Letter to President: Veterans vs Veterans

A controversy has erupted after a group of over 150 veterans sent a letter to the President of India, in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the armed forces, expressing their concern over the use of the military including symbols, uniforms and military action in election campaigns. In the letter, the veterans wrote, "We refer, Sir, to the unusual and completely unacceptable practice of political leaders taking credit for military operations like cross-border strikes, and even going so far as to claim the Armed forces to be 'Modi ji ki Sena". They also said that in addition to the President this communication is copied to the Chief Election Commissioner for action. However, Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said they received no such letter. Three people whose names are present on the mail have now said they did not agree to be signatories or agreed only in part to what had been said. On Left Right and Centre, we ask, who is indeed politicising the forces?