114 veterans write to Narendra Modi, say can't look away from 'relentless vigilantism of self-appointed protectors of Hinduism'

Over 100 veterans have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing their displeasure over recent attacks on minorities, according to media reports. The Hindu reported that the letter dated 30 July, 2017, also stated that the veterans backed the ‘Not in My Name’ campaign which “mobilised thousands of citizens to protest against the current climate of fear, intimidation, hate and suspicion”.  The campaign was organised in June and saw people take to the streets to protest lynchings of Muslims and Dalits. [caption id=“attachment_3763757” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] “We 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,” the letter signed by 114 veterans from the army, navy and air force said, according to NDTV. “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,” the letter added, according to the report. “We condemn the targetting 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,” the letter added, according to The Indian Express. “We can no longer look away… Our diversity is our greatest strength. Dissent is not treason; in fact, it is the essence of democracy.” The letter was endorsed by many top retired officials of the armed forces, including Admiral L Ramdas, Major General Dipankar Banerjee and Major General MPS Kandal. Other than the prime minister, the letter was also addressed to the lieutenant-governors of Union Territories and several chief ministers. “The armed forces stand for “unity in diversity”. 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,” the letter stated, a copy of which was published in  The Wire.