Sources say Army chief General Bipin Singh Rawat believes that soldiers are meant to fight and serve at the front, not help retired army generals with canteen duties or caddying them around golf courses.

In pursuance Army chief General Bipin Singh Rawat has ordered that no assistants (sahayaks) be placed at the disposal of retired generals and that soldiers not be allowed to stay in coveted stations such as New Delhi or other big cities for a period exceeding their tenure as part of his efforts to reform certain aspects of the army’s policies and behaviour that seem to be driven by legacy rather than logic, according to people familiar with the matter.

According to these people, who asked not to be identified, both the decisions are in keeping with Gen Rawat’s focus since he took over his first command (a Gorkha battalion):

Sources says that Rawat believes that soldiers are meant to fight and serve at the front, not help retired army generals with canteen duties or caddying them around golf courses.

According to people familiar with the matter in the defence ministry, this has stirred things up with the former army men taking up the matter with the defence minister that hasn’t changed anything, though.

Army Headquarters has made it known that commanding officers will be held responsible in case jawans belonging to their units are found at the disposal of retired generals.

On the second issue, the Army chief shifted out his personal drivers, who had completed six years in Army House, to other stations, the people familiar with the matter said.

He has replaced his trained VVIP drivers who know the chaotic Delhi roads well with a fresh set of personnel, including one from Dimapur in Nagaland. This rotation is not limited to jawans but goes right up to the top echelons of the Indian Army.

The instructions are clear that equipment should be battle ready even if other platforms are cannibalised for much-needed spares. While platforms should be ready, there should be enough ammunition in the inventory.

The army believes that it needs 10 days of ammunition inventory to take on Pakistan but 30 days if it comes to the formidable PLA.

All this resulted to interesting questions that why Army reacted matters are leaked to media and the confidential strategies are made open to public.

Is this to give impression that war on Pakistan during election period to give a political advantage to the ruling establishment?!

Whatever may the reasons the attributed leaks adds value to the our charges that BJP government used Army services to score for political mileage says Principle opposition party in India.