Politicisation of Armed Force Issues – UPSC GS3

Examples of Politicisation of Services:
  • The demand for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and
  • Political gains sought to be derived by politicians from nationwide sympathy for the families of soldiers ‘killed’ in a tragic accident, most recently involving the CDS.
  • The election of a former chief of army staff on a party-political platform and his subsequent induction into the Union council of ministers shows politicisation of the services.
  • For instance, the ‘surgical strikes’ issue was politicised in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Further, undertaking a professional assessment of that operation has been hampered due to the fear of political leadership.
  • The same issues have repeated with regard to a professional assessment of the India-China stand-off along the LAC.
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