Extortion not OK, don't play politics with us: Army to MNS

Already upset at the unseemly politicisation of the "surgical strikes" conducted on September 29, the Army expressed disappointment on Saturday at the way Maharashtra Navnirman Sena wanted to force film producers employing Pakistanis to pay Rs 5 crore to its welfare funds.

"Don't play politics with the Army , which has a strong a political, highly-disciplined and secular ethos. The armed forces don't want to be dragged into such low-level political wrangling," said a senior officer.Added another, "We only accept funds donated voluntarily , not through such extortion."

Officers said an Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties fund was recently created after the force was approached by a large number of philanthropic organisations and individuals who wanted to donate money to assist the next of kin of soldiers killed during operations.

"There was a surge of such requests after 10 soldiers perished in the massive avalanche in Siachen on February 3 as well as the Uri attack on September 18 that left 19 soldiers dead," said an officer.

After extensive deliberations, the 13-lakh strong Army decided earlier this month to accept contributions through this separate, centralised fund created for such a purpose.

"But the donations should be purely voluntary .This fund, of course, is in addition to the various existing schemes for the welfare of next of kin and children of battle casualties," he added.

Ex-servicemen also widely took to Twitter to hit out at MNS. In response to a tweet whether he would support Rs 5 crore being extorted from film producers for the Army , Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), a retired senior officer, replied: " Would never support it."

Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) said: "I served four decades in uni form and never did I live on extorted money . What's this happening in my country???" "The Indian armed forces cannot, and should not, become crutches for political ambitions.

Unfortunately , this is the trend seen in recent past. Stay away please," he said, adding: "The Army never doubts the love and sentiment of countrymen behind contributions to its fund. But it can't be from Raj Thackeray's extortion."