MoD Spokesperson Sent on Leave After Her Controversial Tweet
The spokesperson of the ministry of defence (MoD) Swaranashree Rao Rajashekar has been sent on leave after a tweet from the spokesperson’s official twitter handle that was seen as an insult by veterans of the armed forces and sparked outrage.
The defence ministry in a tweet said, “Col. Aman Anand, took over as the acting Official Spokesperson of MOD as the Spokesperson proceeds on leave.”
Swaranashree Rao Rajashekar, an officer from the Defence Accounts Service cadre was appointed as defence ministry spokesperson by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Her official designation was Additional Director General (Media and Communications) and she was the principal spokesperson for the ministry.
As the tweet by principal spokesperson Swaranashree Rao Rajashekar drew angry reactions from military veterans, she deleted it saying, “The tweet was inadvertently done and the same is deeply regretted please.”
Earlier, Admiral Prakash commented on a Twitter post by a person who had objected to the use of an Indian Army flag on the bonnet of a car used by the Internal Financial Advisor appointed to the Western Command of the Army in Chandimandir in Haryana’s Panchkula district, on the same social media platform.
“Even if misuse of an Army Command’s insignia by a civilian is not a cognizable offence, the person needs to be reprimanded by the GOC in C whose ‘Financial Adviser’ he is,” Prakash tweeted.
Responding to the former Navy Chief’s comments,Rajashekar, tweeted, “What about misuse of jawans in your residence during an officer’s tenure sir? and how about children being picked up and dropped to school in Fauji (military) gaadis (vehicles)?Not to forget Madam’s shopping expedition on government vehicles. And endless parties…who pays for that?”
“This is indeed shameful for @SpokespersonMoD to tweet this to a former Service Chief,” retired Air Vice Marshall Manmohan Bahadur said in a Twitter post.
“Is it allowed to be done under Official handle. It is dangerous to have such people to project us & our relationship with others,” said another post by retired Lt General K.J. Singh.
Former Navy chief Prakash chose not to respond to the spokesperson’s reply and instead urged the ministry to “reflect” on the state of civil-military relations.
“Rather than getting excited over indiscreet tweet of @SpokespersonMoD I would suggest sober reflection; (a) by MoD on state of civil-mil (military) relations & (b) by Military Leadership on the aspersions cast by MoD civil-servant on personal conduct of Service officers.,’’ he said.
