On the military

It is disturbing to read and hear about the way in which Indian military history is being invoked and distorted by political leaders (Editorial page, “Military history on the campaign trail”, May 7). The current political dispensation appears to be more than willing to drag the Indian defence forces — an institution whose secular character should be inviolable —into its dirty politics. What is equally worrying is the fact that in recent times, statements of an overt political nature appear to be emanating from the top brass within our defence forces giving rise to the perception that there is a steady politicisation. One shudders to think about what would happen if our defence forces become polarised.

Swaraj Raj,

Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab