{"id":22974,"date":"2017-07-31T15:20:48","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T09:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=22974"},"modified":"2017-07-31T15:32:52","modified_gmt":"2017-07-31T10:02:52","slug":"army-veterans-write-pm-modi-dissent-not-treason-essence-democracy-army-veterans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/india-news\/army-veterans-write-pm-modi-dissent-not-treason-essence-democracy-army-veterans\/","title":{"rendered":"Army veterans write to PM Modi: Dissent is not treason but the essence of democracy, Army veterans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of all states and lieutenant-governors of union territories, 114\u00a0 Armed Forces veterans endorse #NotInMyName campaign, urge an end to prevailing atmosphere of hate in the country<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A group of 114 Armed Forces veterans have endorsed the #NotInMyName campaign that has galvanized spontaneous nationwide protests by people of all ages against the prevailing atmosphere of hate, fear and intimidation evidenced by frequent cases of mob-lynching, violence by &#8216;Gau Rakshaks&#8217; against Dalits, Muslims and other minorities, threats of rape and murder issued by social media trolls to anyone who criticizes the ruling Narendra Modi dispensation or the BJP. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In a curtly worded open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Armed Forces veterans like Admiral L. Ramdas, Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar, Major General MPS Kandal, Major General R.P.R.C. Naidu and Air Marshal N.V. Tyagi, among others have said: \u201cWe stand with the &#8216;Not in My Name&#8217; campaign that mobilised thousands of citizens across the country to protest against the current climate of fear, intimidation, hate and suspicion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The letter, which is also addressed to chief ministers of all states and lieutenant-governors of union territories, states: \u201cWhat is happening in our country today strikes at all that the Armed Forces, and indeed our Constitution, stand for. We are witness to unprecedented attacks on society at large by the relentless vigilantism of self-appointed protectors of Hinduism. We condemn the targeting of Muslims and Dalits. We condemn the clampdowns on free speech by attacks on media outlets, civil society groups, universities, journalists and scholars, through a campaign of branding them anti-national and unleashing violence against them while the State looks away.\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1501494990994{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #cecece !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}&#8221;]Here\u2019s the full text of the letter:<br \/>\nWe are a group of Veterans of the Indian Armed Forces who have spent our careers working for the security of our country. Collectively, our group holds no affiliation with any single political party, our only common commitment being to the Constitution of India.<br \/>\nIt saddens us to write this letter, but current events in India have compelled us to register our dismay at the divisiveness that is gripping our country. We stand with the &#8216;Not in My Name&#8217; campaign that mobilised thousands of citizens across the country to protest against the current climate of fear, intimidation, hate and suspicion.<br \/>\nThe Armed Forces stand for &#8220;Unity in Diversity&#8221;. Differences in religion, language, caste, culture or any other marker of belonging have not mattered to the cohesion of the Armed Forces, and servicemen of different backgrounds have fought shoulder to shoulder in the defence of our nation, as they continue to do today. Throughout our service, a sense of openness, justice and fair play guided our actions. We are one family. Our heritage is like the multi-coloured quilt that is India, and we cherish this vibrant diversity.<br \/>\nHowever, what is happening in our country today strikes at all that the Armed Forces, and indeed our Constitution, stand for. We are witness to unprecedented attacks on society at large by the relentless vigilantism of self-appointed protectors of Hinduism. We condemn the targeting of Muslims and Dalits. We condemn the clampdowns on free speech by attacks on media outlets, civil society groups, universities, journalists and scholars, through a campaign of branding them anti-national and unleashing violence against them while the State looks away.<br \/>\nWe can no longer look away. We would be doing a disservice to our country if we do not stand up and speak for the liberal and secular values that our Constitution espouses. Our diversity is our greatest strength. Dissent is not treason; in fact, it is the essence of democracy.<br \/>\nWe urge the powers that be at the Centre and in the States to take note of our concerns and urgently act to uphold our Constitution, both in letter and in spirit.<br \/>\nSignatories (in alphabetical order of last name)<br \/>\nLt Col E.N. Ambre<br \/>\nBrig V.K.S. Antony<br \/>\nMaj M.K. Apte<br \/>\nCol C.T. Arasu<br \/>\nLt Col Israr Asghar<br \/>\nCdr C.R. Babu<br \/>\nLt Cdr P.S. Bal<br \/>\nLt Cdr Rakeh Bali<br \/>\nMaj Gen Dipankar Banerjee<br \/>\nLt Gen C.A. Barretto<br \/>\nBrig Noel Barretto<br \/>\nCol T.S. Bedi<br \/>\nSurg Cdr P Bellubi<br \/>\nPetty Off Gajanan Bhat I.N.<br \/>\nCdr P.G. Bhat<br \/>\nGp Capt A.V. Bhagwat<br \/>\nCol V. Bopiah<br \/>\nMaj Gen P.R. Bose<br \/>\nVice Adm A. Britto<br \/>\nCol R.T. Chacko<br \/>\nLt Col M. Chandrasekhar<br \/>\nCdre R. Clarke<br \/>\nCol K.S. Choudhry<br \/>\nBrig T.P.S. Chowdhury<br \/>\nBrig Dileep Deore<br \/>\nCol Samuel Dhar<br \/>\nLt Gen F.T. Dias<br \/>\nLt Col A.P. Durai<br \/>\nGp Capt M.P. Elangovan<br \/>\nMaj Gen Shyamal Ghosh<br \/>\nCol V. Nanda Gopal<br \/>\nCdre E.C. Govindan<br \/>\nCol V. Govindarajan<br \/>\nCol R.P. Grover<br \/>\nCdre P.C. Gulati<br \/>\nCdr M. Hari<br \/>\nLt Col Muzaffar Hasan<br \/>\nBrig Prem Hejmadi<br \/>\nAVM Kapil Kak<br \/>\nCol A.T. Kalghatgi<br \/>\nMaj Gen MPS Kandal<br \/>\nCol M.S. Kapoor<br \/>\nMaj Gen T.K. Kaul<br \/>\nLt Col P.B. Keskar<br \/>\nLt Col V. Kharkar<br \/>\nWg Cdr R. Khosla<br \/>\nBrig Anil Malhotra<br \/>\nCol Arun Malhotra<br \/>\nLt Col R.C. Malhotra<br \/>\nBrig G.K. Malik<br \/>\nCdre G. Menezes<br \/>\nWg Cdr S.N. Metrani<br \/>\nMaj G.N. Misra<br \/>\nAVM R.P. Misra<br \/>\nCol Biman Mistry<br \/>\nCol R.B. Mistry<br \/>\nCol A.K. Mitra<br \/>\nCol Pradip Mitra<br \/>\nMaj Gen H. Mukherji<br \/>\nMaj Gen R.P.R.C. Naidu<br \/>\nCol Pavan Nair<br \/>\nLt Col V.K. Nair<br \/>\nCol R.L.V. Nath<br \/>\nCdr M. Nirmal<br \/>\nLt Gen Vijay Oberoi<br \/>\nRear Adm Alan O\u2019Leary<br \/>\nAir Cdre Tanpat Pannu<br \/>\nLt Col Niraj Pant<br \/>\nCol R.C. Patial<br \/>\nCdr Hector Poppen<br \/>\nCapt Subbarao Prabhala IN<br \/>\nBrig Ranjit Prasad<br \/>\nBrig V.H.M. Prasad<br \/>\nWg Cdr K.V. Raghuram<br \/>\nBrig R.S. Rajan<br \/>\nCol S.S. Rajan<br \/>\nCdr S.M. Rajeshwar<br \/>\nAir Marshal Philip Rajkumar<br \/>\nCol T.N. Raman<br \/>\nAdmiral L. Ramdas<br \/>\nVice Adm I.C. Rao<br \/>\nCol T.K. Ravindranath<br \/>\nAir Marshal D.S. Sabhikhi<br \/>\nLt Col Nagaraj Sastry<br \/>\nLt Gen K.M. Seth<br \/>\nCol P.D. Shah<br \/>\nBrig Baqir Shameem<br \/>\nLt Gen Y.N. Sharma<br \/>\nLt Col H.D. Shirmane<br \/>\nVice Adm M.R. Schunker<br \/>\nCdr M.A. Somana<br \/>\nBrig Amardeep Singh<br \/>\nGp Capt D.R. Singh<br \/>\nBrig Joginder Singh<br \/>\nBrig Mastinder Singh<br \/>\nCdr Rajiv Singh<br \/>\nCol Salam K Singh<br \/>\nCol S. Srikantha<br \/>\nBrig M. Sudandiram<br \/>\nFlt Lt R. Suresh<br \/>\nSgt M.N. Subramani<br \/>\nLt Cdr P. Subramanyam<br \/>\nMaj Gen L. Tahliani<br \/>\nCdr S.P. Taneja<br \/>\nCdr T.P. Tharian<br \/>\nLt Col J.K. Thomas<br \/>\nCdr M. Thomas<br \/>\nCdr N. Tripathy<br \/>\nAir Marshal N.V. Tyagi<br \/>\nCapt A.K. Varma<br \/>\nWg Cdr B.J. Vaz<br \/>\nMaj Rajah Velu<br \/>\nLt Col R. Venugopal<br \/>\nMaj Gen S.G. Vombatkere[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of all states and lieutenant-governors of union territories, 114\u00a0 Armed Forces veterans endorse #NotInMyName campaign, urge an end to prevailing atmosphere of hate in the country A group of 114 Armed Forces veterans have endorsed the #NotInMyName campaign that has galvanized spontaneous nationwide protests [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":22978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1497],"tags":[14530,14531,1399,14532],"yst_prominent_words":[14500,14524,10650,14501,14520,14527,14514,14523,14518,14522,14521,14513,14517,14525,14516,14528,14515,14529,14519,14526],"ppma_author":[140543],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/d2r2ijn7njrktv.cloudfront.net\/apnlive\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Not-in-my-name1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":140543,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"apnnewsdesk","display_name":"APN Live","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/478eacb893eda88aa6ed8d99b005bf58?s=96&r=g"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22974"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22974"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=22974"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=22974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<!-- html is corrupted -->