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Guest post by T.R.Ramaswami
Apropos several loose cannons on the so-called coup in January 2012, there is a precedent going back to 1964. Field Marshal Maneckshaw, who was then the Western Army Commander was given instructions by Gen. Chaudhuri, the then chief, to move with troops into Delhi, in case Nehru died, which he did under protest. Chaudhuri did not back Maneckshaw and Maneckshaw was then shifted to Eastern Command. The explanations were given later. This and the so-called “coup scoop” supposed to have taken place in January 2012 have created enough debate.
Many believe that a coup is impossible in India because you need all the army, navy, air-force and the strategic forces commanders. This is amateurish – the more the accomplices, the greater the chances of leaks. All you need is a brigade (50 companies of 100) armed to the teeth. In an urban jungle planes and tanks and even jeeps are useless against foot soldiers as three top Mumbai policemen realised too late against the terrorists. First, electronically and physically isolate Delhi – telecommunications, TV, radio stations, internet gateway, media offices, airports/ road/railway routes. Coup timed when Parliament has full attendance – forthcoming Presidential elections. Just one company can take all MPs. Recall what five men did in Delhi in 2001 and ten did in Mumbai in 2008.
The remaining seal Rashtrapathi Bhavan, North & South Blocks, Supreme Court, IB & RAW HQs, Delhi Police, BSF/CRPF HQs, foreign diplomats and top corporate honchos. With MPs, babus, IB, etc in custody, all other commanders, police and para-military will be only too happy to join the coup. Initial tipping-point success within 24 hours is essential to bring all on board. Since no Lieutenant-General / Major-General or their equivalents need be initially involved things will look normal. Assuming this plan does not work and the other forces mount a counter attack on Delhi – all VVIP hostages will be shot dead by the coup group before they too perish. Delhi will be rubble. As far as the people are concerned, either way it does not matter! Right? Anyone want to be my 2i/c?

Guest post from T.R.Ramaswami
I write with reference to the article “Fighting Terrorism: Time for Deeds, Not Words” by Vice Admiral (Retd) Arun Kumar Singh. He has stated that not a single Home Minister or Home Secretary or the NSA, IB or RAW Chiefs have even offered to resign after terrorist attacks that reveal a signal failure of intelligence. The fact is that these bodies have ceased to instruments of national security. Why should these chiefs resign? Every government from Nehru to Manmohan Singh has misused them for purposes other than what they are supposed to be doing. So they have lost the credibility to sack any of these officers. Let alone resignations, all these chiefs are after retirement made governors or some other ministerial level appointment to reward them for the good work done, not for the country but for the party and the individuals therein. None of these bodies are accountable to anyone except the PM and there isn’t even a Parliamentary Oversight Committee. No party or politician wants this because they also want to misuse these organizations when they come to power. How will you otherwise win a trust vote that requires safe houses and a secret budget?
The establishment mafia has ensured their own security at our cost and is least concerned if a few aam aadmis are victims. Contrast the reaction for these bomb blasts with that when Parliament was attacked and the entire western army was mobilized to satisfy the egos of our MPs. 400 army personnel died with not a single shot being fired by Pakistan. In fact even the identities of the attackers have not been made public leading many to justifiably believe that it was a stage managed affair. That’s why there is a hesitation in hanging Afzal Guru.
The media too is equally guilty as it has shied away from asking these questions.
– T.R.Ramaswami