Indian Army ‘facilitator for peace’ in Jammu and Kashmir: Gen Bipin Rawat
India | January 10, 2019 13:57 ISTAddressing his annual press conference, Gen Rawat said that the Army can only play the role of facilitators for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing his annual press conference, Gen Rawat said that the Army can only play the role of facilitators for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
General Rawat asked whether media persons had any evidence to support the allegations being made against an army jawan who is accused of shooting the police officer.
Rawat, who was delivering the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Lecture, also expressed concern over allowing funeral processions of terrorists, saying they glorify militants as martyrs and are "possibly encouraging more people to join the terrorist ranks".
In an exclusive interview to India TV, General Bipin Rawat said that Pakistan is already fighting a war on its western border and it can’t afford to open another front against India on its eastern border.
"We need to take stern action to avenge the barbarism that terrorists & the Pakistan Army have been carrying out. Yes,it's time to give it back to them in the same coin, not resorting to similar kind of barbarism. But I think the other side must also feel the same pain," General Bipin Rawat said.
General Rawat further added that the Indian Army would also be like Neeraj Chopra, the Asian Games javelin gold medallist who reached out to his Pakistani competitor, if Pakistan makes the first move.
General Bipin Rawat said he himself didn't possess a cell phone, but that should not mean his force should be denied of it.
General Rawat said that the modern day terrorists operating against us "from across the border" were very tech savvy and were exploiting cyberspace to their advantage.
The human rights record of the Indian Army, he said, was well known to the people of Kashmir and to the international community.
General Bipin Rawat said that people of Jammu and Kashmir seem to be happy with the ceasefire and therefore, continuing of non-initiation of combat operations can be considered.
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal took strong objection to Gen. Rawat's comments, saying the Army Chief has made a political statement which is "shocking".
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.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue here, Rawat said strong curbs are put on the militant wing of terrorist organisations for their violent activities.
Addressing the Indian Army's customary Annual Press Conference ahead of Army Day, Rawat questioned the education being provided in government schools in the Valley.
"Chinese border troops patrolling and stationing in the Dong Lang area are exercising sovereignty rights," Lu said without commenting on the troop reduction.
General Rawat was in the western sector, close to the India-Pakistan border, to witness the 'Hamesha Vijayee' exercise conducted by the Southern Command in Thar desert.
China had on Monday reacted angrily to the Indian Defence Minister's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the visit to the "disputed" region will not be conducive to peace on the border.
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