Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Indian Army got an unexpected boost on Tuesday when some young MPs showed up to enlist in the Territorial Army, which is a citizen-soldiers' force.
Many young MPs expressed their desire to join the Territorial Army and gave their reasons for doing so.
"Whenever it is going to be convenient I am going to join in the near future," said Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal.
"One has to be a true Indian to serve the country," said Arunachal West MP Ninong Ering.
"The sense of nationalism of such an act of joining Territorial Army is a reason good in itself," claimed Deepinder Hooda, who was elected from Rohtak.
The Army is elated by the desire of young MPs to join Territorial Army. Often sore at official neglect, the Army is seeing this as an opportunity for political leaders to be better connected to soldiers.
"When you find your leaders are serving besides you... there is s different motivation level which is there," says Major General KVS Lalotra, ADG, Territorial Army.
The Territorial Army, a volunteer force of about 50,000 soldiers who provide a back up to the regular Army in crises, is even prepared to reduce the time commitment for MPs from two months a year to just two weeks.
The powerful legislators will wear the ranks of junior officers and experience first hand the hardships of soldiering.
"I salute the minister and the minister salutes me," says Major General KVS Lalotra.
So after an Army battalion of Ikhwanis or surrendered militants the Army seems to be gearing up for a battalion of MPs.
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