Air Vice-chief’s plain speaking hasn’t apparently found favour with the government top brass. A newspaper report citing highly placed sources said, ‘the stated policy of the government - IAF’s doors are open for induction of women in non-combat operations - requires no further elaboration’.

That the officially stated position doesn’t contradict what the air marshal said is not the point. It is that a high-ranking Air Force officer sought to explain to the media something he need not have done. In so doing , Air Marshal Barbora violated the most important of policy guidelines, which reads, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’. There are certain issues media wouldn’t raise; and the government doesn’t feel obliged to explain.