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Indian Army Chief’s Controversial Visit Raises Concerns
On Wednesday, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi attracted scrutiny for visiting a spiritual leader, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, while donning his military uniform at an ashram in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh.
Journalist Sushant Singh expressed his concerns on X, stating, “When military leaders get involved with partisan religious agendas, it harms the civil-military relationship and undermines the impartial nature of India’s secular armed forces.”
This visit occurred shortly after a renewed conflict between India and Pakistan, sparked by an attack in Pahalgam in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir region, which left 26 tourists dead. India has blamed Pakistan for the incident but has not provided any corroborating evidence. The conflict lasted four days and was ultimately halted by a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Last year, the Indian Army mandated that its personnel follow a strict code of conduct, specifically prohibiting the wearing of religious symbols and accessories while in uniform after images surfaced showing some military officials flaunting religious markers on social media.
In response to the rising tensions, Pakistan’s armed forces initiated "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos," targeting various Indian military installations. The conflict led to the downing of six Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, including three Rafales. After more than 87 hours, a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was reached on May 10.
When asked about the losses of Indian aircraft during this skirmish, Indian Air Marshal A.K. Bharti remarked that "losses are a part of combat," offering no further context.
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