The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Congress party for politicising the elevation of Lt.Gen. Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of Army Staff, saying that the latter's frustration of losing power is driving them to comment on every step of the present NDA regime.
"For past two-and-a-half years, the Congress is politicising every issue and every sensitive issue is a political matter for them, whether it is defence or economy or foreign affairs. It is very unfortunate that the frustration of losing power is driving them to comment everything about the present regime," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI here.
"We should not politicise the elevation Lt.Gen. Bipin Rawat for the top post. Defence should be kept out of politics. Even in the Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh-led governments, seniority has been ignored," he added.
Prakash said, "Congress with its 60 years of rule and experience, still politicising these issues is a very dangerous trend. The lack of mature leadership is out in the fore."
The Centre's announcement of Lt. Gen. Rawat as the new Chief of the Army Staff superseding two seniors for the coveted post, led the Congress to demand answers over the decision, while asserting at the same time that the army is a public institution and the nation deserved an answer.
Speaking to ANI here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said this was not to be seen as a personal attack on the new Chief of Army Staff, but must be seen only as a legitimate question.
"With all due respect to General Rawat's professionalism and brilliance as a soldier and no personal animosity to anybody, there is a legitimate question as to why has this supersession taken place. After all, Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi who commands the Eastern Command, the Southern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali Hariz and the Central Army Commander Lt. Gen. B. S. Negi are all senior to the gentleman who is being designated," Tewari said.
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