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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Manohar Parrikar asks Mamata not to drag ‘apolitical’ army into politics
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Manohar Parrikar asks Mamata not to drag ‘apolitical’ army into politics

Manohar Parrikar writes a letter to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after she questioned the presence of Indian Army soldiers at a toll plaza in Kolkata

A file photo of defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Photo: Abhijit Bhatlekar/MintPremium
A file photo of defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Photo: Abhijit Bhatlekar/Mint

New Delhi: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday wrote a letter to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, asking her not to drag the apolitical army into politics.

On 1 December, Banerjee questioned the presence of Indian Army soldiers at a toll plaza in Kolkata who were collecting data as part of a routine exercise in many north-eastern states including West Bengal. 

“I have been deeply pained by your allegations... If only you had enquired with the concerned agencies of the state government, you would have come to know of the extensive correspondence between the army and the state agencies including the joint inspection of the sites carried out by them," Parrikar wrote in a strongly worded letter on 8 December.

“Indian Army is one of the most disciplined institution of our country dedicated to the safety and security of the nation. The country is proud of their professionalism and apolitical conduct. Your allegations in this regard run the risk of adversely impacting the morale of armed forces and the same was not expected from the person of your standing and experience in public life," he added in a two-page letter reviewed by Mint. 

The Indian Army had to make a public statement to clear the charges made by Banerjee.

“The Army Authorities were forced to put the record straight in the matter by presenting evidence of their communication with the concerned state agencies including rescheduling of the data collection operations on their request," he said, adding, “Political parties and politicians may have the luxury of making wild and unsubstantiated allegations against each other but one needs to be extremely careful while referring to our armed forces. I am sure you would appreciate this."

Banerjee's party spokesman told news agency ANI they will respond to the letter.

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Published: 09 Dec 2016, 12:28 PM IST
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