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CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONS

Lt Gen Prakash Menon (R) and I had an informed discussion on Civil Military Relations. This issue is assuming increasing importance as India rises. As the Indian economy expands , there is an undeniable requirement for the role of its Military to play a significant part in this growth. . We covered a lot of ground in this video. We started with the constitutional framework governing civil military relations and discussed the problems in this equation. We also put forth certain ideas as to how things need to change in various spheres. The questions from the audience were very good and thought provoking. This is a must see .

https://youtube.com/live/z2fXYxyyhaQ?feature=share

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6 responses to “CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONS”

  1. Bhanu VR Nanduri Avatar
    Bhanu VR Nanduri

    Jai Hind General Shankar!

    I have become a regular viewer of your channel and look forward to it every day at 7:30 AM PST. Every one of your interviews or presentation is simply a grade above the stuff you see on other channels. Sir, you out did yourself today and your conversation with General Prakash Menon was exceptional and highly intellectual! I am learning a lot about Warcraft and Statecraft, and have started appreciating the integrity, proficiency and passion of the officer corps of the Indian armed forces.

    Thank you for starting Gunners Shot.

    Best Regards,
    Bhanu

    Reply
    1. Gunners Shot Avatar
      Gunners Shot

      thanks a lot…just tell your friends to join in…I need an intelligent audience

      Reply
  2. M.R.SIVARAMAN IAS Retd Former ED IMF AND Sevretary govt of Indis Avatar
    M.R.SIVARAMAN IAS Retd Former ED IMF AND Sevretary govt of Indis

    This is Sivaraman.IAS Retd
    Excellent debate with balanced views

    The crux of the issue lies in Art 53 of the Constitution
    The Executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President and shall be EXERCISED BY HIM EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH OFFICERS SUBORDINATE TO HIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION.
    Later the President is under obligation to act on the advise of the council of ministers

    The next clause is of the Predident being the supreme commander of the armed forces.
    There is no word politics in the constitution
    When a party or a coslition is sworn in as the govt politics is only at the policy level.
    Execution is entirely as PER LAWS MADE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
    The judiciary is the watchdog to ensure laws are as per the constitution

    The bureaucracy is the core of the executive WHICH HAS TO IMPLEMENT LAWS AND POLICIES AS PER LAWS MADE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
    Bureaucrat obeys a Minister not a politician even though the minister may be a politician.He is apolitical
    So the armed forces have similar responsibilities to protect the country and certainly they CAN DISOBEY ORDERS THEY CONSIDER BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL
    LIKE BOMBING A CIVILIAN POPULATION OR USING HEAVY WEAPONS AGAINST THE CITIZENS.
    There can never be any fusion between the armed forces /BUREAUCRACY and POLITICS..That will end a constitutionsl order.
    Now the Defence Secretsry being in charge of the defence of India.
    HE IS NOT.
    It is the RM who is in charge of defence but in practice the whole cabinet.
    No importance should be attached to that phrase.

    Reply
    1. Gunners Shot Avatar
      Gunners Shot

      Thanks sir…you have brought clarity to the situation.

      Reply
      1. Sivaraman Avatar
        Sivaraman

        My pleasure general.On one occasion I told my Finance Minister Dr.Singh and the PM that I would not change my stand in a particular case but would rather prefer to be transferred.
        PM and the FM then agreed with my stand.

      2. Gunners Shot Avatar
        Gunners Shot

        That was a different era sir….I wonder now…

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