Hyderabad: Veterans have criticised the Army for renting out Parade Ground and Bison Polo Ground in Hyderabad to the BJP Yuva Morcha for a youth convention ahead of the election. Doubts have been raised over the independence of the country’s biggest defence body. Earlier too, the Headquarters of Kolkatta AOC was rented out for private events. Veterans suspect that the military is being politicised.
On October 13, an office under the Ministry of Defence wrote to the DEO, AP circle, Secunderabad to grant permission to the BJP party in Telangana to hold a convention at the Bison polo ground and parade ground, starting from October 23 to 29. This letter follows a request made by BJP state president K. Laxman. The office of MOD has also asked the party to seek permission from the district authority and also helped the political parties with the contact of an official of captain rank in Telangana.
Speaking to this newspaper, military historian Mandeep Singh Bajwa criticized, “My father Major General K.S. Bajwa was the General officer in command (GOC) at the 54 division Secunderabad in 1947. It was my father who developed the Bison Polo ground, he also restarted the game of polo at the ground. And now, the Army parade ground and polo ground in Secunderabad is being allotted to the BJP for holding its youth wing convention. As I predicted, the floodgates are being opened for the rapid politicisation of the military and it is being made subservient to the ruling party.”
Another Veteran Colonel Mr Anil Talwal ( retired ), added, “Wonder how this has been allowed? I don’t recollect the ground but it won’t be long before it becomes a “Ramlila” ground of sorts. The politicians and citizens have been eyeing this for a while now. Its a nail in the coffin.”
It is important to note that this is not the first instance where the Parade ground was allocated for a political meet; in 2015 permission was sanctioned for the TRS party to hold its plenary meeting. Earlier too the ground
witnessed religious events of the Christian community.
However, a few veterans came to the rescue of the MOD and BJP party , Major General Brajesh Kr said, “Congress party held their election rallies at the same ground in 2005 and 2009 , why was no noise was made then? Five lakh people attended the meet held by Ms Sonia Gandhi at Parade grounds in 2010 , why does no one remembers this?”
