Parties Should Refrain From Using Religion In Politics: Ex-Armed Forces Chiefs Write To President, PM Over Haridwar Speeches

The letter said it is in national interest that all parties should refrain from using religion in politics and pledge to uphold the Constitution and well-being of the people.

The speeches were made during the three-day religion conclave 'Dharma Sansad' in Haridwar (FACEBOOK/DEVBHOOMI RAKSHA ABHIYAN)

New Delhi: Five former chiefs of staff of the armed forces have written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the recent events in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar city, Delhi and elsewhere openly calling for “genocide of the Indian Muslims”.

The letter said it is in national interest that all parties should refrain from using religion in politics and pledge to uphold the Constitution and well-being of the people.

The letter also attributed to several others, including veterans, bureaucrats, and prominent citizens, mentions that other minorities -- Christians, Dalits and Sikhs – are being targeted.

Referring to the speeches made during the three-day religion conclave "Dharma Sansad" in Haridwar, the letter said: “We are seriously perturbed by the content of speeches made during a 3-day religious conclave called a Dharma Sansad, of Hindu Sadhus and other leaders, held at Haridwar between 17-19 December 2021. There were repeated calls for establishing a Hindu Rashtra and, if required, picking up weapons and killing of India's Muslims in the name of protecting Hinduism.”

“At about the same time, a large number of persons gathered in Delhi and publicly took an oath resolving to make India a Hindu nation, by fighting and killing if necessary, and more such seditious meetings are being organised in other places,” the letter added.

Making a reference to the current situation on our borders, the letter said “any breach of peace and harmony within the nation will embolden inimical external forces”.

“The unity and cohesiveness of our men and women in uniform, including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Police Forces, will be seriously affected by allowing such blatant calls for violence against one or the other community in our diverse and plural society,” the letter added.

Calling upon the government, the Parliament and the Supreme Court to act with urgency to protect the country’s integrity and security, the letter said: “The Constitution provides for the free practice of religion across faiths. We strongly deplore such polarisation in the name of religion.”

“We urge you, Mr President and Mr Prime Minister, to take immediate steps to curb such attempts, and urge you to condemn such incitement to violence in no uncertain terms,” the letter added.