PLA Was Never A Bogey For The Indian Army, May Be It Was For Some In Lutyen Delhi
By
Colonel Awadhesh Kumar, Special Forces
The PLA has never been a bogey for the Indian Army. It is a deliberate myth created since 1962 by politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats controlling the seat of power in the Lutyen City. The myth has been spread to hide their fear and failures.
The fault was that of the Government of India led by Nehru that the Indian Army was poorly prepared to take on the Chinese in 1962. Yes, Army leadership at the COAS, CGS and Army Commanders of that time should have protested more vehemently, which they had done to a limited extent only.
During the actual battles, the PLA got a taste of Indian fighting capability at Rezang La in Ladhak and many other places in Arunachal. No wonder they withdrew hastily back to their own area in Arunachal, right after reaching the borders of Assam at Bhalukpong. Even in Ladhak they did not advance towards Chusul.
Then in 1967, the PLA got a thrashing of a life time in Nathu La area, which they must not have forgotten till date. In 1986 they were equally surprised during Sumdurong Chu incident by the swift reaction of the Indian Army. The Indian Navy too show cased itself and seeing it the Chinese Flotilla never dared to come anywhere near Maldives. It was the Indian Army which had stood up to the PLA at Doklam in Bhutan, when the rest of the World was watching helplessly. And now Galwan and post Galwan, the World including USA has seen that PLA may have been a bogey for others but never for the Indian Army.
So any one stating that on the eve of the 2004 general elections during a meeting of China Study Group (CSG) reviewing the status of border roads along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with the then Vice Chief of Army Staff while briefing the apex group on strategic roads, stated that the Indian Army had not made any roads in forward areas because the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could use these roads to come into India, is pure bunkum.
The claim is that the then Home Secretary asked the Army general why we were not building strategic north-to-south roads and questioned the delays in doing so. The Home Secretary shot back that at this rate India should also stop building roads in Delhi.
Well right after Sumdurong Chu, Army has been pressing for infrastructure development in Himalayan region not only North to South but also East to West, and pray who all have been opposing it ? A Study Group should find this out in minutes of details. Also is not the Home Secretary responsible to look after the Internal Security ? What were the Home Minister and Home Secretary doing to ensure that the border States are fully developed for unhampered movement of BSF, ITBP and the SSB?
Sixteen years later, the Politicians at the helm in New Delhi have finally shrugged off the bogey of the PLA and stopped the Lutyens “ DHOTI SHIVERING “. They have now not only permitted the Indian Armed Forces to stare down at the Chinese in Ladakh but are providing all the required support at the National level. Now we are learning to fight as a Nation not merely the Indian Army carrying out its duty. This time gains of heights in Ladhak will not be sacrificed on the political front like 1965 Hajipir and 1972 Shimla agreement.
On June 15 Galwan late Col Santosh Babu and his men engaged in hand to hand combat with their adversaries, and proved the fact that skills of Shaolin Temple were in fact exported from India to China.Also the Manchu downfall had commenced due to actions of Bihari Soldiers in China. This fact must not have gone unnoticed by the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party.
That now New Delhi thinks differently was shown when the Prime Minister of India himself went to Ladakh to boost the morale of the Indian Army and the way the Indian public gathered to honour the fallen. That now there was no DHOTI SHIVERING was clearly shown by acknowledging the sacrifice of a Deputy Leader of the Special Frontier Force, a so called secret force whose existence is well known world wide. Their contribution to Indian cause in Bangladesh liberation, Siachen operation and earlier manning of LAC in Ladhak had been largely ignored because our political- diplomatic bosses were fearful of Chinese displeasure. Remember how the system had ganged up against George Fernandes when as Raksha Mantel, he had bluntly stated that China was our potential enemy number one.
As on date the Prime Minister and his Cabinet have clearly stated that henceforth there will be NO BUSINESS with China as Usual.Also it has not been left as a mere statement but actions have been initiated on various fronts to give decoupling a concrete shape.
It is now the turn of the PLA to face the harsh winter of their Chinese Occupied Ladhak. Their military exercise has suddenly turned into a permanent deployment …..Now the great logistic nightmare is staring them in face. How much and how long the conscripts of theirs will obey the Commissars will be clear very soon. On the other hand the Indian Army is manned by volunteers.
The Chinese politburo has this time totally miscalculated. Xi Jumping it seems failed to notice the fact that Shri Modi had first time taken him to Sabarmati to talk peace. However the next meeting was at Mahabalipuram.
It was to tell him that Indians know how to handle the Chinese, as it is ingrained in our DNA as had been shown by the Cholas. In case no timely actions are taken by Xi Jinping, he soon may be seeing the independence of not only Tibet but even Xinjiang. Next year is the 100th year of founding of Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
