Eminent Citizens Including Ex-Army Chiefs Write To PM, President Over Haridwar Hate Speech

Five former chiefs of staff of the armed forces and over a hundred other people including veterans, bureaucrats, and prominent citizens have written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding "open call of genocide of Indian Muslims" at various events, most recently in Uttarakhand's Haridwar and Delhi. The letter also mentions targeting of other minorities like Christians, Dalits and Sikhs.

The letter writers called upon the "Government, Parliament and Supreme Court to act with urgency to protect the integrity and security" of the country. "We are perturbed by the content of speeches made during a religious conclave called a Dharma Sansad, of Hindu sadhus and other leaders, held at Haridwar. There were repeated calls for establishing a Hindu state and, if required, picking up weapons and killing India¡¯s Muslims in the name of protecting Hinduism," the open letter stated.

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Signatories of the letter

The signatories of the letter include four former Navy Chiefs ¡ª Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Admiral Arun Prakash and Admiral R.K. Dhowan ¡ª and former Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, in addition to veterans, bureaucrats, diplomats, advocates and other prominent individuals.

What the letter said

"Regardless of which persons or parties initiated calls for such genocide, government of India and the judiciary, at the highest level, need to take urgent action. We cannot allow such incitement to violence together with public expressions of hate, which not only constitute serious breaches of internal security, but which could also tear apart the social fabric of our nation," added the statement.

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"The Constitution provides for free practice of religion across faiths. We deplore such polarisation in the name of religion," the letter said. Urging political leaders to condemn these acts, they said politicians should refrain from using religion in politics.

The letter also urged leaders of all political parties to condemn these calls for what is ¡°tantamount to genocide of Muslims.¡±

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¡°They must restrain their own cadres and thereby set example of their commitment to secularism, fraternity and justice for all,¡± the letter said, adding, it is in the national interest that all parties should refrain from using religion in politics and pledge to uphold the Constitution and the well being of our people.