Indira could not tolerate anyone gaining more popularity or fame than her. After the 1971 war SamManekshaw outshone her in popularity & People even wanted him to take over the country, though Sam had no intention of doing so, and had even mentioned this to Indira Gandhi when asked by her. All this was highly unpalatable to Indira Gandhi. She took her revenge on Sam in a manner unbecoming of a Prime Minister. It was downright mean and shameful of her.
A Field Marshal’s rank is an active rank till death as per rules & thus never retires. He is entitled to salary and allowances, and other entitlements till death. His other entitlements were a Government Bungalow with armed guard from the Army, a cook, a gardener, a sahayak from the Army, an office with the requisite authorised staff including a Personal Assistant (clerk), and an official car with driver. He is authorised to wear his uniform with the Field Marshal’s rank, and five golden coloured stars on a red background on his collars on his uniform. He is entitled to putting a red rectangular flag with the Ashoka Pillar emblem and a red coloured star plate with five stars on it. He is entitled to hava a Military Police jeep or jonga with military policemen piloting him wherever he goes in his official car.
All these entitlements were held back from him on the specific instructions of Indira Gandhi. Even his salary was not paid to him since the first day he became a Field Marshal. This meaness continued even during the tenures of RajivGandhi and Manmohan Singh. The ministers and the bureaucracy were gleeful to see the Field Marshal treated in this manner. Never for a moment did Sam ask or cringe before the Government for his entitlements. He maintained his dignity and self respect throughout. The Army was unfortunately a silent witness to all this injustice meted out to such a fine officer.
Finally APJ Abdul Kalam became the President of India. At that time, the Field Marshal was admitted in the R and R Hospital, New Delhi, and was a few days before his death. When President Abdul Kalam came to know of all the injustices meted out to Sam, he immediately restored the salary with arrears to Sam, and instructed an IAS officer in the Finance Ministry to go to Sam and personally deliver the cheque of Rs. 1.3 crore to him. Even on his death bed, Sam joked while receiving the cheque by telling the bureaucrat, “I hope the cheque won’t bounce.” At this time, Manmohan Singh was still the Prime Minister. It was the gratefulness and humility shown by Abdul Kalam towards this great soldier. Manmohan Singh had no part in this. He was busy licking the feet of SoniaGandhi, as usual.
This meanness continued with the Manmohan Singh government. When finally Sam passed away, not a single minister or bureaucrat attended his funeral to pay their last respects. UPA was such an ungrateful and shameless Government.It is the loss of a nation which disrespected such a great soldier who took the nation out of great difficulties into a historical victory, bringing great honour to our country. The nation cannot ignore the fact that without him, Indira Gandhi and her band of ministers, politicians and bureaucrats would have been nowhere.
By disrespecting field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Congress lose there rites to talk about national dignity.