Hold the Fire After Pulwama Attack - Text of Letter by Former Chief of Naval Staff to the President of India

Admiral L Ramdas (retd)

PVSM AVSM VrC VSM

Former Chief of the Naval Staff Maharashtra Gaurav Puruskar Magsaysay Awardee for Peace

To

The Honorable President

Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi-110011

Dear Shri Kovind Ji,

20 February 2019

This is Admiral Ramdas - former Chief of the Naval Staff, writing to you yet again – this time on the tragic deaths of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Jawans in the IED attack on their convoy in Pulwama on Feb 14th 2019 and subsequent events.

Over forty precious lives, belonging to the CRPF were lost in the service of the Nation on Feb 14, 2019. This was indeed a despicable act, and a tragic event, and those guilty must be punished.

While the event has understandably evoked strong and angry reactions from every corner of the country and all sections of the people, it is also clear that such an event should never have happened on such an important strategic highway, especially in view of some reports that speak of there having been some intelligence reports to this effect in possession of the police and Intelligence agencies.

It is reported that this attack was planned and executed by the Jaish e Mohammed [JEM]. There are questions as to how and why a lone vehicle packed with RDX was able to penetrate a convoy and wreak such havoc, these and many more questions will no doubt be the subject of internal inquiries both by the CRPF and other agencies of the State.
As a former head of the Navy and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and also someone who, after retirement in 1993 has devoted most of his time in the pursuit of peace with Pakistan by pushing for a people to people dialogue, my concerns, are listed below. [ . . . ]

Read the original formatted letter here:

Text of Letter by Former Chief of Naval Staff to the President of India

by Admiral L. Ramdas [20 Feb 2019]