Parents of a commando officer awarded with Shaurya Chakra for gallantry had to drive more than 2,100 km from New Delhi to Bengalaru to attend his cremation there on Saturday as red tape between Defence and Home Ministries did not permit them to travel in a service aircraft. This happened despite clearance by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who alone can only authorise airlift for a civilian in a military plane.
The dilly-dallying between the two departments that forced the 70-plus grieving duo to drive all the way from New Delhi to Bengalaru has led to outrage amongst the veterans. They gave vent to their feelings on the social media with former Army Chief General VP Malik tweeting
“Deepest condolences! Have a safe journey. Sad GOI (Government of India) did not help. Rules are never written on stone. They are modified or changed in special circumstances.”
There was a deluge of messages from the former soldiers offering condolences to the father and condemning red tape that came in the way of t giving permission in such exceptional circumstances when there is a lockdown and rail and air travel are closed.
The deceased Special Forces officer Colonel Navjot Singh Bal, 39, died fighting cancer in a military hospital in Bengaluru on April 9. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra, nation’s third highest gallantry medal during peace time, in 2008 for counter-terrorist operations in Jammu & Kashmir. His father Lt Colonel KS Bal is a retired officer from the Garwhal Rifles. The deceased officer is survived by wife and two sons aged 8 and four respectively.
A day before he passed away, the commando officer clicked a selfie from his hospital bed which went viral on social media. He was highly respected in the Army for his leadership abilities. He diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2018, and in 2019 his right hand was amputated to contain the spread. Despite this amputation, Bal led his men in an exercise in Rajasthan last year.
After he succumbed to cancer, his family was given the option to airlift the mortal remains to Delhi to perform the last rites. Bal’s wife and children were in Bengaluru, so his parents wanted to travel there instead, sources said here.
Following this, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly gave the permission to airlift the parents to Bengaluru in a C-17 plane which was on a scheduled flight there after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat brought the matter to his notice.
However, it was felt that due to the lockdown concurrence of the Home Ministry was needed and the Home Ministry had requisitioned the transport plane. While verbal approval was given by the Home Ministry, some officials in the Defence Ministry insisted on a written approval which Home Ministry officials were not sure they could provide. Bal’s parents had no option but to take the road route.