A group of veterans from the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force
on Tuesday said they were ‘shocked and deeply hurt’ by Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi’s comments on Sunday, terming it ‘irresponsible’ for him to make such ‘derogatory’
remarks about the armed forces.

Gandhi on Sunday, at a public meeting
in Tamil Nadu, said that “If you use India’s labourers, India’s farmers, India’s
workers, you will not need the Army, Navy and Air Force to be standing over
there. China will not have the guts to come inside.”

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The statement, signed by 20 veterans, stated the former’s
reaction to be ‘misplaced and off-tangent’, directing eventually towards the need
to ‘put things in correct perspective’.

“Making demeaning statements like the Indian Army, Navy and
the Airforce are dispensable not only seriously demoralise our men in uniform,
but also derogatory to the Armed Forces of the Nation, who have never hesitated
to make the highest sacrifices to protect the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the Nation. Such ill-advised statements show serious inadequacy in
threat perception that India is facing round the clock from enemies from
outside as well as within some parts of the country”, the statement, requesting
Gandhi to issue an apology, stated.

“We have the highest regards for Indian farmers, workers and
labourers. They are the core strength of our economy, and the backbone of
India. We salute them for their contribution to nation building. The Armed
Forces of India are also a very dedicated, highly trained professional outfit
with exceptional worldwide reputation, which can be casually undermined by
irresponsible leaders only at a grave cost of lurking danger to the security of
our motherland,” the veterans further noted.

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A supposed jab was also taken at the Congress leader with a
reference to the 1962 war and defeat therein – due to the ‘imaginary Nehruvian
utopia’ – by confirming his statement as ‘naïve and far from truth’.

The veterans urged Gandhi to remain discreet in referring
to the forces in future as it affects the morale of the soldiers.