Ensure India’s forces aren’t used for political gains: Indian ex-navy chief to EC

NEW DELHI (92 News) – Indian former chief of naval staff Admiral (retired) L Ramdas  has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) expressing ‘concern’ and ‘dismay’ over what he sees as the misuse of the airstrike in Pakistan to influence the electorate, reported the Indian media. Criticizing the use of armed force to garner votes, the former admiral has said the ‘recent instances of using the Armed Forces for political gains, especially in the aftermath of both Pulwama [in which 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives] and the strikes in Balakot” is against the ethos of the armed forces. The armed forces, Ramdas has said, in the letter, are ‘a-political’ and have always followed ‘secular’ ethos. He has also asked the Election Commission to ensure that armed forces are not used for political gains. “With elections due a few weeks from now, it is particularly important that there should not be any misuse of these recent events by any political party to send triumphalist or jingoistic messages,” he said in his letter.