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Op-ED DECEMBER 17, 2021 | The Indian Eye 14

Gratitude and applause for

a fallen soldier

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

eneral Bipin Rawat hailed able. The long export ban allowed
from a distinguished mili-
Gtary family, and the author foreign companies to corner glob-
al market share and current stocks
had served under his illustrious cannot be quickly diverted to foreign
father, Lt General Laxman Singh shores. But the Indian market isn’t
Rawat, both proud ‘Gorkha’ officers saturated either. Another 58 crore
of the 11th Gorkha Rifles. General doses are still needed to fully vacci-
Bipin Rawat was to be India’s first nate all adults.
Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), and -- Editorial, The Times of India
for the ‘Sword of Honor’ at the Indi-
an Military Academy in 1978, a me-
teoric destiny in the ‘Uniform’ was draGon in the rooM
almost preordained, as he also died he threat of China now choos-
in harness. ing to get its hands dirty is at
In a public conclave, General
Bipin Rawat had succinctly captured tthe heart of this year’s US
Defense Department report on Chi-
the life of an Indian soldier in the na’s military and security capacities.
hallowed institution: “We seek nei- Central to the assessment is the feel-
ther gratitude nor applause because ing that China is fast approaching
we firmly believe in the eternal wis- a point where it feels it can directly
dom of the Urdu couple: Khamoshi challenge the US military and “fight
se banaate raho pehchaan apni, ha-
waaye khud tumhara tarana gaay- and win wars” against a “strong ene-
my”, “coerce Taiwan and rival claim-
engi (Let silence be your identity People pay tributes to Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat who lost his life in the ants in territorial disputes, counter
and your actions will speak for them- Coonoor chopper crash, at Dashashwamedh Ghat, in Varanasi on Thursday (ANI) an intervention by a third party in a
selves).” conflict along the PRC’s periphery,
The soldiers across the seas
He courted controversy both
have their own philosophical way as Army chief and as CDS when he india needS More vaCCineS and project power globally”. The re-
port further adds: “With a force that
of rationalizing life, as the irre- waded into matters outside the re- erum Institute CEO Adar totals approximately two million per-
pressible General George S Patton
once said, “It is foolish and wrong mit of his office. His remarks against Poonawalla has signalled that sonnel in the regular forces, the PLA
the protests over the citizenship SCovishield output will be cut
has sought to modernize its capabil-
to mourn the men who died. Rath- law amendments, comparison of by half with no new purchase orders ities and improve its proficiencies
er, we should thank God that such migration into Assam as an act of forthcoming from GoI. In September, across all warfare domains so that as
men lived.” Bangladesh seeking lebensraum, his Centre had purchased 66 crore Covish- a joint force it can conduct the range
Today, in its wounded moment,
the nation salutes its ‘Soldier’ and approval of lynching as an accept- ield doses which has helped smoothly of land, air, and maritime operations
as well as space, counterspace, elec-
able way of dealing with terrorists in
carry India’s vaccination programme
the ‘Institution’. J&K, description of the Air Force as into December. To ensure that sup- tronic warfare, and cyber operations.”
-- Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh (Retd), a “support arm” of the Army were ply for at least the next four months For India, these developments
The Quint
regrettable. is assured, GoI must make another are ominous. For the moment, Chi-
As CDS, it fell to Rawat to draw large purchase order. It took the bit- na’s stated priority is to secure the
the Good up plans for the modernization of ter experience of the massive Covid reunification of Taiwan with the
Soldier the military and make it an efficient second wave for India to learn the im- mainland. There was a phase where
fighting force, a responsibility he portance of bulk orders and advance this may have seemed possible by
awat’s tenure as Army chief took up with much enthusiasm as it payments. Then GoI lost no time in peaceful means, perhaps using the
coincided with India’s po- was a cause close to his heart. April to release Rs 4,500 crore as ad- old Hong Kong formula of ‘one
rlitical leadership adopting a However, the Integrated Battle vance payments to SII and BB. That country, two systems’.
more muscular policy against Paki- Commands into which he wanted to time, with no advance payments or -- Swapan Dasgupta, The Tele-
stan. reorganize the Army did not materi- bulk vaccine pre-orders and the vac- graph (India)
The stand-off with China at alize, mainly due to costs. Reforming cination drive progressing at a slow
Doklam on the LAC also took place a military is no easy task, but in the pace without ambitious scaling-up Every week, we look at what the top
under his watch. At the time he one year that remained of his tenure, targets, those GoI decisions were a commentators in the Indian media are
was among the first to speak openly he was determined to push them much-needed incentive for SII and talking about and bring to you a slice
about the possibility of India facing a through. BB to increase production capacity. of their opinions and comments
“two-front war”. -- Editorial, The Indian Express SII’s predicament is understand-

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