New Delhi: Extending their support to ‘Not In My Name’ campaign, more than 100 armed forces veterans on Monday wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning killings of Dalits (those belonging to lower castes) and Muslims across India in the name of cow vigilantism.

The letter, signed by 114 veterans from the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, said the current situation in the country negates the idea of unity in diversity.

“We are a group of veterans of the Indian Armed Forces who have spent our careers working for the security of our country. Collectively, our group holds no affiliation with any single political party, our only common commitment being to the Constitution of India. It saddens us to write this letter, but current events in India have compelled us to register our dismay at the divisiveness that is gripping our country,” it read.

The veterans said the nation was witnessing unprecedented attacks on society at large by the “relentless vigilantism of self-appointed protectors of Hinduism”.

“We condemn the targeting of Muslims and Dalits. We condemn the clampdowns on free speech by attacks on media outlets, civil society groups, universities, journalists and scholars, through a campaign of branding them anti-national and unleashing violence against them while the state looks away,” they wrote.

They further said they supported the ‘Not in My Name’ campaign that recently mobilised thousands of citizens across the country to protest mob lynching in the name of ‘gau raksha’(protection of cows).

“We stand with the ‘Not in My Name’ campaign to protest against the current climate of fear, intimidation, hate and suspicion. We urge the powers that be at the Centre and in the states to take note of our concerns and urgently act to uphold our Constitution, both in letter and in spirit,” the letter stated.

According to the open letter, dissent should not be treated as treason; in fact, it was the essence of democracy.

“We can no longer look away. We would be doing a disservice to our country and this democracy if we do not stand up and speak for the liberal and secular values that our Constitution espouses. Our diversity is our greatest strength,” it said.

The veterans averred that India needed to cherish its spirit of “unity in diversity”.

“The Armed Forces stand for ‘Unity in Diversity’. Differences in religion, language, caste, culture or any other marker of belonging have not mattered to the cohesion of the Armed Forces, and servicemen of different backgrounds have fought shoulder to shoulder in the defence of our nation, as they continue to do today. Throughout our service, a sense of openness, justice and fair play guided our actions. We are one family. Our heritage is like the multi-coloured quilt that is India, and we cherish this vibrant diversity,” they said.

The letter has also been sent to all state chief ministers.