India’s former navy chief and a former chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Arun Prakash has said that calls of ethnic cleansing would lead to a civil war, adding that no former Indian army chief was ready to sign the latter against Muslim genocide.
In an interview, Prakash said the silence from the country’s political leadership after calls for Muslim genocide and ethnic cleansing were made at a Dharma Sansad in December in Haridwar is “ominous … (and) there should be outright condemnation and firm action”. Admiral Arun Prakash said if this continues “there’s bound to be a counter” and “the next step could be conflict”. Asked if this meant India could face a civil war, Admiral Prakash replied: “Yes, indeed” and asked, “Do we want that?”
In an interview to Karan Thapar, Admiral Prakash, who along with three other former naval chiefs and a former Indian air force chief, was a signatory to an open letter addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31 about the Dharma Sansad’s (Hindu religious gathering in Haridwar) calls for genocide and ethnic cleansing, was asked if there has been a reply from either. He replied, “None so far (and) it’s futile to expect one.” Admiral Prakash also said there’s not even been an acknowledgement of the letter. He added: “The least one expected was an acknowledgement.” Asked if this implied discourtesy he said: “It would be par for the course.”
