WATCH | 'Worrying that fake letters are being signed by vested interest groups,' says Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman over 'letter by veterans to President'

After two Army veteran signatories distanced themselves from the purported letter that was allegedly written by over 150 Army veterans, including eight former service chiefs to President Ram Nath Kovind opposing the politicisation of Armed Forces, Nirmala Sitharaman has called this 'fake' letter as 'worrying'

Addressing the media Raksha Mantri stated that two senior officers have not given consent to the letter, moreover, even the Rashtrapati Bhawan has not received the letter. 

She said, "I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that two senior officials, one is a former Air Chief and one is a Major General, Air Marshall Suri and also Gen Rodriguez have both come out and said their statements which we respect but they highlighted the fact that the petition that is being or was sent to the President which the Rashtrapati, as much as I have seen in the media, is yet to see it, he has not seen it yet its already been put in the public domain."

"In that, these two people have very clearly said that they have not given their consent. It is worrying that people's consent it not even being taken and fake letters and fake allegations are being signed by some vested interest groups, it is absolutely condemnable," she added. 

Former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, General SF Rodrigues, whose name appears as the first signatory in the purported letter written by armed forces veterans to President, denied signing it. 

READ| Omar Abdullah Doubles Back On Highlighting Purported 'letter By Veterans To President', Says Document Has No Credibility After Former Officers Deny Ever Signing It

"Don’t know what it (the purported letter was written by armed forces veterans to President) is all about. All my life, we've been apolitical. After 42 years of my service as an officer, it's a little late to change. Always put India first. Don’t know who these people are. It is a classic manifestation of fake news," former Punjab Governor General SF Rodrigues said while speaking in the matter.

Furthermore, former Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal NC Suri, whose name appears on the 8th position stated that the letter is not written by Admiral Ramdas, but has been written by Major Chaudhary, adding that he had been misquoted. 

"This is not Admiral Ramdas’ letter (purported letter written by armed forces veterans to President) and it has been done by some Major Chaudhary. He has written this & it was coming on WhatsApp & emails. To put an end to it, I wrote that armed forces are apolitical and support the politically elected government. And no, my consent has not been taken for any such letter. I don’t agree with whatever has been written in that letter. We have been misquoted," Air Chief Marshal NC Suri said.