MS Dhoni calls for respect for armed forces

India's limited-overs cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday asked his countrymen to show respect to the armed forces, saying that the nation is able to debate on freedom of speech and expression only because the military has put national interest before self.

"As v have this debate on freedom of speech our forces r making sure v stay in position to keep debating. Spl forces and commando units r normal ppl like u and me who r highly motivated and trained to put the interest of the nation before self," the 2011 World Cup-winning skipper tweeted.

Comments from Dhoni follow the ongoing controversy about alleged anti-national slogans being raised on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in New Delhi recently.

As v have this debate on freedom of speech our forces r making sure v stay in position to keep debating.

— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) February 21, 2016

Spl forces and commando unit's r normal ppl like u and me who r highly motivated and trained to put the interest of the nation before self

— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) February 21, 2016