1/
Around the partition of the subcontinent, the British Indian Army comprised of some 30-36% Muslims, 8% Sikhs, while the rest were Hindus, including Gurkhas of Nepali background, and Indian Christians, and Anglo-Indians.
After the independence, the central government..
Around the partition of the subcontinent, the British Indian Army comprised of some 30-36% Muslims, 8% Sikhs, while the rest were Hindus, including Gurkhas of Nepali background, and Indian Christians, and Anglo-Indians.
After the independence, the central government..
https://twitter.com/umaraqti/status/1345784827505750016
2/
..in New Delhi was faced with a sensitive question: Will the Muslim armymen and future recruits with kin across the frontier in the enemy country become a fifth column?
Former Indian Army Chief Gen.K.M. Cariappa [1949-53] was suspicious of Muslims in Indian Army.
..in New Delhi was faced with a sensitive question: Will the Muslim armymen and future recruits with kin across the frontier in the enemy country become a fifth column?
Former Indian Army Chief Gen.K.M. Cariappa [1949-53] was suspicious of Muslims in Indian Army.
3/
In an offensive titled diatribe published in the Organiser, the mouthpiece of the Hindu extremist organization called the RSS, Cariappa bluntly declared:
"Muslim loyalty seems to be primarily to Pakistan. This is a crime unpardonable.."
In an offensive titled diatribe published in the Organiser, the mouthpiece of the Hindu extremist organization called the RSS, Cariappa bluntly declared:
"Muslim loyalty seems to be primarily to Pakistan. This is a crime unpardonable.."
4/
Others may in fact have shared Gen Cariappa's charge against Muslims, as the civil servant-historian G.D. Khosla reported rumors about Muslim infidelity to the nation floating in New Delhi around the same time.
In 1953 than Mahavir Tyagi, the Minister of state for defense..
Others may in fact have shared Gen Cariappa's charge against Muslims, as the civil servant-historian G.D. Khosla reported rumors about Muslim infidelity to the nation floating in New Delhi around the same time.
In 1953 than Mahavir Tyagi, the Minister of state for defense..
5/
..told the Aligarh University Union that:
"..the percentage of Muslims in the Armed forces which was 32% at the time of partition has come down to two..."
Sheikh Abdullah as the first post-independence CM of Kashmir, later wrote that he was shocked when he came across..
..told the Aligarh University Union that:
"..the percentage of Muslims in the Armed forces which was 32% at the time of partition has come down to two..."
Sheikh Abdullah as the first post-independence CM of Kashmir, later wrote that he was shocked when he came across..
6/
..secret circulars banning Muslim recruitment, when Sheikh Abdullah asked Gen. K.M. Cariappa why Kargil Muslims were not recruited to which he replied that their loyalty to India was suspect!
..secret circulars banning Muslim recruitment, when Sheikh Abdullah asked Gen. K.M. Cariappa why Kargil Muslims were not recruited to which he replied that their loyalty to India was suspect!
7/
In April 2001 a handout issued by the Indian Army through the defense wing of the PIB in Jammu, reads:
"No vacancy for Muslims and tradesmen".
Despite protests in the IOJK Legislative assembly, and by the then CM Farooq Abdullah, the Army didn't deny its statement.
In April 2001 a handout issued by the Indian Army through the defense wing of the PIB in Jammu, reads:
"No vacancy for Muslims and tradesmen".
Despite protests in the IOJK Legislative assembly, and by the then CM Farooq Abdullah, the Army didn't deny its statement.
8/
Lt Gen M.L. Chibber the Adjutant-General in 1980-82, gave voice to similar prejudices when he declared that some Muslims may themselves be responsible for the absence of their co-religionists in the Army.
During his tenure in IOJK light infantry, he says, he found..
Lt Gen M.L. Chibber the Adjutant-General in 1980-82, gave voice to similar prejudices when he declared that some Muslims may themselves be responsible for the absence of their co-religionists in the Army.
During his tenure in IOJK light infantry, he says, he found..
9/
..it difficult to recruit Muslims who would rather fight for "Allah and not for the country".
There is a continuous questioning of Indian Muslim loyalty to India by organizations such as RSS, BJP, Shiv Sena, VHP, and Bajrang Dal.
..it difficult to recruit Muslims who would rather fight for "Allah and not for the country".
There is a continuous questioning of Indian Muslim loyalty to India by organizations such as RSS, BJP, Shiv Sena, VHP, and Bajrang Dal.
10/
Indian Muslims are accused of cheering Pakistani athletes, celebrating their victories in sports, and mourning their defeats.
An opinion poll conducted by MARG, India's top market research and polling company..
Indian Muslims are accused of cheering Pakistani athletes, celebrating their victories in sports, and mourning their defeats.
An opinion poll conducted by MARG, India's top market research and polling company..
11/
..revealed that a majority of Hindus believed that
"Muslims should not be allowed in the Armed forces."
This echoes what George Fernandes said in 1985:
"The Muslim is not wanted in the Armed Forces because is always suspect -- whether we want to admit it or not, most..
..revealed that a majority of Hindus believed that
"Muslims should not be allowed in the Armed forces."
This echoes what George Fernandes said in 1985:
"The Muslim is not wanted in the Armed Forces because is always suspect -- whether we want to admit it or not, most..
12/
..Indians consider Muslims a fifth column for Pakistan."
In 1999, a former Defense minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, estimated Muslims to be just 1% out of a total of 1.1 million Indian Army.
Muslims' representation in the Indian Airforce and Navy remain meager.
..Indians consider Muslims a fifth column for Pakistan."
In 1999, a former Defense minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, estimated Muslims to be just 1% out of a total of 1.1 million Indian Army.
Muslims' representation in the Indian Airforce and Navy remain meager.
13/
As a former Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, noted:
"There are hardly any Muslim officers in the Navy and none of them hold posts of any consequence."
As a former Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, noted:
"There are hardly any Muslim officers in the Navy and none of them hold posts of any consequence."
14/
Since the 1990s there is an issue of emerging communal outlook in Indian armed forces.
First, the refusal of the Army authorities to permit Friday prayers has given rise to complaints similar to the refusal to allow Muslim soldiers.
Since the 1990s there is an issue of emerging communal outlook in Indian armed forces.
First, the refusal of the Army authorities to permit Friday prayers has given rise to complaints similar to the refusal to allow Muslim soldiers.
15/
Second the tendency of some top military officers to draw the values to be inculcated from only one religious tradition, in this case from Hinduism, can cause resentment.
For instance Gen B.C. Joshi, the COAS exhorted his troops to "follow the path of Dharma" and the moral..
Second the tendency of some top military officers to draw the values to be inculcated from only one religious tradition, in this case from Hinduism, can cause resentment.
For instance Gen B.C. Joshi, the COAS exhorted his troops to "follow the path of Dharma" and the moral..
16/
..obligations "enshrined in the two Vedas - Rigveda and Atharva-veda".
Rear Admiral Vijay Shankar announced that henceforth new naval cadets would be supplied copies of Ramayana for classroom exercises.
Third, invitations to politicians like Bal Thackeray and..
..obligations "enshrined in the two Vedas - Rigveda and Atharva-veda".
Rear Admiral Vijay Shankar announced that henceforth new naval cadets would be supplied copies of Ramayana for classroom exercises.
Third, invitations to politicians like Bal Thackeray and..
17/
..Tarun Vijay (of the Shiv Sena and the RSS) for military events have caused dismay among Indians committed to inter-group harmony.
This is despite the fact of proven Indian Muslim loyalty during the four wars with Pakistan, as well as the fact that..
..Tarun Vijay (of the Shiv Sena and the RSS) for military events have caused dismay among Indians committed to inter-group harmony.
This is despite the fact of proven Indian Muslim loyalty during the four wars with Pakistan, as well as the fact that..
18/
..India's "missile man" A.P.J Abdul Kalam, a Muslim took a leading part in the nuclear explosion of May 1998.
To date, there are just three known cases of Muslims in the army charged with espionage for Pakistan, while there have been many more Hindus charged for the same.
..India's "missile man" A.P.J Abdul Kalam, a Muslim took a leading part in the nuclear explosion of May 1998.
To date, there are just three known cases of Muslims in the army charged with espionage for Pakistan, while there have been many more Hindus charged for the same.
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