"Leaders are also not those": Army Chief, Cong in a war of words over CAA

Welcome Guest! You are here: Home » India

"Leaders are also not those": Army Chief, Cong in a war of words over CAA

As per the norms, Army chiefs in India are not expected to publicly opine or express their views on political issues

Thursday December 26, 2019 3:15 PM, ummid.com with inputs from IANS

[College students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 on December 19.]

New Delhi: A public stand vis-a-vis anti-CAA protest taken by Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Thursday led to a war of words with senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh asking him to opine also on communal violence.

While responding on the widespread protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act that defines citizenship on the basis of religion, General Rawat questioned the merit and intention of those leading the masses.

"Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions, as we are witnessing in a large number of universities and college students...the way they are leading masses of crowds to carry out arson and violence in our cities and towns. This is not leadership", Rawat said at an event.

Responding to the Army Chief's comments, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh retorted in a counter tweet: "I agree General Saheb but also leaders are not those who allow their followers to indulge in Genocide of Communal Violence. Do you agree with me General Saheb?"

As per the norms, Army chiefs in India are not expected to publicly opine or express their views on political issues. This is why AIMIM Chief Owaisi reminded the Army Chief saying leadership "is about knowing the limits of one's office".

"It is about understanding the idea of civilian supremacy and preserving the integrity of the institution that you [Gen Bipin Rawat] head," Asaduddin Owaisi wrote on Twitter.

India is on edge ever since the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was passed by the Parliament on December 11. More than 23 people have laid down their lives in the protests that erupted in different parts of the country over the amended citizenship law.

For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.