FROM A GROUP OF VETERANS TO OUR SUPREME COMMANDER
‘Ape 11, 2019
Honourable Shri Ram Nath Kovind
President of India and Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Deli
Dear Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji,
We, the signatories, ae Armed Forces Veterans who have served in he defence of cur nation in various
appointments, in peacetime and in operational and war zones over the past several decades.
‘The apoltical and secular nature of India’s Armed Forces has been an article of faith for every sole,
‘salor and aman. India's Armed Forces have loyally upheld the democratic principe of civil contra over
the miitary. Their mitary professionalism on and of the feld, combined withthe devotion to uy in
pratecting India's tercitonal sovereignty and national integrity, remains widely appreciated.
‘The soldiers, salors and airmen of the Armed Forces owe allegiance to the Constitution of india, of
which you, 3s President of the Indian Union, are the logal custodian It is for this reason that the
President is also the Supreme Commander ofthe Armed Forces and we serve and execute orders at
the wil ofthe President and as decided from time to ime by the Executive that i, the Government of
the day.
‘You would be aware that those in active service (men and women ofall ranks inthe Ary, Navy and
‘Air Force) cannot speak out, aven on matters which might affect thei interests adversely, since they
‘re subject to miltay aw end are governed by the pariamentary Acts of ther respective Service.
However, we Veterans being in continuous touch vith our awn military fraternity, as also with serving
personnel at al levels, have finger on the pulse, so to speak. And itis for this reason that we writa
{bring to your attention, as the Supreme Commander of India’s Armed Forces, some concerns which
have caused considerable alarm and disquiet among both the serving and the retired personnel of our
Forces.
‘We refer, Sir, othe unusual and completely unacceptable practice of poilical leaders taking credit for
ritary operations lke cross-border strikes, and aven going so far as to claim the Armed Forcas to bo
"Modi ki Sona’. This s in addition to media pictues of election platforms and campaigns in which
party workers are seen wearing miitary uniforms; and posters and images with pictures of soiers and
‘especially of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abninandan Varthaman, displayed.
‘We do appreciate that complaints by some senior retired personnel, including a writen submission from
4 formar Chiat ofthe Naval Staff to the Chet Election Commissione, have ected a prompt response,
Indeed @ rotifation has been issued asking for an explanation from those responsibie for these
‘statements, including fom the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. However we regret to stale that these
{do not appear to have resuted in any substantive change of behaviour and practice onthe ground.
|With the General elections round the corner, and given the prevailing environment where poitical
parties and candidates saem to ba acting in total disregard of the declaration of the ‘model code of
‘conduct’, we fear that such incidents may ony increase as poling day draws near.
‘We believe that you wil surely agree thal any such misuse ofthe Armed Forces established under the
‘Constitution of India and under the supreme command of the President of Inda, would impinge
‘adversely on the morale and fighting efficiency of the serving man or woman in uniform. It could
therefore drecty affect national secunty and national integrity
We therefore appeal to you to ensure thatthe secular and a-poltical character of ow Armed Forces is
preserved.
‘We hereby rospectfuly urge you to take all necessary steps to urgently direct af political patios that
they must forthwith desist from using the military, mary uniforms or symbols, and any actions by
imitary formations or personnal, for political purpeses orto futher their poical agendas,
“This communication is copied to the Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India
{or information and action.
We, the undersigned, endorse the above.
Yours Faitiuly,
(Signed *)
1 Gon SF Rodrigues, PVSM.VSM.
2 Gen Shankar Roy Chowdhury, PVSMADC
3. Gen Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM.SM,VSMADCWSSSVAFLSRLSSSLSHLSSASS SARE SS LERUNIRABNLSSSIsaaaessoovos
‘Adm Laxminarayen Ramdas, PVSM,AVSM.VIC, VSMADC
‘Ac Vishnu Bhagwat PVSMAVSM
‘Agim Arun Prakash, PVSW.AVSM.VIC, VSMADC
‘Adem Suresh Mebia, PVSM.AVSM
‘ir Chief Marshal NC Sur,PVSM AVSMVM ADC
Gen Sanjoow Anand
Li General KS Rao, PVSM, SC, SM, Arjuna Awardew
tGonoral onan Ramdas
Lt General YN Sharma
i General Vinay Shankar
i General Prakash Gokarn
Lt General Viay Oberci, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Lt General MA Gurbaxani, PVSM, AVSM
[Lt Gonoral RK Nanavaty, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM
Lt General RK Gaur, PVSM
Li General CA Barreto, PVSM
Lt General ML Naidu, PUSM, AVSM, YSM
Vice Admiral Madanji Singh
Vice Admiral DB Kapila, PUSM, AVSM, VSM
Vico Admiral A Brito, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
‘Ar Marshal Vi Narain, PSM
Na Gen A K Shukla
‘Maj Gen PC Panjkar, VSM
Na} General KM Bhimaya
‘Ma General Joce Manavalan, AVSM
‘Nay General Shi Dev Singh
‘Maj General Motan Singh
[Ma General Harsha Kakar
‘Maj Goneral Rajendra Prakash, VSM
[Maj General GH Isrant
‘Ma General ank Sawnny, AVSM
‘Ma General LS Dhidon
‘Ma General Kshiin Pandya, AVM.
‘Maj General TK Kaui, PUSM, AVSM, VSM
‘Na General ML Mali
Na} General SG Pive
‘Nay General SG Vombatiere, VSM
Rear Admiral Shankar Mathur
Rear Admiral Sudhe Pia, NM
‘Air Vieo Marshal Kept Kak
rg A.A Ramchandani
‘Bre UPS Patnania
Brg Vinod Reizada
Brigadier VHM Prasad
CCommadore C Jayara,
(Commedere Rajan Mathow, VSM
(Commodore R Rahmathulan
‘Gommedore G Kalath, AVSM, NM. VSM
(Commedore Dirabandhu Jena
CCommedore Jal Postwalia
CCommadore PC Guia, NM
(Gmde MS Chahat
‘A Gmde Sanjay Sharma
(Gol Bharat Hala
Col Sanjeev Choudhary
Cal Krishna Prasad NG
(Col Mukesh Trenan,
Gal RP SunagSELRKELRISSSLRSESRASBAAzaLaNzaseseaeee
Col Pankaj Fotedar, VSM
Col Vivek Mathur
Gol Arun Hariharan
ColKN Singh
ol DM Sharma
ol Shantanu Majumdar,
Col Gurpinder Singh
Col Rarmnk Kanna
ol Abhay Prasad
Col Abhi Chatteree,
Gol Manmohan Singh
ol. Rajv Kanwar
Col Bharat Kumar
Col Jayadey P
Gol Sut Duta
Col Lal Kesavan
Col Melwyn D'Souza
Col Sanjay Diwaria
Col. K S Kamboj
Gol Shashi Thoomes Kilo
Gol k Katara, SM
Col MK Keshwvar
Gol Manish O Kachhy
Col. Apareet Nakai
Gol CMS Babu
CoIRS Singh
Capt (IN) HPS Sodhi
Capt (IN) Rakesh Kumar Prabhakar
Captain (IN) S Prabhala, VSM
api(IN) Sandeep Kapoor
‘Group Captain Ashutosh Srvastav (Ret)
Gp Capt Rajinder Abrol
Gp Capt D.V. Shukla,
‘Gp Capt Philips Jacob, VM
Gp Capt Satvinder Singh
Gp Capt Deepak Mundade
Gp Capt MS Sadanand
Leal Arvind Kumar Singh
LtCol MS Kanwal, VSM"
LiCol Sajan Moideen
LE Col Muruganantham
LG Ved Prakash Sharma
Lico R Panka),
LLC Shantand Rishi
LLL Col Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
LiGol SPS Panwar
Lol Neera Sharma
LUCol Shantnu Rishi
LU Col, Gagan Khanna, DE
LtCol Satish Chan
LU Col Akash Sachan
Lt. Col PP Singh
LUCol Sandeep Chandorkar
UL Col. SS Nath
LtCol JS Pat
Li Col Amit P Mathur
Col Jagit Singh Judge
Col RP' Shankar