“. . . the armed forces of the country, owe our allegiance only to the Constitution of India,†Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas

April 1 2019

Shri Sunil Arora,

Chief Election Commissioner of India,

Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road,

New Delhi – 110001

Subject: ‘Modi Ji Ki Sena’ – (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Army)

Dear Sir

I am constrained to write to you yet again – just three weeks after my letter to you dated March 6 2019 - regarding my concerns about the growing POLITICISATION OF THE ARMED FORCES BY POLITICAL PARTIES.

You were good enough to take note of this concern – one that is shared by many veterans – and issue the necessary notification to political parties to desist from using images of the military as part of electioneering.

Today however I bring to your urgent attention a statement allegedly made by His Holiness Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of UP, while addressing an election rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday March 31, in which he described the Indian Army as “Modi ji ki Sena†– (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Army - PTI)

This was exactly the kind of development I was fearing when I wrote to you last month.
As one of the senior most former Chiefs of the Armed Forces, I consider it my duty and responsibility to bring to your notice the fact that we, the armed forces of the country, owe our allegiance only to the Constitution of India.

The President of India in his capacity as the Constitutional Head of the Nation, is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces are NOT a private force belonging to any individual or political party, and therefore any suggestion to that effect is completely unacceptable.

I am sure that you will take suitable action as soon as possible to arrest such irresponsible actions.

With Regards, Yours Truly

L Ramdas

(Former Chief of the Naval Staff)

SEE THE ORIGINAL LETTER IN PDF

Text of letter by Admiral L Ramdas to Chief Election Commissioner of India (1 April 2019)