The month was July-2026. The venue was Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The agenda was (ostensibly) to protest against absence of accountability at the higher-levels for the lapses in a national-level entrance exam. A generous number of videos and reels were uploaded on the YouTube, showing all that was happening at the venue. A sizeable number of the uploads also carried the abuses and puerile remarks hurled at individuals and institutions during the protest. Though unsure of general credentials of the protestors (unwittingly calling themselves cockroaches), one got the impression that not many of them had (or could have) any serious stake in any professional, national-level competitive exam. Most of us were shocked at their conduct but chose to remain quiet. The Supreme Court too bought its peace. Instead of taking a serious view of the bile that was openly spewed at Jantar Mantar, it allowed the incivility-of-the-grossest-variety to practically go scot-free. Un-retributed. The anarchists and their apologists predictably suggested to the “intolerant” Indians to be more tolerant and not make mountain of a molehill. They were all over, trying to placate the offended public to better appreciate the sentiments underlying the expletives used during the protest. Though not very explicitly, they also required the country to update itself on the emerging grammar of protests.
At the core of what transpired at Jantar Mantar was politics. Evidently in the garb of an issue of national import. But one wouldn’t want to color this blog political. Let’s worry ourselves to what was said about our armed forces during the protest. Add to that what has been said about the same armed forces elsewhere at various points in time in the past by others. The armed forces include here Army, Navy, Air Force, CAPF and (to the chagrin of some) the state police. Is there a vicious campaign by the India-baiters, from outside and within, to vilify, humiliate and demoralize the armed forces ? To unfang them so that they are rendered inconsequential when they are needed most. To preserve the integrity of our nation and to maintain the civil order. Let’s ignore the abuses hurled at the politicians and their proxies at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere. Why ? Elementary. They have a host of platforms to respond from which our armed forces don’t.
Remember the World War I during which about 34,000 of those served the Indian Army were killed in action in various geographies of the world. What did they die for ? For a large measure of single-malt whiskey, medium rare steak and tiramisu for dessert ? India committed over 2.5 million soldiers to the World War II. Nearly 87,000 of them laid down their lives. They fought against Germans, Italians and Japanese. For what ? For fatter year-end bonuses and paid-vacations overseas for their families ? Uri witnessed killing of 23 soldiers in one single terrorist attack in 2016. Pulwama became a graveyard of 46 soldiers who were killed in the suicide bombing of a CRPF camp in 2019. What were these Bravehearts doing in Kashmir ? Happily pedalling boats at Dal Lake and picnicking on Wazhwan ? Were the Indian armed forces offering to the country the “value-for-money” when they sent back over 3,000 of their dead in coffins during the three wars with Pakistan ? What about Bangladesh liberation war which witnessed death of nearly 3,800 Indian soldiers. Did they cross over the border to savour Panta-Ilish and kacchi biryani in Dhaka ? What about over 1,400 deaths linked to Pakistan-sponsored acts of terrorism in the last thirty years many of whom were the soldiers from the state police. Did these police personnel choose to meet their maker as they had tiffs with their spouses over their pets the night before ? Lest we forget, over 2,400 security personnel were killed in the last twenty years at the hands of the Naxalites in the Red Corridor. Were these security personnel vacationing in the Naxal-affected areas, enjoying off-roading, trekking and other adventure sports ?
For a moment let us ignore the comments made on the others (e.g., politicians, bureaucrats, judges, journalists etc.) at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere and look at how the crass has been heaped upon the forces by some shameless Indians.
Neela toilet ke liye, laal bathroom ke liye (the blue one for commode and the red one for bathroom). This is how the forces were taunted by a cockroach during the event organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) last month at Jantar Mantar, comparing the personnel of the forces donning blue to toilet cleaning liquids.
https://youtube.com/shorts/1Sj2bH4tR-4?si=PUpl259a-cLhcWN5
Police-waaley ka tatta noch lenge. (We will crack the nuts of the police personnel). This threat was issued during the same event organized by the cockroaches.
https://youtube.com/shorts/TnhpKFTTt4g?si=WOBd9b-bu2CcaqlL
Desh ke naam par thoo ho. (You are a blot on the reputation of the country). Fuck Delhi police. Fuck Indian army. Maa ki ch**t, tumhari. (I curse your mother’s womb). Desh ke jawan border par hamarey liye nahi, satta par baithey logo ke liye hain. (The forces at the borders are for those in power, not for us). Yet another example of crassness at display during the CJP’s event whilst trying to provoke the forces deployed there.
https://youtube.com/shorts/YyolG2tSK9w?si=W8u7lwIk2df9gZEZ
On the first day (of Operation Sindoor), we were completely defeated. Guess who did this observation come from. It’s a tweet by Prthiviraj Chavan, a Congress leader from Maharashtra. Could one ask for more encouraging words from a career politician who claims to be an Indian but sounds every bit a Paksitani.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/we-were-defeated-on-op-sindoors-first-day-congress-leader-prithviraj-chavan-refuses-apology-bjp-calls-remark-anti-army/articleshow/126033494.cms
The Indian soldiers were being thrashed by the Chinese army in Arunachal Pradesh. True to his designs to undermine the reputation of every Indian institution, the ever-in-the-making Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took the “great” trouble of informing the un-informed Indians of this development whilst speaking about the clashes with Chinese in December-2022. A “great” gesture on his part to pep up the forces which have been sacrificing their lives to protect our borders. The Supreme Court did rap him with the famous observation “If you are true Indian…….” but when it came to taking any substantive action, it too looked the other way.
https://news.abplive.com/news/india/sc-stays-defamation-case-against-rahul-gandhi-over-galwan-remarks-but-criticises-his-comments-1792625
Only 10 per cent of the country’s population (i.e., the ‘upper castes’) get opportunities in corporate sectors, the bureaucracy, and the judiciary… even the Army is under their control. These aspersions on the forces were cast by the serial offender Rahul Gandhi whilst campaigning during Bihar elections last year. It wouldn’t take even a child to understand that he was shamelessly wanting to raise unfounded doubts about equity in the recruitment of soldiers in the forces. To what end ? To improve his chances in the electoral politics.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/deeply-shameful-extremely-hurtful-nda-on-rahul-gandhis-remarks-on-army/
Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi (those who wiped the sindoor off our daughters’ foreheads… we sent their sister to teach them a lesson). This was Vijay Shah, a Minister in the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh speaking on the Operation Sindoor, insinuating that the Muslims in the forces have some connect with Pakistan. This is true of some Muslims professionals like doctors, engineers, academicians, government-servants, business-persons empathetic to the agenda of Pakistan, driven by the commonality of religion. It is not uncommon to find many professionals who actively support the religious expedition of Ghazwa-e-Hind. But could one ever find the ilk in our armed forces ? So, wasn’t the statement brazenly intended to create bad blood within the forces ?
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/insult-to-army-congress-slams-bjp-over-mp-ministers-remarks-on-col-sofiya-quresh
Sadak ka gunda, remember how a Congress non-leader, Sandeep Dikshit, had described General Bipin Rawat (the first CDS) as. Where do you think he got the gumption to make such a statement from. Elementary. He knows, like all other India-baiters, he too will get away without facing the consequences.
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/sandeep-dikshit-after-calling-army-chief-sadak-ka-gunda-what-i-said-was-wrong/713332/
Has India become a nation of the ungratefuls ? Have we become so presumptuous about the safety and the security of our country that we are unheedful that the two are to be delivered by our forces eventually. The forces which have been humiliated repeatedly but are still expected to deliver. Wait till the next. Till the next terrorist attack sponsored by Pakistan takes place. Till the next time a home-grown jihadi blows up a crowded market. Till the next gang-rape is perpetrated by an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant in the rural India. Till the next time a local politician preys a woman in a commoner’s family. Till the next Bahubali kills a law-abiding citizen in the broad daylight. Till the next set of religious fanatics drive non-believers out of their homes. Can the nation expect the same forces to come to our rescue whose insults we always kept mum at.
The armed forces, institutionally speaking, have kept quiet and do not respond to the repeated instances of disrespect. The personnel manning the forces are not allowed to respond to insults or violence against them individually. Besides the service rules, the Article 33 of the Indian Constitution empowers the government to restrict the fundamental rights of the forces. To what end. To ensure proper discharge of their duties and maintenance of discipline. The armed forces cannot form unions. They cannot independently approach the law & order machinery, neither individually nor institutionally. They cannot seek remedy from the judiciary sans the approval of the government. No matter if they are insulted, abused, cursed, injured, maimed or killed. Their angst against the ungrateful public is left for the bureaucracy and the polity to handle (or not). Isn’t it time that the forces accessed, directly and independently, the law & order machinery and the courts to seek remedy to the hurts that are caused to them in course of their duties. Isn’t it time that the ungratefuls from amongst us are held legally accountable for every such hurt that they cause to the forces. The constitution and the service rules should not force the forces to continue to take shit. It’s time for the forces to raise their voice and be heard. The shit has hit the fan.