'Army chief made irresponsible statements'

OPINION: Jaswant Singh

The honourable Raksha Mantri, on a visit to the North East recently, spoke glowingly about infrastructure development by the People's Republic of China in the adjoining areas of Tibet. It is a thought I can leave with you, Sir, that such statements are just an idea because they serve no purpose, even if they recognise the existing reality. The honourable External Affairs Minister, another very experienced, learned, possibly the most experienced person in the government, had recently made a statement about China. He also made two or three other statements, which I shall quickly cover. On China, he said, which was disconcerting to my mind, "Yes, there have been border incursions, but they are nothing serious." Border incursions are nothing serious!

Somewhere there is a great disjoint in the meaning of these two statements. I press not to answer it, Sir, because it had a consequence thereafter.

Thereafter, Sir, he also said something about the Hyde Act. He said, "We follow only our interest, not the Hyde Act." I heard rather authoritative and somewhat demanding statements by not only the Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, but also a new arrival on Indian shores, on the relevance of Hyde Act. I know that you and your government have said that it will do only that which is in our interest.

Thirdly, Sir, it is about the External Affairs Minister again. It is a very intriguing thing. I should not really be raising it until the discussion takes place on his statement. There is just one rather concise but intriguing sentence that the honourable Prime Minister made during his visit to the People's Republic of China. This is exactly what it says, "PM also took up the issue of trans-border rivers." I would like to caution you, Sir, that the question of the Brahmaputra and the great bend of the Brahmaputra before it debouches into Assam in the North East is a serious situation.

Sir, I have obtained for myself maps from the Space Research Organisation and they show that this gorge of the Yarlung Tsangpo and thereafter the Namcha Barwa mountain, has a drop of 2,000 metres. It is a narrow gorge, and 2,000 metres in a distance of about 15 km, which gives an enormous resource intimate to the people of China. I know there are plans to build a dam there. I would like to know what the response of the People's Republic of China is about that.

Finally, Sir, I must make an appeal to the Prime Minister and my good friend, the Raksha Mantri. Very recently, and repeatedly, some most unwanted, unwise and also, if I might say so, irresponsible and, therefore, unacceptable statements were made by the Chief of the Army Staff on television. This is the first time ever, Sir, in my seven terms in Parliament that I am criticising the Chief of Army Staff. I am mindful of my origin in the Indian Army from where I resigned. I was sadly disappointed. If I might address the honourable Defence Minister, he has termed border incursions, because of difference of approach, as border delineation. But it is not just an approach. It is a determination of the border of the country. The Chief of the Army Staff is certainly not the authority to comment or rule on the importance of encroachments on the border and what the response ought to be. If he was commissioned or authorised by you to say so, I urge you to please revise that authorisation.

It is unbecoming, unwanted, and irresponsible and it is harmful for the dignity not just of the high office that he holds but also for the total responsibility that he carries.

(Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, on March 5)