The Indian Army has issued a strong clarification regarding a press conference video that has been widely circulated across media and social media platforms, alleging that deliberate attempts were being made to damage the image and credibility of the armed forces through what it described as “fake, malicious and misleading narratives.”
In an official statement released by the Army, authorities clarified the service background of four former servicemen who were seen attending a joint press conference alongside Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party and Manoj Jha of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
According to the Army, three of the individuals seen in the video — Chandu Chavan, Harendra Yadav, and P Narender — had all been dismissed from military service on grounds related to indiscipline and what the Army termed “unsoldierly conduct.”
The Army further stated that the fourth individual, Shankar Singh Gujjar, had been declared a deserter since November 2024 and that disciplinary proceedings against him were currently ongoing in both military and civil courts.
In its statement, the Army asserted that the video was being circulated with the intention of maligning the institution and spreading misinformation regarding conditions within the armed forces.
The Army alleged that the four individuals were deliberately using social media and public platforms to spread what it described as “fake, malicious and misleading narratives” in an effort to divert attention away from allegations and disciplinary actions linked to their own conduct and dismissal from service.
The statement also accused the individuals of spreading false claims regarding service conditions in the Army and attempting to create divisions between officers and soldiers by encouraging what it referred to as an “Officer-Men divide.”
According to the Army, these narratives were allegedly intended to distract attention from ongoing cases involving accusations of desertion, intoxication, and insubordination associated with some of the individuals concerned.
The Army urged citizens to remain cautious and not fall prey to propaganda or misinformation being circulated online. It appealed to the public to verify information carefully and remain vigilant against attempts to spread misleading narratives concerning the armed forces.
The clarification came shortly after the controversial press conference held jointly by AAP MP Sanjay Singh and RJD MP Manoj Jha, during which the four former servicemen were reportedly present and participated in discussions related to issues within the military establishment.
The incident has since generated political as well as public debate, with attention focusing both on the Army’s allegations regarding misinformation and on the role of dismissed or absconding former servicemen in publicly commenting on internal military matters.
The Army’s statement represents one of its strongest recent responses against what it views as organised attempts to undermine the institution’s credibility through social media campaigns and public narratives involving former personnel facing disciplinary or legal action.
