Armed Forces veterans write open letter to PM Modi: Condemn targeting of Muslims, Dalits
Highlighting the
recent attacks on Muslims and Dalits in the country, the veterans of the Indian
Armed Forces have written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing
their distress and condemning the relentless vigilantism of the self-appointed
protectors of Hinduism. In the letter, the veterans said they stand with the
‘Not in My Name’ campaign and that the Armed Forces stand for “Unity in
Diversity”. They added the current situation in the country is that of fear,
intimidation, hate and suspicion.
They said, “what is
happening in our country today strikes at all that the Armed Forces, and indeed
our Constitution, stand for. We are witness to unprecedented attacks on society
at large by the relentless vigilantism of self-appointed protectors of
Hinduism. We condemn the targeting of Muslims and Dalits. We condemn the
clampdowns on free speech by attacks on media outlets, civil society groups,
universities, journalists and scholars, through a campaign of branding them
anti-national and unleashing violence against them while the State looks away.”
The letter has been
signed by 114 veterans of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces comprise of the
Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
Here is the full
text of the letter by the veterans:
We are a group of
Veterans of the Indian Armed Forces who have spent our careers working for the
security of our country. Collectively, our group holds no affiliation with any
single political party, our only common commitment being to the Constitution of
India.
It saddens us to write
this letter, but current events in India have compelled us to register our
dismay at the divisiveness that is gripping our country. We stand with the
‘Not in My Name’ campaign that mobilised thousands of citizens across the
country to protest against the current climate of fear, intimidation, hate
and suspicion.
The Armed Forces stand
for “Unity in Diversity”. Differences in religion, language, caste, culture or
any other marker of belonging have not mattered to the cohesion of the Armed
Forces, and servicemen of different backgrounds have fought shoulder to
shoulder in the defence of our nation, as they continue to do today. Throughout
our service, a sense of openness, justice and fair play guided our actions. We
are one family. Our heritage is like the multi-coloured quilt that is India,
and we cherish this vibrant diversity.
However, what is
happening in our country today strikes at all that the Armed Forces, and indeed
our Constitution, stand for. We are witness to unprecedented attacks on society
at large by the relentless vigilantism of self-appointed protectors of
Hinduism. We condemn the targeting of Muslims and Dalits. We condemn the clampdowns
on free speech by attacks on media outlets, civil society groups, universities,
journalists and scholars, through a campaign of branding them anti-national and
unleashing violence against them while the State looks away.
We can no longer look
away. We would be doing a disservice to our country if we do not stand up and
speak for the liberal and secular values that our Constitution espouses. Our
diversity is our greatest strength. Dissent is not treason; in fact, it is the
essence of democracy.\
We urge the powers
that be at the Centre and in the States to take note of our concerns and
urgently act to uphold our Constitution, both in letter and in spirit.
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