SECTION 2 - (CHAPTER 7)
REPLY TO DEBATE ON THE NEFA ENQUIRY AND
ON OUR DEFENCE PREPAREDNESS
Rajya Sabha, 20 September 1963
Madam Deputy Chairman, I am .indeed grateful to this hon. House for debating for the whole day both the statements. I had the honour to present to this hon. House. When I say, ‘I had the honour to present ‘, I do not mean that I was ever proud to present the statement about the NEFA enquiry because it was certainly a disquietening document, a document which conveyed a sort of self-criticism which was essential not only in the interest of the Army itself but which was necessary in the interest of the nation as a whole, and I was looking forward to this debate to have an objective assessment or evaluation of that document. I know that the criticism that was made, though it was off the mark on many points, was actuated by the concern for the defence of the country, and therefore I am grateful for whatever criticism was made about it. This document was a sort of self-criticism and this self-criticism was necessary in one sense or the other.
As we all know, though our Indian Army is considered traditionally to be functioning for a couple of centuries, the Army of the Republic of India has been functioning only for the last sixteen or seventeen years. Formerly it was functioning as part of a bigger military machine under a different military leadership for other political objectives. And as in any other field, in the field of military operations also it is not the theoretical knowledge that is of any use but really speaking, ultimately it is the experience which is a great teacher. Looking to the experience of our Army from this point of view the experience of our Army was limited to the last sixteen or seventeen years. Whatever little military operations we had was in the Hyderabad area which was in the nature of police action— I am not underestimating the value of those operations—and similarly in Goa while there was some bigger operation in Kashmir. And that was certainly quite a valuable experience but as a matter of fact what happened in the last year in NEFA, Ladakh and in the eastern part of NEFA near Walong was certainly a major experience for our Army and it was necessary to evaluate properly what we learnt in that experience for the benefit of the Army in the future.
I was expecting some sort of criticism from the defence point of view. Of course, certain political considerations do get connected with defence preparedness and defence considerations. I do agree, but I was rather disappointed, I must say, that most of the criticism here was aimed at with certain political objectives in mind. My friend, Mr. Dahyabhai Patel, made a remark that while I was making the statement, I was interrupting the Prime Minister who later on made a statement white-washing what I said. I think there is nothing farther from the truth than that. I can tell this hon. House that my statement on the NEFA enquiry had been prepared with the approval and full consent of the Prime Minister.
And there was no question of the Prime Minister whitewashing what was said by me because what I had said was on behalf of the Government and with his previous consent. So this type of approach is rather a wrong one. I just wanted to mention this first.
