Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday (February 15, 2026) felicitated awardees at the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Awards during Mahashivratri celebrations in Coimbatore. But the presence of defence personnel in uniform at a private event sparked controversy with several retired officers objecting to it. said military officers can attend private functions “except that they should not be doing so in uniform.”“If they were to receive an award, they could well have received it in civil dress. Wearing a military uniform and going to a private event is unbecoming of the apolitical character of the military,” he said. said officers cannot refuse to attend an event where the Defence Minister is present.

Source: The Hindu February 16, 2026 17:50 UTC