India on Thursday outrightly rejected the propaganda by Pakistan about alleged ill-treatment of Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army and said it is proud of its secular credentials.
In a tough statement, the Indian army termed such a campaign as malicious since Pakistan had also claimed that the Sikh soldiers were discontented.
The official note came after some social media sites in Pakistan claimed that the Indian Sikh soldiers were discriminated against and especially targeted Lt General Taranjit Singh. He is at present posted in the newly created Department of Military Affairs(DMA)after the setting up of the Chief of Defence Staff(CDS)institution early this year.
“Over the past few days, a state sponsored malicious social media disinformation campaign has been run by Pakistan against the Indian Army and in particular against Lt General Taranjit Singh, a senior officer posted in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). Having failed consistently to incite religion-based disaffection within the country, Pakistan, in a desperate attempt, is now trying to create a divide within the Indian Army,” the statement said.
The Indian Army categorically rejects such malicious attempts to defame the institution.
The Indian Army is a secular organisation and all officers and soldiers serve the nation with pride irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or gender, it added.