A sensible appeal by Maj Navdeep Singh (retd)

Many have come in the support of the women & men in uniform after the dastardly attack on the CRPF convoy.

Many have also taken out rallies, burnt effigies and displayed placards in support of our uniformed forces. Needless to state, many have also indulged in violence, all in the name of the fallen.

The anger is understandable. But if you really care for the uniformed community and their families, there is something more you can do, beyond ventilation of anger and negative energy, and that is, ensure that the protectors are not harassed or troubled by the system and red-tape and the clerical mentality that makes life difficult for them.

I would request, instead of burning effigies and shouting slogans, attempt the following:

• Send a post-card to the top political executive asking them to withdraw all appeals filed in the Supreme Court by the Government against disabled soldiers challenging the grant of the disability pensions granted to them by various Courts and Tribunals.

• Send a post-card to the top political executive asking them to withdraw all appeals filed in the Supreme Court by the Government against military widows and families of the fallen against benefits granted to them by various Courts and Tribunals.

• Send a post-card to the political executive requesting them to ensure that the political will and promises to the uniformed community are met and clerical impediments are overruled with an iron fist.

• Whenever you see a news-report or a post on any kind of harassment being faced by a military family when the soldier is away on duty, or by a veteran or his/her family, visit them, assist them, help them.

Believe me, a soldier is much happier in knowing that the citizenry is behind him or her when he or she is deployed and would continue to do so when he or she is maimed or released from service, this would result in the greatest joy to a person in uniform, while violent protests, infighting and communal utterings and actions would have just the opposite effect.

But then I am much aware that the above is wishful thinking. The unexpended energy can only be used for destruction. Sadly, we just played into the hands of the adversary by creating a wedge in our society.

I will be writing the postcards.. hope you will too take out time and do your duty towards our soldiers. Maintain peace friends.. let's not be hate mongers.