In an interview to The Indian Express, General Rawat said, "I want to tell Kashmiri youth that Azadi isn't possible. It won't happen. Don't get carried away unneccessarily. Why are you picking up weapons? We will always fight those who seek Azadi, those who want to secede. Azadi is not going to happen, never."
In a categorical message to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, who are taking up arms or resorting to stone pelting, Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said that they cannot fight the Indian Army, and that “Azadi” could never be achieved by them.
He said this in response to a question from one of the students of the Government Law College, Mumbai, who interacted with the Chief of the Army Staff at the South Block here, as part of a study tour.
Referring to the defence budget, Gen Rawat, quoting an internal study by the Army, said 35-37 per cent of the annual budget given to the force contributes towards nation building.
All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal said the Army chief has overstepped his role by commenting on political parties.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief said that he would meet President Ram Nath Kovind , Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home minister Rajnath Singh to seek clarification.
Meanwhile, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that it is not the job of the Army Chief to comment on political parties in a democracy.
Gen Rawat, on a day-long visit to the headquarter at Fort William, interacted with senior officers and reviewed their operational preparedness in view of the security situation in the eastern theatre.
The act gives the security forces special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations in disturbed areas.
Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence, claimed that Doklam is a part of China’s territory and reiterated his country’s view that India had ‘illegally trespassed’.
MEA's remarks come in the wake of media reports about China carrying out some infrastructure development in the disputed region that Bhutan claims at its own.
Countries which support terrorism need to be "tackled" and terrorism is here to stay unless the world joins hands to end it, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday.
China on Monday expressed anger over Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat's remarks, saying such "unconstructive" comments would hurt peace and tranquility in the border area.
The daily said Gen Rawat's comments have underlined the dire state of Pakistan-India relations, further deteriorated by the Kulbhushan Jadhav controversy.
Bipin Rawat said that Pakistan Army helps terrorists in sneaking into Indian territories, and that the Army will take stricter action if they are forced to do so.
Top News
Latest News
