New Delhi: A controversy is raging over a letter allegedly written by 150 military veterans to President Ram Nath Kovind expressing outrage over the “use” of the armed forces for “political purposes.
Among these veterans are three former army chiefs, four former navy chiefs and a former air force chief. Some of the veterans named in the missive later said that they were not signatories to the letter, a claim that was lapped by some of the TV channels to suggest that it was part of the Congress poll propaganda.
Former Army Vice-Chief Lt Gen M L Naidu was among those who said his consent was not taken before listing his name as one of the signatories. Air Chief Marshal NC Suri, in turn, said he did not agree with whatever has been written in the letter. ‘‘We have been misquoted,’’ he told ANI.
Adding to the confusion, former Army chief General SF Rodrigues told ANI, “Don’t know what it (the purported letter) is all about…It is a classic manifestation of fake news.” However, when contacted, several veterans, including former Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen Shankar Roy Chowdhury, acknowledged writing the letter.
The President – who is also the Commander-in-Chief – has been urged in the letter to take all necessary steps to direct political parties to desist from using the military, military uniforms or symbols, and any actions by military formations or personnel, for political purposes or to further their political agendas. ,Sources at the Rashtrapati Bhavan denied receiving any letter supposedly written by the veterans which is circulating in the media.
Citing Rodrigues and Suri, who have denied signing the letter, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called the allegations “fake”. “It is absolutely condemnable that names were mentioned without taking permission,” she said. The letter cites several examples of the military being used for political purposes, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath referring to the armed forces as “Modiji ki Sena” and the display of cut-outs of Wing Commander Abhinandan Vartha-man at political events. Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday moved the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah for allegedly “dragging” the armed forces into politics.
