17 January,2018 06:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day Correspondent
On Monday evening, four former Navy officers and one retired army colonel slammed Minister Nitin Gadkari's recent comments about the Indian Navy. The Minister had said that the Navy had an anti-development stance and that he cannot give them an inch of land in South Mumbai. He had then, in his infamous tirade, thundered that the forces were supposed to be at the border keeping us safe from attacks, and not asking for SoBo land. The five retired defence personnel, who hit back at his remarks, spoke for most when they said that the morale of the force is dented by such words. More former defence personnel must continue slamming such statements in the social media, so that the message is reinforced.
Most of all, it should be Gadkari who must have the grace to clear the air about what exactly he meant by these remarks. There will now be little point in waffling or even taking recourse in the overused, "misquoted in the media" excuse.
The minister must now at least take cognisance of the feelings of the men in uniform, give an explanation or render an apology. Saying sorry does not come easy for those in power. The defence forces have not asked for it, but the minister himself needs to step forward and acknowledge that his comments have shocked the nation and have disrespected those who serve. One former naval officer said Gadkari needed to man up and render an apology to the chief of Navy.
If the minister feels this does not warrant an apology, he must step up and explain why and what exactly was he thinking when he launched the tirade. Army day has gone by. Now we have Republic Day around the corner. This is an apt time for reason and some redemption, Minister.
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