Over 150 veterans have written to President Ram Nath Kovind expressing "alarm and disquiet" at the armed forces being for "political purposes" or "to further political agendas". The letter, sent to the President on Thursday, the first day of the national election, refers to the "unusual and completely unacceptable practice of political leaders taking credit for military operations like cross-border strikes and claiming the armed forces to be 'Modi ji ki Sena'".