Professional merit ‘relic of past’ as Indian Army falls under BJP’s Hindutva clout
New Delhi: The Indian Army is increasingly getting under the influence of the BJP and Hindutva ideology, where political loyalty is now overshadowing professional merit, say analysts.
According to Kashmir Media Service, analysts warn that the Indian Army, which they describe as Modi ke Sena, is no longer an independent force but a political tool of the BJP, where nationalism is used to justify favoritism, corruption and ideological control. “Indian Army officers now trade birthday gifts and personal favors with politicians like bribes in a back alley rank for sale,” the analysts said.
The rise of Gen Manoj Pande as 29th army chief in April 2022, they say, wasn’t a success story; it was a BJP-RSS selection, proving loyalty beats merit in the new Indian Army.The selection based on political affiliations reflects a growing trend where officers are promoted based on allegiance to the ruling party rather than battlefield competence.
Regional factions, particularly from Uttarakhand and Nagpur, have turned military promotions into a political game, sidelining deserving officers.
Sainik Schools were meant to produce soldiers, but now they breed ideological foot soldiers groupism and favoritism rule promotions.
The Indian Army is no longer a force of unity; officers are securing promotions by kneeling before regional political powerhouses. Reports highlight discrimination against Muslim officers. The President’s Bodyguard unit remains an exclusive club for upper-caste Hindus and select Sikhs, reinforcing caste-based segregation within the ranks.
Corruption within the army is also at an all-time high, with over 1,800 cases of recruitment scams and procurement fraud. Soldiers are treated as personal servants for senior officers rather than being trained for defense, contributing to rising suicides among personnel.
