Support Our Armed Forces ….

CA Anant N. Pai, an eminent Chartered Accountant, has made the passionate plea that all citizens, and professionals in particular, should be vocal in their support of the Armed Forces. He reminds us that our prosperity and happiness is due to the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces in keeping the enemy at bay. Our support is the fuel that keeps the Forces going, he emphasizes

If, we walk with swagger through the tribunal corridors, fully suited and flaunt our argumentative skills in courtrooms – so as take name, fame and money home, it is possible only become some 24 year old lad called Nitin Kumar, had donned a BSF jawan uniform and taken on a bunch of fully armed terrorists single handed in Baramulla -, so as to lay down his life for us. He could have also studied law or chartered accountancy; become a tax practitioner and slept on a soft bed in comfort of secure homes just like us – couldn’t he? No, he did not do. He chose to become a BSF jawan to protect our homes, families and peace.

If seen from the above context, the contribution of tax professional to the country is a minuscule compared to that of our soldier. It should be therefore fitting that we bow our heads in respect and gratitude to our armed forces and exhort their capacities and actions. No tax counsel, however big in his standing, can stand anywhere in comparison to our army soldier. Let this be known to all. He would fade away in oblivion in our memories – the moment we remember our soldier.

The present day subject of hot discussion on national media is that every citizen in our country should affirm that he is an Indian first and then be an actor or writer, which he is. This rule should be equally applicable to tax professionals. We are Indians first and then tax professionals. There should therefore no dichotomy in our minds about our role plays – i.e. whether we can write on a national issue on professional media – be it a website or a journal and whether the professional media should entertain and admit such writings on its forum. Yes, we must write on national issues on professional media and the professional media must publish it.

The on-going Indo-Pak conflict starting from the terror attacks on our military bases in Pathankot and Uri and culminating with our army’s surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LOC has put our nation in to a ‘never- before’ aggressive mode. Attack is the best form of our defense and this message – our armed forces have clearly delivered to the terror perpetrators across the border. Pakistan is left clueless groping for some face saving strategy after the humiliation its faces following our precision surgical strikes and its international isolation. Neither can it justify its actions even from its so-called Jihad proposition- because even the Islamic community in countries like Bangladesh and Afghanistan are not buying such misconceived ideology.

One should not live in a Fool’s Paradise that what is befalling us today are terror strikes simplicter and not war. The terror strikes were effected by operators trained by enemy army and directed at our military bases. If this is not War-then what is it?

In the coming days, this warfare should also change its colours with changing times. Terror attacks may shift to smaller cities, towns and mofussil areas – where the level of preparedness is lower. Stealth will be the underlying tactic of the enemy – as it has learned its lessons from past history of what would be its fate if it goes for full face to face engagement with our armed forces. The enemy will be as invisible as possible. Cyber-attacks on vital installations and use of toxins may even become the preferred modes. Creating of disunity through our own politicians and pseudo-intellectuals would surely be on the enemy agenda.

War cannot be fought only by the army. It is fought with the support of vigilant citizens. Awareness of and preparedness in war – should be the mantra in the minds of every citizen. What sustains our armed forces is its morale and for that – we should always be doing everything possible to keep its flag flying.

It is therefore vital that we exhort our army and support our armed forces. Our support is the fuel that keeps it going.

Jai Hind and Vande Mataram!