A cursory glance at the list of gallantry award winners on the eve of Independence day this year confirm the eerie fact that most of those honoured owe their citations of bravery to skirmishes with terrorists. It is a sad state of affairs for a country that fought valiantly to unshackle the yokes of colonialism.
Though not oblivious to threats from hostile neighbours, who have more than obviously made their intentions clear, efforts to quell insurgency in different regions actively engage the nation’s Armed Forces. Exposed now to a new battlefront, reports of our bravehearts succumbing to the bullets of misguided and radicalized youth are disheartening.
While there are inquiry commissions, deputed to look into Army ‘atrocities’, have the vile perpetrators ever thought of the misery they cause to families of the fallen soldiersij The Government should, in all its earnestness, envisage ways and means to rehabilitate the valiant soldiers who now find themselves ‘out of commission’ due to their injuries.
Stories abound about Army veterans being overlooked by local administrations for ‘special’ consideration and left to fight their own battles, trying in vain to make both ends meet. Is this how a grateful nation should be honouring its fallen heroes commended for their meritorious serviceij