BJP defends, hits back at Congress for ‘politicising’ issue

“Transparency and established procedures were followed in the appointment as Lt Gen Bipin Rawat was already the Vice Chief of Indian army,” BJP National Secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told television channels. 

“Opposition parties, especially Congress wishes to politicise everything. It is unfortunate that even army chief’s appointment is being politicised,” he lamented, adding that the superseding bogey, as raised by the Opposition, is nothing new. 

“This (overlooking seniority) has not happened for the first time. In 1983, Lt Gen S K Sinha was ignored,” he said. “This only shows the Congress does not want to debate 

real issues, but pick up matters, which would give them space in the media,” he said. 

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Saturday night questioned the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army Chief. “Why has seniority not been respected in appointment of Army Chief? Why have Lt Gen Pravin Bakshi & Lt Gen Mohamed Ali Hariz been superseded PM?,” he had tweeted. 

NCP leader Majeed Memon said while the government has the right to appoint the Army Chief, the privilege and authority given, however, did not allow whimsical decisions. “By naming Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as next Chief of Army Staff, Modi Govt has broken 30+ years of convention by superseding Lt Gen Bakshi and Lt Gen Hariz,” Congress MP Rajeev Satav said in a tweet.