It's been 17 years since Kargil war and as the country commemorates its heroes, we ask: beyond tributes, do we really honour our soldiers when there isn't a crisis? Why have we seen so many standoffs recently involving the military - from OROP agitation to disquiet over pay panel recommendations? Former chief of Army Staff Gen VP Malik says, "in recent times, the civil-military relations have deteriorated considerably...whether it is the state government or the Centre, solider has no place except in the crisis situation and I am afraid he is taken for granted."
