Rajya Sabha marshals' uniform code to be reconsidered, says Venkaiah

The switch to military-style uniforms was criticised by retired Army officers

venkaiah-naidu-pti Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who is the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, on Tuesday announced that he had asked the Secretariat of the House to reconsider the decision to change the uniform of its marshals.

On Monday, the marshals of the Rajya Sabha were seen sporting 'military-style' uniforms, a change from their traditional Indian attire. The change was severely criticised by a number of retired Indian Army personnel, including two Army chiefs—retired generals V.P. Malik and V.K. Singh. Singh is a member of the BJP and currently a minister in the Narendra Modi government. Malik had called the "copying" of military uniforms by non-military personnel “illegal” and tagged Naidu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking a review.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Naidu said, "Secretariat of the Rajya Sabha after considering various suggestions came out with a new dress code for the marshals. But we've received some observations by some political as well as well-meaning people. I've decided to ask Secretariat to revisit the same."