Octogenarian war hero boycotts Parrikar function

Peeved at the attitude of the central government and bureaucracy towards the armed forces, an octogenarian Vir Chakra awardee and a former fighter pilot stayed away from a function Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar attended here on Thursday.

The 80-year-old Wing Commander Suresh D. Karnik (retd), a 1971 India-Pakistan war veteran, said this was his way of protesting the central government's attitude towards the armed forces personnel and failure to implement the one rank, one pension (OROP) decision.

Presided over by Parrikar, the function was organised by Pune-based Sanskriti Sanvardhan Samiti and Purva Sainik Seva Parishad. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present along with civil and defence personnel.

"We have been just waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for years together for better pay and the OROP now pending for over a year. I am already 80.... For how long do they expect me to wait for my legitimate dues after serving the country for so long," Karnik told IANS before boycotting the felicitation ceremony.

Shooting an email to the organisers, he declined the invitation from "the present dispensation...our respected political leaders seem to pursue a policy towards the Armed Forces which imbibes 'NATO' - No Action Talk Only".

Karnik also lashed out at the bureaucrats posted in the ministries of defence and finance who, he said, seemed to pursue a policy of making the defence forces into a 'defiant force' and expressed his strong opposition to such policies.

Wing Commander Karnik, a combat figher pilot with the Indian Air Force, participated in several war theatres, going beyond the call of duty to fly dangerous sorties in combat zones.

His December 1971 services as the commander of IAF Number 16 Black Cobra squadron saw him undertake six critical day-and-night missions in the eastern and western sectors, bombing enemy establishments as well as airfields and boats. His actions inflicted heavy damage on the enemy, which included destruction of a huge oil dump in Chittagong.

Karnik was later awarded the Vir Chakra, the country's third highest military gallantry award.

The war hero's decision to boycott Thursday's function earned him admiration and support from defence forces' veterans across the country, through scores of emails and phone calls.

Karnik said that in view of the "paltry" pay-scales, he took voluntary retirement from the IAF in 1982 after serving for 27 years.

Living with his wife Shaila in Pune for many years now, Karnik's prized possession is a congratulatory letter to him by the legendary Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw.