The Election Commission on Saturday called upon all political parties to advise their candidates and leaders to desist from displaying photographs of Defence personnel or photographs of functions involving Defence personnel in advertisements as part of poll campaign.
“It is pertinent to mention here that the Armed Forces of a nation are the guardian of its frontiers, security and the political system. They are apolitical and neutral stakeholders in a modern democracy. It is therefore necessary that political parties and leaders exercise great caution while making any reference to the Armed Forces in their political campaigns,” EC said in an advisory to political parties.
The EC’s advisory also mentioned that the Ministry of Defence has brought to the notice of the Commission that the photographs of Defence personnel are being political parties, their leaders and candidates in advertisement.
In an open letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas also expressed concerns on “recent instances” of parties using armed forces’ heroics.
“With elections due in a few weeks from now, it is particularly important that there should not be any misuse of these recent events by any political party to send triumphalist or jingoistic messages which can influence the electorate,” he has said.
EC asks political parties not to use ‘snaps of Defence personnel’ in campaign
