Donations are voluntary. You cannot catch someone by his neck, Manohar Parrikar said.
The Indian Military will not accept any funds donated for welfare under coercion, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today and quipped that there can be "no catching of necks."
Filmmakers like Karan Johar have controversially been asked by politician Raj Thackeray to pay Rs 5 crore to the military welfare fund as "penance" for working with Pakistani actors.
Mr Thackeray's MNS or Maharashtra Navnirman Sena was among the groups that had threatened to block Mr Johar's movie "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" as it stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. A section of politicians and filmmakers believe artistes from across the border should be banned after the Uri attack in which 19 soldiers were killed by terrorists from Pakistan.
In a settlement negotiated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mr Thackeray agreed to drop his protest plan if donations were made from the films' earnings to the cause of the forces.
Mr Parrikar's comment on not accepting forced donations may be awkward for Mr Fadnavis, who has confronted strong disapproval for mediating with Mr Thackeray.
"Donations are voluntary. You cannot catch someone by his neck. We don't appreciate it," the minister said.
The government had, after several representations from people, opened a fund where people could donate voluntarily for the welfare of the military, Mr Parrikar said.
The ministry is working on rules to ban "coerced donations" to the Battle Casualty Welfare Fund. How to take the contributions to the families of soldiers is being debated.
Veterans have also raised the red flag at the prospect of anyone being forced to donate to the welfare fund. "It is best to leave military out of politics," said Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (retired), speaking to NDTV earlier.