Ex-Navy chief to approach EC over Yogi's 'upsetting' #ModijiKiSena comment
Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas has said that he would move the Election Commission against the Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for terming the Indian Army as 'Modiji ki Sena' (Modi's army). The Indian Armed Forces don't belong to any one individual, said Ramdas. He said Yogi has upset many veterans and personnel in service with his remark. Here's more.
"The armed forces do not belong to any one individual, they serve the country. Till the polls get over, the Chief Election Commissioner is the boss," Ramdas said. "I am going to approach the Election Commission in this regard." added the Former Navy Chief Admiral. CM Adityanath made the comment on the armed forces at a BJP election campaign in Ghaziabad on 31 March.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has taken cognizance of UP CM Yogi Adityanath's remarks on the Indian Army. The District Magistrate of Ghaziabad, where the Chief Minister had made the comments, has been reportedly asked to furnish a report in this matter. The report would be submitted to the office of Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have slammed CM Adityanath and the BJP for politicizing the armed forces and also demanded an apology. Congress Spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "Now the Indian Army has been renamed as 'Modiji's sena' by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This is an insult to our armed forces. They are India's armed forces, not the private army of 'Prachaar Mantri.' Adityanath must apologize."
Ab Indian Army ka naamkaran karke Modi ki Sena rakh diya CM Adityanath ne. This is an insult to our armed forces. They are India’s Armed Forces not the private army of Prachaar Mantri. Adityanath must apologise. https://t.co/IDF8U6DSjR
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) April 1, 2019
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hit out at Yogi Adityanath saying, "It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'." Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also condemned the politicization of the armed forces by Adityanath, saying the forces belong to everyone and are not 'Modiji ki sena'.
"We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement," Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement. 2/2
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 1, 2019
The nation is proud of its Armed Forces. They belong to all of us and are not “Modi ji ki sena”. BJP should respect our Armed Forces and stop politicising their valour and sacrifices.
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 1, 2019
