Congress manifesto will only demoralise armed forces: Nirmala Sitharaman

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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. File Photo

New Delhi, April 3: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday called the Congress manifesto a danger for the country, saying it would only demoralise the armed forces.

Addressing a press conference here, she took on the Congress on its promise to amend AFSPA in its manifesto. She claimed that it would be used to encourage frivolous charges against officers.

She said the armed forces are fighting at the cost of their lives. “Why should it be presumed that the powers of the armed forces are opposed to human rights?” she asked.

The minister alleged that the Congress is trying to weaken the armed forces and pull down their morale.

She said the armed forces needed protection.

She also wondered as to why the manifesto was silent on martyrs. “The Congress manifesto mentions nothing about the martyrs,” she said.