TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Two of the 156 veterans, who are signatories to a letter sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan expressing concern on the politicisation of the armed forces, say they have not signed the letter. General SF Rodrigues who is mentioned as the first signatory in the letter purportedly written by armed forces veterans to President Ram Nath Kovind, denies signing it. “Don’t know what it (the letter) is all about. All my life, we’ve been apolitical. After 42 years as an officer, it’s a little late to change. I have always put India first. Don’t know who these people are. This is a classic manifestation of fake news.”
Air Chief Marshal NC Suri, also an alleged signatory to the letter: “This is not Admiral Ramdas’ letter. It has been written by some Major Chaudhary. He has written this and it was coming on WhatsApp & emails. To put an end to it, I wrote that armed forces are apolitical and support the politically elected govt. And no, my consent has not been taken for any such letter. I don’t agree with whatever has been written in that letter. We have been misquoted.”
Rashtrapati Bhavan also denies receiving any letter written by armed forces veterans to the President which is circulating in the media. A group of retired officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force have allegedly written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to urgently direct all political parties to stop using the services to further their political agenda.”We hereby respectfully urge to take all necessary steps to urgently direct all political parties that they must forthwith desist from using the military, military uniform or symbols, and any actions by military formation or personnel, for political purposes or to further their political agendas,” the letter said on Thursday.
