Reacting to Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s comment on rapid growth of his political party, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal today said that it was “shocking” for the Army Chief to “indulge into politics” which is “against the constitutional mandate given to him”.
The AIUDF leader also said that his party’s growth was due to “misgovernance of big parties”.
Ajmal, in his Facebook post, wrote: “General Bipin Rawat has made a political statement, shocking! Why is it a concern for the Army Chief that a political party, based on democratic and secular values, is rising faster than BJP? Alternative parties like AIUDF, AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties. By making such statement, isn't the Chief of Army Staff indulging into politics which is against the constitutional mandate given to him?”
Also Read: Maulana Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF has grown in a faster time-frame than BJP: Army Chief
On Wednesday, General Rawat had said that Maulana Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF in Assam has grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP has grown over the years.
“There is a party called AIUDF, they have grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP has grown over the years. When we talk of Jan Sangh with two Members of Parliament and where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam. Finally, what will be the state of Assam, we will have to take a call,” he said.
The AIUDF was launched in 2005 by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal. The party has gained massive support from Muslims in Assam. The AIUDF has three 3 in the Lok Sabha and 13 MLAs in the Assam Assembly.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized General Rawat’s comments saying that it was not his work to comment on the rise of a political party. Owaisi also added that “democracy and Constitution” allow different political parties to grow and “Army will always work under an Elected Civilian leadership.”
With General Rawat started getting criticised for making 'political' statements, the Indian Army sought to downplay its chief's comments.
There is nothing political or religious in the talk. Army Chief just mentioned amalgamation & development in the seminar on North-East organised at DRDO Bhawan on 21 Feb 18: Army
"There is nothing political or religious in the talk. Army Chief just mentioned amalgamation and development in the seminar on North-East organised at DRDO Bhawan on 21 Feb 18," news agency ANI quoted the Indian Army as saying today morning.
