I dont know which spokesperson from the government has given the statement of state funeral, but this is an idiotic statement. State Funeral for the First Field Marshall means when dignitaries are present. I think the spokesperson has got confused with 32gun salute as the only laid down protocol of state funeral. It is a shame that our own illiterate, uneducated politicians don't know Sam Maneckshaw but Barrack Obama, got time to give a publicly condolence statement for FFM Sam Maneckshaw. When will our politicians learn ethical politics. May be winning an election in India is too easy for them.
Very unfortunate, the political leaders do not have even minimum respect to the nation hero. Karunnidhi was from the state where he dead. Karunanidhi should have attended the funeral. Karunanidhi where he will command respect. Karunanidhi, Lallu, ram vilas paswan such corrupted leaders should have not survived under Military rule. The democracy was strong because of Such Generals where they never run beside power. Sam manakshaw had opportunity to take the Indian Administration under Military but never did. These slum people became politicians and became billionaires, not even equal to the nail of Sam Manakshaw. Sam was the Director in many Boards. One of the company said that financial position is bad, the people were quoting wrong, the cheque bounce cases may come please think & resign to uphold your esteem. Sam said soldier will never run away from field, let us fight. Where as present politicians amassed wealth, tax authorities are like their house maid servants, never book them & bundle them in jails. Chidambaram Finance Minister himself is corrupted bugger where the nation will go. The inflation so high the civilian will be unrest & it may lead to civil war, at least chidambaram should stop telling lies to public, & take measures. cigerattes, casino, horse races, wine & liquar sale in India is 5 lac crores, hospital people are spending per annum 5 lac crores by the same men. If he stop all above selling in India FM can save 10 lac crore rupees.
Govt. is not convincing in its arguments. Its not the case of only declaring state funeral. For a personality of Sam's stature civility demands that top political leadership from both central and state Adm. as well as other leaders from other fields as cultural or social are present. Sadly, when there was refugee influx in West Bengal and then composite Assam (in 1971), their CM's dashed off panic letters to the Centre for help, but now the CM's of both the states did not have time to offer their respects to their saviour. Its even sadder that Field Marshal Sam does not find a place in GOI protocol. One should remember that by honouring him, all those valiant service personnel who fought for the liberation of Bangladesh are honoured and the nation's pride redeemed.
RE:Re - Govt scoffs rumours on disrespect to Manekshaw
by Lopesh S on Jul 01, 2008 09:48 AM Permalink
If this is how we say goodbye to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, any wonder why Rang de Basanti could successfully tap into the angst of an entire generation?
RE:AK ANtony
by Lopesh S on Jul 01, 2008 09:47 AM Permalink
Former Defence Minister would have positively attended the funeral to give respect to this Field Marshal. Pls note I am not politicising the issue
THANKS to the INDIAN politicians , the breed for which there is no name to describe , opportunistic and self centered Bunch.
At least Mr sam manekshaw left this world peacefully .
He lived a Hero and died a hero and forget the politicians if today they die alos , tomorrow they will be forgotten.BuT people like Sam BAHADUR live in the hearts of all "INDIANS"
It is indeed sad that none of the top political leaders of the country could find time to honour a brave and capable soldier. I think the Govt needs to get its priorities right.
What a shame!. Sam, the Bahadur, died a hero, the hero that it he was, the hero that he will always be. He was the savior of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), he was a great military leader and above all he was a great human being. Our leaders, did not have the time for paying him the last respect. These same scoundrels, will however plan in advance for their funeral pyres and place for their memorials, but could not plan to pay their last respect to a true hero. o Pratibha Patil , the commander-in-chief of the armed forces with all the time in the world: Absent o Hamid Ansari: Vice-president releasing books and writing reviews of books by fellow-travellers: Absent o Manmohan Singh , the prime minister who could do with a bit of the field marshal's charisma and heroism: Absent o Sonia Gandhi : daughter-in-law of the woman the field marshal called 'sweetie': Absent o L K Advani: prime minister in waiting of the party which would like to do to Pakistan what Manekshaw did: Absent o M Karunanidhi and Surjit Singh Barnala: chief minister and governor of the state which Manekshaw had made his home for 35 years: Absent
RE:Shame on them. This shameful deed of our leaders must be condemned by all Indians.
by Lopesh S on Jul 01, 2008 09:17 AM Permalink
Politicians may have their reasons. They always do. Maybe, there are issues like protocol. Maybe, this is one way in which 'civil India' shows the armed forces its place. Maybe, this is why we are not as militaristic as Pakistan. Maybe, the knees are just too old to climb the hills. But what about the armed forces itself? o A K Antony: the defence minister 'now behaving like the chairman of the confederation of the armed forces' trade unions: absent 'due to prior political engagements'. o The chief of army staff: absent (away in Russia) o The chief of navy staff: absent o The chief of air staff: absent The fact that the defence minister was represented by his deputy Pallam Raju, the fact that the navy and air staff sent two-star general rank officers, shows that however high or mighty, however rich or powerful, civilian or military, if you should die as you must, you should do so somewhere in the vicinity of New Delhi -- or Bombay. Or else, they must have some use for you. Or else, too bad.
RE:Shame on them. This shameful deed of our leaders must be condemned by all Indians.
by Lopesh S on Jul 01, 2008 09:29 AM Permalink
'I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla -- although a great many of them in the past have resembled the latter.' The contrast couldn't be starker: o When Amitabh Bachchan was ill after being socked in the stomach during the shooting of Coolie, Indira Gandhi flew down to Bombay to show her concern. o When Dhirubhai Ambani died, L K Advani cut short his Gujarat tour to pay his respects to an 'embodiment of initiative, enterprise and determination'. o When Pramod Mahajan was shot dead by his brother, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekawat had the time to attend the funeral. Our VIPs and VVIPs have time for dead and dying celebrities, charlatans, fixers. Not for a field marshal?
FIRST WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES DID WE PAY OUR RESPECTS.I THINK THE PRESS DOES MOST THINGS FOR THEIR TRS RATINGS, AND ATLEAST THE PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED DO EVERYTHING WE OURSELVES NEED TO DO.
I am holding this opinion because congress will any thing that pleases their vote banks directly or indirectly. They have only very short sight and look for quick gains. Otherwise after losing battle in Karnataka, why should they go on pampering JD(S) and now Mulayam Sing in UP.
Anyhow, disrespect/honor do not touch the great souls who performed their duties.
RE:Fear to highlight his achievement of freeing Bangaladesh
by MINAKSHI KALIA on Jul 01, 2008 09:55 AM Permalink
You are right sakshi great souls are above disrespect and honour.
But this is a NATIIONAL SHAME, that we have new channels airing repeated telecast of gossips but not a worthy tribute to someone like Sam Bahadur.
We fly TRI COLOR half Mast on death of politicians coloured in financial scams for example Rajiv Gandhi & Pramod Mahajan, but a worthy solider can be laid to rest without a flutter.
It is we the Indian public who should be blamed but this insult, this insanity as we select unworthy persons to covetted posts.
