Military Digest: When Nehru sought explanation from Army Commander for his comments about political influence on promotions

The inquisition against Thorat was launched at the fag end of his career, when he was about to retire in about two weeks, and it smacked of the intrigue that was carried out in the higher echelons of the Army and political circles at the time.

“I am directed by the Prime Minister to request your comments on the following allegations against you, which have come to his notice.

In a speech in the Kumaon Regimental Centre Mess at Ranikhet, in the presence of several foreigners, including Major General Jilani of the Pakistan Army, Colonel M lqbal, Pakistan’s Military Attaché, Brigadier Newton Dunn, UK Military Adviser, and Mr Bowes of the British Chamber of Commerce, you stated that Indian Officers were seeking promotions through political influence which was disrupting our army —or words to that effect. You may like to say why you thought it necessary to make such a statement in the presence of foreigners,” wrote Lt Gen Thapar.

Remarks about Defence Minister The officiating Army Chief further stated that some months ago, somewhere in Assam, Thorat stated in the presence of a senior IAF officer that he was “allergic” to the defence minister, whom he could not stand and who was “disrupting” the Army.

“It is stated that your Headquarters spent large sums of money on the farewell parties, functions and parades of General KS Thimayya [retiring Army Chief] in Lucknow during his visit earlier this month. How much money and POL [fuel comprising petrol, oil, lubricants] was spent, and how many vehicles were employed under the items mentioned above,” wrote Thapar.

In another allegation, going back seven years, the letter alleged that in Korea in 1954, in the presence of many Americans and South Koreans, whilst addressing them, after a lunch engagement, Thorat said, within the hearing of many Indians, that India would not have survived after independence but for the many sided assistance she received from the Americans (or words to that effect).

Why was such a statement needed in front of many foreigners, including South Koreans, who were very hostile to India at the time, Lt Gen Thapar asked.

“You will appreciate that these are serious allegations and cannot be ignored. The Prime Minister is, however, anxious that every opportunity should be given to you to clear up your position in the matter before Government decided what further action should be taken,” the officiating Army Chief said. He also added that the letter was being sent to Thorat through the “safe hands” of Major PK Sibal, who had instructions to bring back his reply as soon as possible.

Lt Gen Thorat’s apology

Lt Gen Thorat explained in his reply that in the speech at Ranikhet, what he said was that officers must give their loyalty to their superior Commanders and through them, to the COAS, whoever he may be.

“Any tendency to look in other directions for early advancement was likely to ruin the discipline of the Army. (As this speech was not reported in the press I am unable to quote the precise words),” he said.

With regards to comments on the defence minister, he said he did not know where in Assam he was supposed to have made this statement.

“However, I recollect that some IAF officer possibly at Jorhat or Tezpur asked why I had not been appointed COAS. To the best of my memory, I remember having replied that you were senior to me and also that the Hon’ble Defence Minister and I were not very fond of each other. I realise now that it was not proper for me to make a statement of this nature and am sorry for it,” he replied.

“However, I most emphatically deny having said that I was ‘allergic to the Defence Minister whom I cannot stand and who was disrupting the Army’. In this context, before your appointment was made public, whenever anyone asked me about the future Chief, my invariable reply was that you were senior and should, therefore, be appointed to that post. You will recollect that a statement of this nature made by me at Wellington was reported to you,” he added.

The Army Commander went on to explain the expenses made at the farewell of the previous Army Chief, Lt Gen Thimayya, which came to Rs 858.86. “I hope you will agree that this is not an unduly large expenditure to be spent on the farewell visit of the retiring Chief, from the Army Commander’s Fund,” he said.

He added that a token present, HQ Eastern Command Crest mounted on a wooden base, was presented to the retiring COAS. “It was intended to present a small silver Cigarette Box costing about Rs.300/-. On advice from Army HQ, this was not presented to the COAS and has been retained in the Mess as Mess property,” wrote Lt Gen Thorat.