Context:

In recent weeks, much has been written about the likely politicisation of the army, especially after more than 150 senior military veterans, including several former service chiefs, wrote a letter to the President expressing their anguish over the ‘politicisation’ of the military.

They requested him “to take all necessary steps to urgently direct all political parties that they must forthwith desist from using the military, military uniforms or symbols, and any actions by military formations or personnel, for political purposes or to further their political agendas”.

Why military should be kept out of politics?

• The President is the supreme commander of the armed forces, not the head of any political party or alliance in power, including the Prime Minister.
• The forces serve the nation and not the government in power.
• It has no role in government decision making nor interferes with its functioning. It only advices on military matters, for which it is the sole authority.
• Therefore, any politicization will lead to violation of the very secular environment and the vibrant democracy.
• Using military activities to shop for votes will lead to political mud-slinging, to the detriment of the honour and sanctity of the special forces.

The use of the armed forces as a political tool is just one side of the coin. Even more dangerous is the fact that it sends the signal to the top brass that there is nothing wrong in intermixing politics with the military.

The eventual lesson they will learn is that they can interfere in the political process with impunity since the civilian leadership has already legitimised the military’s use in the political realm.

Conclusion:

• In recent years, many senior serving officers have commented on important domestic and international issues, such as immigration and India-Pakistan relations, that until recently had been off limits for the military brass.
• This is an unprecedented development that needs to be reversed in order to preserve civilian supremacy over the armed forces and keep the political and military arenas distinct.
• Unlike the neighbouring countries, the Indian Armed Forces have practised the constitutionally mandated “civilian supremacy over the military,” even though the reciprocal dignity of the apolitical existence has not been maintained by the politicos in recent times.
• Therefore, the nexus between military and politics does not bode well for Indian democracy.

Politicisation of the armed forces is a self defeating exercise in a democracy and political parties who attempt it, do so at their own peril. Once the armed forces are politicised they become law unto themselves.