Paying no dividends?

Even after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has let his displeasure be quietly known about the manner in which the Armed Forces are protesting against the recommendations of the Pay Commission, a former Army Chief met the PM about two weeks ago and repeated the demands. While Singh was polite and told him that the Committee of Secretaries was trying to address the matter, the former General said that the Armed Forces had no faith in the babus. This only annoyed the PM more. To make matters worse, the retired officer even sent an e-mail to fellow armymen detailing his conversation with PM. What the Armed Forces are probably failing to realise is that all their sabre-rattling is only working to their disadvantage as paramilitary units are beginning to question the validity of the special military service pay and stepping up pressure of their own.