Army Chief Bipin Rawat’s remarks against violence during nationwide protests over the new citizenship law received flak from the Opposition on Thursday, 26 December.
Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas said Rawat’s comments were “wrong” and that people in the armed forces must follow the decades-old principle of serving the country and not any political forces, PTI reported.
Ramdas said all the three services have an internal code prescribing that they must be neutral and not partisan, adding that these rules have been the bedrock of the armed forces for decades.
“The rule is very clear that we are serving the country and not the political forces. To express any political views as we have heard today are quite a wrong thing for any serving personnel, whether he is the top gun or at the bottom rank. It is not proper.”L Ramdas, Former Navy Chief Admiral
Rawat on Thursday criticised people leading violent protests over the new citizenship law, saying leadership is not about guiding masses including students to carry out arson and violence.
Rawat further said, "A leader is one person who leads you in the correct direction. Gives you the right advice and then ensures that you care for the people you lead."
‘Apologise to the Nation for the Indiscretion ’
Rawat's comments evoked sharp response from political leaders.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, on Saturday, came down heavily on Rawat, asking him to "mind his business”, according to PTI.
Speaking at the 'Maha Rally’ against the new Act, organised by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Chidambaram also alleged that the Army Chief and the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh had been asked to support the government and it was a "shame".
"Now, the Army General is being asked to speak up. Is it the job of the Army General?" Chidambaram asked, according to PTI.
“The DGP... the Army General are being asked to support the government. It is a shame. Let me appeal to General Rawat. You head the Army and mind your business... What politicians will do, politicians will do.”P Chidambaram
"It is not the business of the Army to tell politicians what we should do. Just as it is not our business to tell you how to fight a war. You fight war according to your ideas and we will manage the politics of the country..." he said, according to PTI.
Earlier, the CPI(M), in a statement, had asked the General to apologise to the nation for his “indiscretion,” holding that his remarks will have extremely adverse ramifications for the constitutional arrangement in the country.
The Politburo of the party said the General has "directly indulged" in condemning the student protestors who have been opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed pan-India National Register for Citizens.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said 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 head.”
KC Tyagi, leader of the JD(U), an ally of the BJP, also criticised Gen Rawat for making “political comments.”
Gen Rawat, who is due to retire on 31 December as Army Chief, is tipped to be India's first Chief of Defense Staff who will be the single-point military adviser to the government on tri-services matters, PTI reported.
Section 21 of the Army Act prohibits any Army personnel to attend or address any meeting or to take part in any demonstration organised by anybody for any political or other purposes, PTI reported.
It also bars them from communicating to press or to publish any book relating to political question.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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