An Army veteran who spearheaded a campaign by ex-military personnel to condemn the "politicisation of the armed forces" ahead of the Lok Sabha elections has expressed surprise over three former officers backing off a day after endorsing the letter, and said that their initial words of support are clearly recorded in the email chain. "I really cannot say why they are distancing themselves from the letter. They may have their own reasons, and I respect them. But I have recorded the consent of all the veterans to whom I sent the mails," Major General Sunil Vombatkere told NDTV today. Former Air Chief Marshal Nirmal Chandra Suri and retired Army chief General SF Rodrigues were among those who reconsidered their support to the letter.