The Hindu : Karnataka News : Armed forces have kept militancy in check: Governor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Armed forces have kept militancy in check: Governor

By Our Staff Reporter

Saroja grieves for her son, Prashanth A.P. who died in Operation Rakshak, at the Armed Forces Flag Day function at the Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Tuesday. Also seen are family members of other awardees. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE, DEC. 7. The Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, has emphasised that the country has been enjoying democracy because of the armed forces' commitment to discipline and its non-parochial and apolitical attitude towards issues.

Mr. Chaturvedi was speaking at the Armed Forces Flag Day function organised by the Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement here on Tuesday. Militancy in many States had been settled and insurgency was under control because of the Armed Forces' "balanced application of valour and humility," he added.

The skills and responsibilities of the Indian soldiers had increased because of technological advancement in the defence weapons system.

The advanced weapons system had demanded a high degree of intelligence and education besides sound physic. In the light of this development young men and women should not brush aside a career in the Defence Services. It would be advisable that they seek the career options in the Armed Forces, he suggested.

The Armed Forces, comprising the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, represented the "Indian unity in diversity" and were the finest example of national integration.

More number of "ex-service men participate actively in the progressive affairs of the country to formulate a systematic and disciplined approach to the problems of the nation," he said.

The Minister of State for Labour, Tanvir Sait, who represented the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, promised that the State was ready to launch more schemes for the ex-servicemen and defence personnel.

Reading Mr. Dharam Singh's speech, Mr. Sait said the State could not re-employ ex-servicemen as it was now concentrating on governance and moving towards providing better service with the existing manpower.

The family members of seven soldiers from the State who laid down their lives fighting enemies at the country's frontiers were honoured and presented cash prizes of Rs. 2 lakhs each.

Martyrs

The martyrs are Major Sylvester of Bangalore (who died on August 2, 2002 during the Army's operation Parakram) and Major SMK Ghory Arty of Bangalore (who died on July 1, 2001 during the Army's operation Rakshak). Raghavendra H.P. of Haleyur village in K.R. Nagar taluk (who died on October 9, 2003 during the Border Security Forces' operation Garuda), Prashanth A.P. of Kurubarahalli near Mysore (who died on December 31, 2003 during the Army's operation Rakshak), K.L. Ramesh of Whitefield (who died on January 3, 2004 during the Border Security Force's Bangla-Border operation), Anil Patil of Belgaum (who died on February2, 2004 during Rashtriya Rifles' operation Rakshak) and Shashidhar Kalihal of Dharwad (who died on August 12, 2003 during the Army's operation Rakshak).

Air Vice Marshal (retd.) B.A.K. Shetty and Colonel (retd.) P.T. Muthanna, who have won AVSM and YSM awards respectively, were also honoured.

Colonel (retd.) C.M. Uttaiah, Director of the Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement, welcomed the gathering. Lt. Gen. (retd.) A. Natarajan, Vice Admiral (retd.) P.J. Jacob and Air Vice Marshal Shetty spoke.

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