New Delhi : – Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made strong allegations on Tuesday, claiming that the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, is “politically” exploiting the Indian Army for electoral gains. He criticized the ruling party for compromising the dignity of the Army by leveraging the popularity of soldiers for political purposes.
In a statement issued in Hindi, Kharge asserted that the Modi government has taken the unprecedented step of using the Army as a political tool during elections. He alleged that the government has instructed the Army to establish 822 “selfie points” nationwide, with the primary purpose of promoting government schemes, rather than celebrating the bravery of our soldiers.
Kharge expressed his concern, saying, “By capitalizing on the popularity of the brave soldiers of our Indian Army who protect the nation, Modi ji is promoting himself. By politically using the Army for elections, the Modi government has done something which has never happened in the last 75 years.”
He further criticized the content displayed at these selfie points, stating that they predominantly feature an idol-like image of Prime Minister Modi and praise for his government’s schemes, rather than commemorating the valor and sacrifices of the soldiers.
Kharge emphasized the Congress party’s deep respect for the bravery and sacrifices of the Indian Army. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which often champions the cause of nationalism, of diminishing the dignity of the Indian Army through such actions.
The allegations made by Mallikarjun Kharge have stirred a new wave of political debate in the country, with various voices weighing in on the use of the Army for electoral purposes.
