NOW that it is all over, with only the shouting left, perhaps the Army brass should point silver medalist shooter Vijay Kumar towards Civvie Street, since he seems to think that he is entitled to sit around weighing up all the fantastic offers of high-ranking jobs he will be getting. Having shot his pistol with some success in London, he has then proceeded to shoot himself repeatedly in the foot by equating the Forces with, say, Air India or ONGC or any other PSU.
As it is, the Subedar from the Dogra Regiment came back to an embarrassingly effusive welcome from the Army in Delhi, but that is obviously not enough. Oh no, he also wants to become a regular army officer, and presumably, lead men in battle waving his silver medal to spur them on.
He has won medals at major international events in the past six years but has not had a single promotion, he says, and that makes him unhappy. And of course, our benighted sports minister Ajay Maken, must open his mouth and point out that the sports ministry has made provisions for three out-of-turn promotions for Olympic medalists. According to the Army Sports Control Board, however, the Subedar can become a Subedar Major in an out-of-turn promotion, and that is it.
Good thing he did not win gold, because then he would have had to be rewarded with the post of at least a major general!