not anti-national who would allow degradation of combat effectiveness. They have been entrusted with the task of ensuring defence of the country and are quite competent to carry out the said assignment. It is not for us, the veterans, to meddle in the affairs of the state. We had our innings. Let us allow the current dispensation to perform its task without unwarranted and ill-informed arraignments.  

 

Ridding India of Caste-Based Elections

  

Major General Mrinal Suman

 

  

Election time is parochialism time in India. All politicians flourish by keeping the electorate embroiled in internal dissentions based on region, religion, caste and language considerations. Overriding importance is assigned to the caste, creed, communal and regional factors. Most obnoxiously, caste-politics are played out unabashedly under the disingenuous taxonomy of ‘social engineering’.

 

Most newspapers carry articles highlighting caste-wise configuration of every constituency to make their predictions. Here is a reprehensibly appalling news item that appeared in a leading daily during the last Bihar elections, “In Arrah and Vaishali districts, saffron candidates seem to be drawing support from EBCs and Dalits. This can help them build upon the solid backing they are getting from upper caste Vaishyas, Paswans and Musahars.” Such reporting is symptomatic of the rot that afflicts the media.

 

The role played by the electronic media is far worse. Focus of every panel discussion is on the caste percentages and likely equations. It is sickening to hear anchors and panellists making divisive statements like – “All Yadavs will vote for Party A”; “Muslims will not vote for Party B”; “All Dalits are with Party C”; “”Kurmis will vote for Party D”; “Brahmins will remain loyal to Party E”; “Mahadalits are with Party F”; “Banias continue to support Party G”; and so on. Pray who will vote as an Indian?

 

Opinion polls and surveys are also carried out on similar lines. The questions are loaded with parochialism – “Will the Muslims vote got divided” or “Are mahadalits angry with Party X” or “Are Yadavs still with Party Y”? Thereafter, the findings are collated caste-wise, translated into vote-shares and analysed at length, thereby inciting partisan emotions. Reprehensible indeed!

 

Unlike BBC and Doordarshan, most TV channels lack resources to have sufficient ground reporters to provide wider coverage across the nation and the world. For them, hosting of panel discussion during the prime-time is the most cost-effective, and perhaps the only option. Call a few aggressive spokespersons and initiate a free-for-all slanging match by throwing in an emotive and contentious issue. What can arouse passions more viciously than caste/religion? Every party plays the caste card shamelessly and yet has the temerity to paint others as communal. There cannot be a more disgraceful display of caste-politics.

In a mature democracy, basis of electoral surveys should be economic progress, developmental matters, employment opportunities, educational facilities, health services and other welfare measures. What do the farmers, labourers and the office-goers feel? What are the aspirations of the

youth? How to bridge the increasing urban-rural divide? Sadly, all issues that impact the well-being of the nation are ignored; only caste and communal loyalties matter.  

If after 77 years of Independence, we are sinking deeper into the morass of parochialism, elections are the root cause of the malady. Media acts a catalyst to spread the virus. Resultantly, the whole environment gets so vitiated that caste equations rule supreme with five highly devastating effects on the body-politic and unity of the country. 

One, instead of making the voters rise above narrow parochial mind-sets, they are repeatedly reminded of their caste and exhorted to stay faithful to it. 

Two, the electorate is brainwashed not to seek accountability from their caste leaders but follow them blindly; even though most of them have acquired enormous wealth and done little for their followers in the past. Worse, many have either been convicted or are under investigation for serious crimes.

Three, assured of continuous support of their caste-based vote-banks, most politicians have converted their parties into family enterprises. They thrive by appealing to the insular instincts of their factions.

Four, stranglehold of caste-politics is so all-pervading that even the parties that want to break free are forced to look for winning candidates as per the caste mathematics of each constituency.

Finally and most unfortunately, merit, competence and honesty of the candidates have ceased to be of any consideration. Only the caste matters. Some well-meaning citizens did try to fight elections to serve the nation, but tasted defeat at the hands of parochial leaders. Resultantly, the country is saddled with leaders of questionable character and quality.

The Current Dispensation

Under Art 324 of the Constitution, responsibility for the ‘superintendence, direction and control of elections’ is vested in the Election Commission. It is the guardian of free and fair elections. Whereas the Representation of the People Act, 1950 deals with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 deals with all aspects of conduct of elections and post-election disputes. Various corrupt practices for which a candidate can invite disqualification have been enumerated in Section 123 of the 1951 Act.

According to Section 123(3) “appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other  person with  the  consent  of a candidate or his election agent  to  vote  or refrain  from  voting  for any person on the ground of  his  religion, race,  caste,  community  or language” is deemed to be corrupt practice. Additionally, “the  promotion of, or attempt to promote, feelings of enmity  or hatred  between different classes of the citizens of India on  grounds of  religion,  race, caste, community, or language”, has been made a corrupt practice by Section 123(3A).

Although the above provisions appear to be highly potent, they suffer from three major lacuna that impair their effectiveness considerably. First, they become applicable only when the election process is on, thereby allowing devious candidates to spew venom to consolidate their parochial constituencies prior to the imposition of the moral code. Secondly, no preventive or punitive action can be taken by the Commission during the currency of the election process. Deviant candidates can be questioned only through election petitions after the declaration of results and by then the damage would have already been done. Thirdly and most surprisingly, there is no provision to challenge the corrupt practices of the candidates who lose the elections. They go scot free.

However, under Chapter III (Electoral Offences), Section 125 categorically states electoral offences include – “Any person who in connection with an election under this Act promotes or attempts to promote on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language, feelings of enmity or hatred, between different classes of the citizens of India shall be punishable, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.” Undoubtedly, it is a dissuasive provision but the legal process is far too long-drawn to be effective.

As regards the conduct of the political parties, Section 29A of 1951 Act empowers the Commission to register associations and bodies as political parties. However, there is no constitutional or statutory provision that gives power to the Commission to de-register political parties on the grounds of violation of any provisions of constitution or any undertaking given to the Commission. Thus, many unscrupulous political parties get away with their parochial agenda.

Election Commission cannot Evade Responsibility

Both the Representation of the People Act 1950 and 1951 under Section 28 and 169 respectively empower the Central Government to make rules after consultations with the Election Commission. However, the Central Government is not bound to accept such views or recommendations of the Commission. On many occasions, rules framed or amended have not been in line with the recommendations of the Election Commission. 

The above constraint notwithstanding, the Supreme Court of India has given far-reaching powers to the Election Commission by ruling that where the enacted laws are silent or make insufficient provision to deal with a given situation in the conduct of elections, the Election Commission has the residuary powers under the Constitution to act in an appropriate manner. From the above, it is amply clear that the Election Commission has enough powers to rid Indian elections of the divisive vote-bank politics. 

 Presently, the Model Code confines itself to four aspects only:- 

a)    Prohibiting announcement of new projects or programme or concessions or financial grants in any form or promises thereof which have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power.

b)    Total ban on the transfer of all officials connected with the conduct of the election.

c)    Ban on the misuse of official machinery for elections.

d)    ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for the guidance of the candidates and the political parties.

As can be seen, there are no guidelines for the print and electronic media. They are at liberty to spread the virus of hatred based on religion/race/caste/community/language amongst the voting public. Paid news is shamelessly camouflaged as genuine surveys to sway the voters in favour of the unprincipled candidates and parties, thereby vitiating the whole environment. 

Therefore, the Commission should enlarge the scope of the Model Code by including the following ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for the media after the issuance of notification for elections:- 

• There should be a total ban on public surveys and opinion polls based on religion/caste composition of the electorate of an area.

•  No article should be allowed to appear in the print media spelling out proportions of different castes in a constituency and predicting their voting preferences. 
•  No TV channel should be allowed to dissect ‘social engineering’ of every constituency to forecast results. In other words, there should be a blanket ban on public discussion of caste-based politics.
• Under Para 16 A of the Election Symbol (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the Commission has assumed power to take away the symbol of a political party  in the event of violation of the Model Code, thereby making the party almost dysfunctional. The Election Commission must exercise this power more resolutely.

 The Way Forward

The current brand of vote-bank politics precludes letting the countrymen stay united and vote without prejudice. Unfortunately, Indian politicians cannot be expected to change as they believe in the ends and not the means employed. If India has to survive and prosper as a cohesive nation, the elections must be made issue and performance based, totally free of the caste card. For that, the erring politicians must be made to understand that any misdemeanour will result in their debarment from standing in elections, thereby sealing their political careers.

In December 2016, a comprehensive paper was prepared by the Election Commission on ‘Proposed Electoral Reforms’. The paper has been put in public domain to keep the people informed. The government must respond to the suggestions of the Election Commission at the earliest.

To start with, powers to make rules should be transferred to the Election Commission, albeit in consultations with the central government. The Commission should also be empowered to suspend/cancel the registration of a political party for misusing religion/caste for electoral gains. Similarly, candidates who repeatedly invoke parochial sentiments to gather votes should be debarred from election.

No political party should be registered unless it allows citizens irrespective of any distinctions of caste, community or the like. It should swear allegiance to the provisions of the Constitution and to the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. It should also submit a declaration not to resort to casteism and communalism for political mobilisation, but to adhere to the principles of secularism in the achievement of their objectives.

It is obnoxious to see the overriding importance being assigned to the caste, creed, communal and regional factors. Caste-politics are being played out unabashedly under the disingenuous taxonomy of ‘social engineering’. The Election Commission is the only agency that has the potential and the power to pull India out of the quagmire of caste-based elections. It is a challenge that it must undertake with due urgency. It cannot waver, as delay will prove perilous for the unity of the country. For that, it is essential that the central government extends full support to the Commission.