Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (mb)
from special correspondent

New Delhi / Panaji, Nov 29: Shantaram Naik said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the use of armed forces and para-military forces for handling law and order situation should be done sparingly. 

Naik who was participating in a debate on The Shashtra Seema Bal Bill, 2006 in the Rajya Sabha said that when armed forces are used for the purpose of maintaining law and order they have to bear abuses from the civil society which is not desirable considering the status of army.

Naik said the armed forces remain awake so that we should get a sound sleep.  It is on account of the affections and the concern that people have for the armed forces that tears were seen in the eyes of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when Lata Mangeshkar sang the line "kuch yaad unhen bhi karlo jo laut ke ghar na aaye" in the song "He mere watan ke logo'.

Naik said army should not be  exposed to enemies on account of mistakes of the politicians. He reminded the members that when former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was having a bus ride, the Pakinstani army had entered Kargil area, and similarly, when Vajpayee was in China, the Chinese army had intruded into Arunachal Pradesh.

Naik said that India should keep a vigil while the Pakistani president  Musharraf gives up his uniform, as it is likely that at this juncture, he may encroach into Indian territory either putting the blame on a new chief of army or for his own design to dismantle the election process in his country.
    
Naik also said that criminal cases decided by army courts should not be subject to the supervision of normal courts in the interest maintaining discipline  in the army.

Naik also suggested that transportation of army personnel should now be done through civil aircrafts instead of trains in order to avoid constant tussles of army personnel with the civilians at the railway stations,  and also for the reasons that air fares have now been substantially reduced. 

He also suggested that apart from providing telephone facilities to the army personnel to contact their dear ones at home, they should be provided facilities to contact their family members through video systems.

Naik suggested that corruption prevailing in the procurement of food and other articles for the army should be curtailed in order to maintain the image of army personnel. 

Union home minister Shivraj Patil replying to the debate, agreed to provide airline facilities for the transportation for army personnel and also appreciated the issue raised  by Naik as regards curbing corruption in the matter of procurement of food articles for the army.