The government on Friday came out in support of Army chief General Bipin Rawat for his remarks about local residents coming in the way of counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh said General Rawat had not warned locals and only expressed concern over possible ‘collateral damage.’ Dr. Singh accused the Congress, which had criticised the Army chief’s warning of tough action against locals helping militants, as speaking in the ‘voice of separatists’ and of ‘politicising’ his remarks.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also backed Gen. Rawat saying the government had given a free hand to the Army to carry out anti-terror operations.
“This party [Congress] can go to any extent for political benefits. It is speaking the voice of separatists for lowly political gains,” Dr. Jitendra Singh charged.
Defending General Rawat, Dr. Singh said that “what the Army chief has said is not a warning but an expression of concern. He is worried that innocent people may be hit and become collateral damage [in anti-terrorist operations]. He is saying ‘don’t come in the line of fire’.”
He also targeted the National Conference, the main opposition party in Kashmir, saying once out of power it had adopted the jargon of separatist parties, something the Congress was also doing.
The Army chief’s warning had come after four soldiers were killed in two separate encounters in Kashmir. Gen. Rawat had said that security forces in J&K were facing higher casualties as local people were interfering with operations.
Mr. Parrikar told India Today TV: “Those who obstruct the operations are trying to protect the terrorists and his [Gen. Rawat’s] comment is based on that. In these matters, the decision to act will be that of the commanding [officer] or the officer who is on the spot. It cannot be generalised.”
( With PTI inputs )
