NEW DELHI-- The official spokesperson of the Defence Ministry was sent on leave Friday after she "inadvertently" posted a tweet from the ministry's official handle criticising alleged misuse of official privileges by senior Defence officials in response to a tweet by retired Navy Chief Arun Prakash who was criticising "misuse of an Army Command's insignia by a civilian", The Times of India reported.
The tweet by Swaranshree Rao Rajasekhar, the official spokesperson, drew critical reactions from defence veterans who saw it as an insult, an NDTV report said. "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?" she wrote in her tweet which she later deleted.
Following criticism, Rajasekhar responded on twitter, saying, "The tweet was inadvertently done and the same is deeply regretted please."
Earlier, Admiral Prakash retweeted a photograph showing a military flag on the bonnet of an official car of the Internal Finance Adviser of the Western Command of the Army. He attached his comment with the picture in the tweet saying that even if this was not a cognisable offence, "the person needs to be reprimanded by the GOC in in whose 'financial adviser' he is."
For now, Rajasekhar has been sent on leave and, as per the official announcement, Col. Aman Anand has taken over as the "acting spokesperson" of the defence ministry.
The controversy prompted the retired Navy Chief to caution against "getting excited" over what he called an "indiscreet tweet" by the official spokesperson. Instead, he suggested "sober reflection" on two issues: (a) by the Ministry of Defence on the state of civil-military relations and (b) by the Military Leadership on the "aspersions cast" by Rajasekhar on the "personal conduct of Service officers".