Letter by military veterans takes a new turn as 2 former chiefs deny having signed it

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 12

A letter written by a group of retired military veterans, purportedly endorsed by eight former chiefs of the armed forces, to President Ram Nath Kovind has taken a new turn. Two of the former chiefs have denied having endorsed the letter or having signed it.

Gen SF Rodrigues and Air Chief Marshal NC Suri have distanced themselves from it saying they never signed any such letter. Gen Rodrigues was quoted by news agency ANI saying he was not aware of any such letter. Air Chief Marshal Suri said he had been misquoted and did not agree to whatever is written in the letter.

Maj Priyadarshi Chowdhary (retd) who had put out the letter in the public domain responded on Twitter saying “We have proof of their (Rodrigues’s and Suri’s) endorsement (of the letter).”

He said a Major General-rank officer was coordinating with the generals and senior officers. “Consent was there. We are an apolitical pressure group of veterans working on the issues affecting the forces.”

The letter expresses concern at the use of military operations for electoral or political purposes. Maj Chowdhary so far has not responded to the claims by the two former chiefs.

The letter appeals to the President to ensure that the ‘secular’ and ‘apolitical character’ of the armed forces is preserved.

Also read: Dedicate vote to airstrike men: PM to first-time voters

Reacting to the development, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Fake petitions are being signed. It is absolutely condemnable.”

Other signatories are claimed to have endorsed the letter.  

The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The letter was sent on Thursday night to the official email ID of the Rashtrapati Bhawan with copies to the Election Commission.

The letter has the names of more than 150 signatories, including three former chiefs of the Army--Gen SF Rodrigues, Gen Shankar Roy Chowdhury and Gen Deepak Kapoor besides four former chiefs of the Navy--Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Admiral Arun Prakash and Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

It also has former Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal NC Suri as a signatory.

Besides, the signatories include retired Army Commander-level officers, gallantry awardees and former fighter pilots, among others.

The recent developments have caused “some concern and considerable alarm and disquiet among both the serving and retired personnel of our forces”, says the letter.

They referred to the “unusual and completely unacceptable practice” of political leaders taking credit for military operations like cross-border strikes, and even going so far as to claim the armed forces to be “Modiji ki Sena”.

This is in addition to media pictures of election platforms and campaigns in which party workers are seen wearing military uniforms; and posters with pictures of soldiers, especially of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, on them.

“Such misuse of the armed forces established under the Constitution and under the supreme command of the President, impinge adversely on the morale and fighting efficiency of the serving man or woman in uniform. It could, therefore, directly affect national security and national integrity,” the signatories have warned.

The letter urges the President to take necessary steps and asks all 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.

The soldiers, sailors and airmen owed allegiance to the Constitution, of which you, as President, are the legal custodian, the letter says.