Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s ‘late Latif’ act at the Kargil Diwas commemoration ceremony on Tuesday did not go down well with war veterans and ex-servicemen.
The scam-tainted chief minister, who was to lay a wreath and participate at the commemoration ceremony to mark the 12th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war, was late by 45 minutes.
A few ex-servicemen and war veterans, annoyed that Yeddyurappa turned up late at such a major event, left the Rashtriya Sainika Smaraka, the venue of the ceremony, in a huff. This was no way to treat soldiers, the war veterans said.
Commander (Retd) TN Singhal, 85, left the venue saying that the government had scant respect for soldiers. Cmdr Singhal, a Nausena Medal recipient, arrived at the venue at 9.15 am, the time set by the organisers for guests to be present at the venue. After waiting patiently till 10.30 am, the former naval aviator was frustrated, and walked to the exit. A policeman told him, “The chief minister would be arriving anytime.” “I cannot wait,” the 85-year-old said, before storming out.
However, the commander’s anguish did not end there. As he left the venue and waited to hail an autorickshaw to get home, he found that traffic policemen had blocked T Chowdaiah Road. There was expected VIP movement on the road, and vehicles were blocked for 10 minutes.
Yeddyurappa finally arrived 45 minutes late, at 10.45 am.
Another veteran, Wing Commander (Retd) Thomas Varghese said he was pained by the attitude of the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues.
“There were a large number of school and college students who were waiting for the function to start. What is the message we are giving to the youngsters of today who are being groomed to be future leaders? Would the chief minister do the same with his party bosses if he is summoned by them? I am sure he would leave everything and rush to meet them,” he said.
Another veteran, who did not want to be named, said ex-servicemen in the country were facing humiliation almost every day.
“In other countries, there is a lot of respect for ex-servicemen at all levels. Not here,” he said.
