Former servicemen on have taken to social media to vent their anger after the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, held a meeting inside an Army Cantonment in Hyderabad, the Quint reported on Monday.
In a letter dated October 13, the office of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) granted the use of Bison Polo Ground till 28 October and Parade Ground from 23 to 28 October.
The letter has been cirulated on social media, with several former armymen questioning the centre's treatment of the armed forces.
One Army man, Rohit Agarwal, tweeted that it was wrong to use political rallies inside a Cantt, while adding that senior officers do not take a stand against the same.
Another ex-Armyman, Major DP Singh, who faught at Kargil, called the move 'a degredation of the Indian Army'.
"Madam @nsitharaman May pls put a check. 1 side forces r being used2clean up spoiled things due2 misuse/corruption by civilians. On the other hand things kept intact are being opened 4 their use. Jai hind really," he tweeted.
One former serviceman even took a sarcastic dig at teh government, saying that at least the Army did not lease out the vehicles, barracks, langar and messes to political parties. And when one person questioned him, he responded, "Sir since times immemorial intelligent people like you have ruled over the lives of men and women who loved their country more than themselves like. Do soldiers have a choice a? ' ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die' said Alfred Lord Tennyson many centuries ago!"
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also defended the servicemen, calling BJYM move ‘disgraceful’.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala later tweeted, "In an unprecedented move, Modi Govt’s Defence Ministry has granted permission to BJP’s youth wing (BJYM) for holding a political rally on Defence grounds in Secunderabad. Why? BJP is a habitual offender in using Armed Forces for cheap political gains. This must be resisted."
BJYM, however, has denied doing anything wrong. Taking a dig at Surjewala, they said, "Only an Illitrate would have tweet this; The Congress conducted max no. of meetings in the paradet Ground, almost every political partyhad it's rallies here. @BJYM4Telangana dares @INCTelangana to share the complete RTI report of the meetings in last 15 yrs in this ground"
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "The Telangana unit of the BJYM with BJYM chief Poonam Mahajan at an event in Hyderabad")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}