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No ‘Muslim regiment’ in the first place: Former civil servants seek investigation into fake news

Group of former civil servants of the All India and Central Services, pen an open letter, backing army vertans’ call for investigations into hate campaign against Muslim soldiers

Image Courtesy:mangalam.com

Group of former civil servants of the All India and Central Services have written an open letter, seeking an investigation into a “campaign of calumny” against the Muslim soldiers who serve in the Indian Armed forces. The former civil servants who have worked for decades with Central and State Governments in have stated that such fake news being spread on social media, and other channels works to “forcefully establishes that the charges of dereliction of duty or disloyalty” against Muslim troops. They say these are “false social media posts, which have been named, have no basis whatsoever.” 

The group of veteran officer state that they continue to uphold the oath of allegiance to the Constitution that they took when they entered service, and are now “deeply disturbed to note the malicious campaign of calumny against soldiers of the Muslim faith in the armed forces of India which has caused distinguished Veterans of our armed forces to petition the Hon’ble President of India, who is also the Supreme Commander of our armed forces, seeking redress.”

The letter from the Veterans sent on October 14, signed by 120 senior and decorated veterans, was addressed The President of India, seeking an urgent enquiry, and punitive action against those who had spread the fake news of a so called ‘Muslim regiment’. This fake news was being spread even as tensions on the India-China border was simmering.

 

Now in a move of solidarity the civil servants have also spoken out and stated that they support the requests of the Veterans, and ask that the government to “investigate the antecedents of individuals who have made ‘Muslim Regiment’ post. Identify & charge individuals who have made the post, for anti-national activities.” They also want the government to “issue warning to Facebook & Twitter who have enabled these posts” as well as “issue instructions to all state governments that generation of such false & seditious messages in social media should be acted upon with alacrity.”

 

The civil servants pointed out that as “assaults against the dignity of our Muslim citizens, as indeed physical assaults, are becoming commonplace, this particular theme which casts doubts on the loyalty of Muslim soldiers has wider implications which could have serious repercussions on our security and on fields of battle.”  At a time, particularly, when India is facing grave external threats, attempts to divide the armed forces could well be termed acts of treason. 

The letter may be read here:

Related: 

The ‘Muslim Regiment’ post is false and dangerous. Do not believe it

 

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