Army And Politics : Army Chief Makes Its Position Crystal Clear.
Chief of Army Staff Gen M M Naravane during the annual press conference in New Delhi
Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Saturday asserted that the conduct of the 1.3 million-strong Army will be guided by its ALLEGIANCE to the Constitution and its core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, comments which came in the backdrop of criticism that the military was politicized under his predecessor.
Things become very clear when one says “ We Take the Allegiance to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation Undivided , with Liberty and Justice for All “.
The actual oath is
I hereby solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India, as by law established and that I will, as in duty bound honestly and faithfully, serve in the regular Army of the Union of India and go wherever ordered, by land, sea or air, and that I will observe and obey all the commands of the President of the Union of India and the commands of any officer set above me, even to the peril of my life.”
In fact the USA Armed Forces are more clear by having :
Enlistment Oath.— Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:
I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. (So help me God).”
This should make clear to all, as to where the Armed Forces stand it comes to politics . They have to be ready to defend the Republic from both external and internal aggressions which includes any attack on the Constitution duly established by Law.
Gen Naravane, addressing a press conference on the eve of the Army Day, also said that a “rebalancing” of the overall preparedness along the border with China has been initiated and a raft of measures are being taken including moving advanced weapon systems.
Talking about his overall focus as chief of the army, Gen Naravane said it will be ‘ABC’ — “allegiance, belief and consolidation”, noting that protecting the core values of the Constitution will remain the driving force of his personnel.
