Brinda Karat: Army Chief Making ‘Objectionable’ Statements; There’s A Need For ‘Self-Restraint’

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat took sides with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit over his ‘sadak ka gunda’ (street thug) remark about Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, when she said General Rawat’s statements are indeed “quite objectionable”.

Dikshit’s comment came in response to General Rawat’s remark that Army was "fully ready for a two and a half front war".

Karat told the ANI: “I think Sandeep Dikshit has already apologised for the comment he made. That comment was made in a specific context and the matter should end there. But it is a matter of concern generally that the present Army chief’s statement result in controversy because the statements itself are quite objectionable.

She also said that General Rawat was undermining the status of his post while making such controversial statements.

“I think there is a need for self restraint as far as chief of our army is concerned,” she added.

Meanwhile the Centre has demanded an apology from Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and asked her to clarify her stand on remarks against the Indian Army.

"It shocks us. It did not come from a somebody from Congress, but from a very eminent Congress leader," Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said

However, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has tendered an apology for the second time, saying he shouldn't have used "uncivilised" words to convey his message.

"It was a statement given to you (ANI) only and it was in the context of the constant statements that the Army Chief has made with regard to the army's preparation and Pakistan. I thought Indian Army chiefs normally don't make these statements and they have a different manner in which they approach,” Dikshit told ANI.

With inputs from ANI