New Delhi: The Union Minister and former army chief, V. K. Singh, today, came in defence of the present Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat’s statement against violence by the anti-CAA protesters across the country. Yesterday the Army Chief had come out against the violence that is being spread in the name of anti-CAA protests.
V.K. Singh asked the opposition not to politicize everything and said that asking students to maintain peace while protesting is not wrong.
The Minister said, “In our great country, the opposition can turn anything into a controversy. The ideal would have been to see the statement into context in which Army Chief has said a particular thing. Ask him what he meant. I don’t see any politics in it. If I tell students don’t unnecessarily damage property, is it politics? Search your heart and ask this question. Cross-check with Army Chief and in what context he might have said it.”
He added, “If I play football, the opposition will say it’s politics. If you don’t understand the context, go and check with him. If he had given advice to students to not indulge in arson, it’s not a bad thing. Don’t know what is so wrong in it?”
Bipin Rawat had told yesterday that leaders who are leading people to do violence and arson are not leaders at all.
Rawat said, “Leaders are not those who lead people in an inappropriate direction. As we are witnessing in a large number of universities and colleges, students the way they are leading masses&crowds to carry out arson&violence in cities and towns. This is not leadership.”
His statement came under fire from opposition when they accused the General for meddling in politics.
V. K. Singh also came down heavily against pseudo-intellectuals and politicians for not being concerned about the country. He also said that internet were churning out stories about CAA.
The former army chief said, “”I will take you back to the land acquisition bill. All states were consulted, a suitable amendment was passed and then myths started circulating and goalposts were changed. It is exactly the same thing that is happening today. We know who is doing it. People are churning lies and I am aghast. We reduced the time period from 11 years to five years (for granting citizenship to minorities from neighbouring countries) it becomes a Hindu -Muslim issue. The way things have been done and the internet is churning out stories, and none of the pseudo-intellectuals and politicians shouting at the pitch of their voice is bothered about the country. They are concerned over their image and awards.”