Скачать или смотреть POLITICIZATION AND SAFFRONIZATION OF INDIAN MILITARY

The appointment of Gen Bipin Rawat as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has marked a new course in the civil-military relations in India.

General Rawat’s appointment explains that developing and overtly displaying political inclinations can instigate military men to ascend to upper echelons of power.

Analysts have already pointed out that the politicization of armed forces will result in promotion of politically-motivated officers.

Rawat had raised several controversies regarding his political ambitions by issuing political remarks against Indian minorities, Kashmiri protestors, mass protests against Citizenship Amendment Act and neighbouring states like China, Pakistan and Myanmar.

General Rawat’s appointment as the CDS has materialized following an amendment in Indian services rules for Army, Air Force and Navy along with the carving out of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in Indian Defence Ministry.

Bipin Rawat was blamed for politicization of military and fingers were being pointed towards Indian Army to serve the election cause of BJP.

India’s so-called 2016 surgical strikes were also domestically dubbed as PM Modi’s political capitalization of a military operation.

In April 2019, Uttar Pradesh CM, Yogi Aditiyanth, had referred to Indian Army as “Modi Ji ki sena (Modi’s Army)” during election campaign which was strongly disliked by retired military community.

Increased involvement in domestic affairs might also compromise military preparedness for external threats.

On societal level, the politicisation of armed forces brings along a militarized society.

India has opted for a retrogressive path as its dependence on military for gaining political ends is bound to come at the cost of a decreased civilian control.

In the longer run, a deepening involvement of armed forces in political affairs coupled with an increasing state-wide polarization along communal lines shall borne an ideologically-motivated and a domineering military, calling the shots for civilian administration.