Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political pot-shots at the inauguration of National War Memorial on Monday, February 25 have received flak from army veterans on social media who pointed out how the event appeared to be an “election rally” for the BJP.
In addition to attacking the Congress party and the Gandhi family directly, the PM had gone as far as to question the commitment of previous governments towards armed forces and national security.
Several veterans on Twitter noted the absence of President ram Nath Kovind, the supreme commander of the armed forces, from the event, as well as all Opposition leaders. Additionally, it was also observed that the PM had not even addressed the three service chiefs prior to starting his speech.
It was purely a bjp show hence opposition leaders had to be avoided. And who cares for Supreme Commander. Basic decencies are non existent in the mahapurush setup. https://t.co/pKKfaPY3v5
— Col Dinesh Kumar(R) (@kkhushal9) February 25, 2019
How come the prime minister didn’t even address the three service chiefs prior to starting his speech ..just address the RM AND RRM
— TravoltaaMor (@TravoltaaMor) February 25, 2019
Is anyone surprised? The “Supreme Commander” was not present at the War Memorial, instead it was the one n only mahapurush. Reminder that Rubber Stamp designations mean nothing. Shame.
— Col Dinesh Kumar (@kkhushal9) February 25, 2019
26000 soldiers killed in action since 1947 have their names etched. They all had only one Commander-in-Chief – Supreme Commander, the President of India. Where was he? This event should have been presided over by him with 100% elected reps.
— @ColSanjayPande (@ColSanjayPande) February 25, 2019
@ColSanjayPande it is very sad to see the top polity behaving in this manner. I believe they have their own agenda and axe to grind. These guys will never let any opportunity go by. Hope better sense prevails amongst them https://t.co/gdAPtWo85e
— Brig Balwinder Singh Sandhu ???????? (@Balwinder_77) February 26, 2019
Colonel (Retd.) Ashok, the Managing Convener of the Chamber of Commerce for Ex- servicemen, found it “disgraceful” to use “an event of inauguration of National War Memorial for petty party politics.”
Disgraceful @narendramodi ji you have used an event of inauguration of National War Memorial for petty party politics… You did not maintain decorum… Sorry…. It is not a place to give political speech… It is an event of National significance..Sad..
— Col Ashok; Veteran (@ashokkmrsingh) February 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/Chohan1954/status/1100054972735995906
Former diplomat KC Singh also spoke about the President’s absence.
My take on @ndtv : 1. Why wasn’t President there? Article 53(2)Constitution: Pres is supreme commander of def. forces 2. Why sanctity breached where those who died for India are commemorated 3. Post #Pulwama nation needed unity not polit partisanship #PulwamaAttack @Nidhi
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) February 25, 2019
(With PTI Inputs)
Also Read: Omar Abdullah Criticises PM Modi for Politicising War Memorial Ceremony