A day after he triggered a political row by wearing military fatigues at a public rally organised by the BJP in the city, State party chief Manoj Tiwari attempted to clear the air on Monday.
The North-East Delhi MP, however, remained defiant against his detractors, stating that he had not worn a uniform but only a camouflage shirt.
He added that he had many other shirts like that. He also announced that he would soon organise a rally where every participant would wear similar attire as “wearing the Army colour is a matter of pride” for him.
Matter of pride
“For me wearing Army colours is a matter of pride. Whenever I am happy or I have to felicitate a braveheart, I put it on,” he told reporters on Monday.
“It was a shirt. I have 10 shirts like that. I go to jogging wearing it every morning. Which shop or mall does not sell such shirts?” he asked a day after he was criticised for attending a BJP bike rally in his parliamentary constituency wearing an Army-style camouflage shirt on March 2.
The row was triggered a day later, especially on social media, with Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien slamming Mr. Tiwari for his actions and accusing him of seeking votes in such attire and in the name of the armed forces.
Among Mr. Tiwari’s critics was Nagendar Sharma, Media Adviser to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who said that by wearing a military uniform Mr. Tiwari committed an offence under Section 171 of the Indian Penal Code.
On Monday, however, Mr. Tiwari said he visited paramilitary and Army units on occasions such as Independence Day and Republic Day where he was gifted such military-style caps and articles of clothing as memorabilia.
He argued that those questioning his action had also questioned the armed forces of the country in addition to siding with “those trying to break the country”.
‘Lower the morale’
“Those who side with the Tukde-Tukde gang are saying that I have insulted the armed forces by wearing the shirt. Such people lower the morale of our soldiers through their talks,” he said adding that he had “highest regard” for the armed forces and wearing the camouflage was his way of “showing solidarity with soldiers of the country”.