Corruption scandals within the Indian armed forces under Fascist Modi and his extremist Hindutva BJP party have become a routine and mounting concern, manifesting in mega scandals, recruitment scams, and high-profile cases. India, a nation with deeply entrenched extremist beliefs, has been actively involved in carrying out radical activities within its borders. These instances not only jeopardize national security by diverting funds but also erode public trust in the armed forces of India.
According to the Global Defence Anti-Corruption Index, military spending in India has surged by 147 percent in the last decade, providing fertile ground for corruption. One of the most significant corruption cases involves the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) competition, valued at over 20 billion dollars. As a result, three Air Marshal level IAF officials were secretly court-martialed under direct orders from the Indian President.
Moreover, it has now become a bastion of corruption and luxury. As per the data shared by The Print, there have been 1,080 corruption scandals reported since 2010 alone. These scandals range from officers above the rank of colonel receiving free liquor concessions from CSD to the illegal sale of free liquor in the market for personal gain.
Additionally, legislation has been manipulated to provide tax benefits to high-ranking officers, while young officers are denied such privileges. Seventy-two Army officers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer and four retired officers up to the rank of Major General and Brigadier, have been implicated in selling prohibited weapons like 9 mm pistols and .30 bolt action rifles on the black market for personal gain.
Similarly, four Top generals, including the 33 Corps Commander and the Military Secretary, were implicated in a preliminary Court of Inquiry for a Sukna military base land scam. The Army’s damaged reputation faced further criticism when Lt Gen P.K. Rath’s brother accused Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor of being well-informed about the land-related developments.
One of the most recent and significant corruption scandals within the Indian armed forces is the recruitment scam uncovered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI conducted searches at 30 locations in 13 cities linked to the Service Selection Board (SSB) recruitment process in the Indian Army. The case involves 17 Army officers and personnel, including Lieutenant Colonels and Majors, who are accused of accepting bribes for the selection of officers and other ranks.
In another shocking case, a retired Lieutenant General, SK Sahni, has been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment by a court martial in the expired ration scam. He was found guilty of irregularities in procuring rations for soldiers, including providing expired food items.
The VVIP chopper scam is yet another corruption case under scrutiny. It is alleged that bribes were paid to middlemen, possibly even politicians, during the purchase of 12 Agusta Westland helicopters from the Italian defence manufacturing giant Finmeccanica. The estimated cost of this deal was 3,600 crore rupees.
Additionally, as reported by Indian Express, there has been filing of a case against five Army personnel, including a Colonel, over accusations of accepting bribes amounting to Rs 18 lakh from a ration supplier serving troops in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Due to these discriminations, Indian soldiers and paramilitary personnel are using social media to highlight harsh conditions and inadequate facilities, pointing to concerns of discrimination under Modi’s government. These grievances not only impact morale but also raise questions about leadership and accountability within the armed forces.
When compared to neighboring countries such as China, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, it becomes evident that India’s defense procurement corruption ranks among the highest in the region. This not only impacts neighboring countries with heightened and xenophobic militarization but also adversely affects religious minorities within India.
It’s noteworthy that Prime Minister Modi has actively propagated the Hindutva ideology of the BJP-RSS within the Indian Armed Forces. This is exemplified by the establishment of the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the Indian Armed Forces, occupied by the late General Bipin Rawat. The evidence of Hinduizing the Indian Armed Forces is evident in the notorious “Agneepath Scheme,” where individuals aged 20-25 years with Hindu backgrounds are irregularly inducted and subsequently placed in paramilitary and law enforcement agencies to propagate militarized ideology at grassroots levels. There is rampant corruption and nepotism within the Indian Armed Forces, particularly the Army, along with rising Hindutva fascist tendencies that pose a threat to Muslims, Christians as well as Sikh community.
Professor Gregory Stanton of World Genocide Watch has expressed Hindutva ideology goes against India’s history and constitution, labelling Modi as an extremist who has seized control of the government with the help of corrupt army and RSS extremist ideology.
Similarly, infiltration of Hindutva ideology within the Indian armed forces is proving detrimental, exacerbating internal conflicts and affecting Dalits within the military ranks. As a result, fascist BJP Government and Indian army had turned out to be the most dangerous entities for Muslims, Christians, and Sikh communities that may cause serious & sustaining impacts on their positions impacting their psychological, physical & economic conditions.
