Expressing concerns over the “growing politicisation” of armed forces, Former Navy Chief Admiral L. Ramdas has written a letter to the Election Commission over UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s reference of the Indian Army as ‘Modi ji ki sena’ (Narendra Modi’s Army) during a public rally in Ghaziabad on March 31.
“As one of the most senior most former Chiefs of the Armed Forces, I consider it my duty and responsibility to bring to your notice the fact we, the armed forces of the country, owe our allegiance only to the Constitution of India,” he said, in the letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.
“The Congress government used to serve biryani to terrorists and Modi ji’s army sends bullets and bombs their way,” Adityanath had said at a rally.
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Underlining that the armed forces are not a “private force” belonging to any individual or political party, Ramdas said any suggestions over the same was completely unacceptable.
On March 7, Ramdas had also written a letter to the poll watchdog, urging it to prevent the use of the Indian Armed Forces by political parties to influence the electorate.
The 17th Lok Sabha election will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19, and the results will be declared on May 23.