Military no longer a right choice today: Ex-Army chief Ved Prakash Malik

CANACONA: Amid the ongoing debate over the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), former Chief of Army Staff Gen Ved Prakash Malik, said military is "no longer a right choice" today.

"Throughout my service, I have always believed that the man behind the gun is more important. We have to look after the man behind the gun. There has been a static erosion of soldiers' status within the government and in society also," Malik said during a plenary session at the "India Ideas Conclave" which kicked off here today.

"This is reflected in the qualitative and quantitative dilution of military rank and file," Malik, who was the Army chief during the Kargil War, said.

"By taking away its pride, status and making career unattractive, the military is no longer a right choice today, which I believe is neither good for military nor for the nation," he added.

"We are talking not only about what the government sometimes give, but what hurts me more is the manner in which it is given. I think this hint of mine would be obvious to everybody," he said without mentioning the OROP issue.

Malik further said that considering the globalised security challenges, the territorial defence would be our primary concern.

"India has to be a strategic stabiliser. We are in the middle. We have so many nations around. I believe our stability is most important for the subcontinent," he added.