Major General (retd) G D Bakshi – Please be Tolerant of Others Views as a Panelist on Television Debates
The metaphoric Bribe – Bomb dropped by the Chief of the Indian Army, has riveted both media and public attention in equal measure, ever since it rolled into the public domain. Television channels have gone into an overdrive and are working overtime to pick up the bits and pieces of this most intriguing story, involving the Chief, Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh and the Raksh Mantri. As of now the entire matter is hugely open to assumptions and conjectures, premised upon the claims, denials and acceptances of the main protagonists in this tragedy that has gripped the interest of the Nation. With the matter now being with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an inquiry and probe into the matter, to elicit the truth and enable it to come to a closure in a definite time frame; will slowly put to rest some of the speculations which go around in the absence of established evidence. While that may be so, another drama which will be developing and simultaneously unfurling in the crowded rooms of the Metropolitan Court in New Delhi, when Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh’s defamation suit against the Chief and Others comes up for hearing, will occupy public gaze with even more excitement. However, the progress in this matter will be largely contingent upon the facts, which spill out from the CBI inquiry and will be available to the involved parties for legal arguments to expound their contention.
For the moment, it will be prudent for the TV panelists not to second guess as to what did /did not happen, and not make any arbitrary judgments or else arrive at partisan conclusions while debating a view point. Those, who belong to the Army / Armed Forces must refrain from being unduly overbearing upon their co panelists and monopolize honesty as a trait which is exclusive to them alone. This does not come across as being equitable and maintainable, and thus deservingly invites remarks on the rebound that hurt the collective psyche of all those who wear / have worn a uniform. It must be appreciated in this case that, it is all the Army’s doing and no one else is remotely a party to this sordid fiasco of making an offer of an alleged bribe, verbally reporting it to the Raksha Mantri and thereafter develop cold feet and not pursue it to its logical conclusion. The bureaucrats who comprise these panels are very much within their rights and claims to professional probity and must not be insulted by any patronizing overture that paints a class or creed of people as being venal. Those that represent the Army / Armed Forces in such discussions willy nilly become its mouth piece, with the honorific of an expert ascribed before their names, and thus should refrain from being judgmental about others. The arguments must indeed be hard and strong but the manner and speech, soft and courteous.
Also, it will be well worth remembering that these debates are issue specific and the constraints of time demands of the panelists that, they make their point succinctly and with requisite acuity and focus. It is not possible to encompass and explain matters which are beyond the scope of the discussion and the debate, and make unsubstantiated assertions of a generic nature. While most panelists are experienced, mature and sufficiently knowledgeable about the subject under discussion, there are exceptions who betray this sentiment in one way or the other. It is this which needs to be avoided and controlled. The excitement and privilege of having an opinion must never become the cause for being condescending towards others. While we may continue to remain as savage as we wish to be about another’s view point, it also behoves of us to similarly tolerate others - and all this with the requisite social courtesy. The Nation is watching and the panelist represents the Army / Armed Forces. Therefore, discretion in the matter is imperative.
I do hope that this observation is accepted and taken in the correct spirit and not otherwise.
Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal
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