INS Viraat controversy threatens to disturb equipoise in civil-military relations | The Indian Express

INS Viraat controversy threatens to disturb equipoise in civil-military relations | The Indian Express

Written by C. Uday Bhaskar |Updated: May 14, 2019 7:38:28 am

The writer is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi.

INS Viraat controversy threatens to disturb equipoise in civil-military relations

Post 1962 and the China debacle, Indian military personnel were encouraged to keep religion and politics out of their discourse and focus on professional matters while remaining aware of their domestic environment but yet steadfastly apolitical. The equipoise should not be damaged.

Modi’s allegation about INS Viraat has been stoutly refuted by the senior officials directly involved in that visit to the island territories.

The national capital, which voted on Sunday, has an electoral symbolism that major political parties are keenly aware of. Hence, the no-holds-barred campaign rhetoric, which has set a new low in calumny and coarseness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has targeted the Nehru-Gandhi family over the last year, opened yet another front when he charged late PM Rajiv Gandhi of misusing defence assets.