News report about the return of Shaurya Chakra is malicious: Defence Ministry

The Union Ministry of Defence has condemned a news report published in a regional newspaper regarding the return of gallantry award Shaurya Chakra by defence personnel as malicious.

According to the Ministry, the said news reports aimed at besmirching the reputation of defence forces.

In a press statement, released on December 15, the Defence Ministry said, “A regional language newspaper, in its report, published on December 15, 2020, claimed that 25,000 awardees of Shaurya Chakra have returned the medals in support of the farmers’ agitation.”

A Bharat Bhushan Babu, Principal Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence, Government of India also tweeted it from his Twitter handle.

Celebrities and people from various walks of life have come forward to extend their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest at various places in the country against the three farm laws enacted by the government.

Reporting one such instance, a regional newspaper recently reported that 25,000 awardees of Shaurya Chakra have returned their medals in support of the farmers’ demand for withdrawal of farm laws.

Shaurya Chakra is a peacetime gallantry award which follows Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra in order of precedence.

Ashok Chakra is highest peacetime gallantry award which is considered to be equivalent of Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry award.

Highlighting the factual inaccuracies in the news report, the Defence Ministry has informed that between 1956 to 2019, only 2048 defence personnel have been awarded Shaurya Chakras for their valour, courageous action and self-sacrifice in the country.

“Media is advised to exercise caution, verify facts and desist from publishing such blatantly false and malicious news,” the statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said.