Cannot allow such incitement of violence: 5 ex-armed forces heads write to PM, President on Haridwar hate meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File Pic

Five former chiefs of staff of the armed forces and others including veterans, bureaucrats, and prominent citizens have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, expressing concerns over "open call of the genocide of Indian Muslims" at various events, most recently in Haridwar and Delhi. The letter also talks about targeting of other minorities like Christians, Dalits, and Sikhs.

"We are seriously perturbed by the content of speeches made during a 3-day religious conclave called a Dharma Sansad, of Hindu Sadhus and other leaders, held at Haridwar between 17-19 December 2021. There were repeated calls for establishing a Hindu Rashtra and, if required, picking up weapons and killing of India's Muslims in the name of protecting Hinduism," the letter said.

The signatories also said that the government and the judiciary should take "urgent action" against the perpetrators.

"We cannot allow such incitement to violence together with public expressions of hate… One speaker made a call to the Army and police to pick up weapons and participate…This amounts to asking the Army to participate in genocide of our own citizens, and is condemnable and unacceptable," reads the letter.

The signatories also urged leaders of all political parties to condemn these acts.