Army won’t shy away from using power: Gen Rawat

‘I respect those superseded, will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder’

NEW ARMY Chief General Bipin Rawat on Sunday said that while the country and the force want to maintain peace and tranquility at the border, the Army will not “shy away” from using its power in any form.

He also made it clear that Eastern Army commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Southern commander Lt Gen P M Hariz, whom he superseded, will continue to serve the Army and help maintain its unity and power.

“Our country, our Army wants peace and tranquility at the border. But it does not mean that we are weak. We are capable and powerful in all forms and if need be, we will not shy away from using our power in any form,” Gen Rawat said after reviewing the Guard of Honour at the South Block.

“Our aim is that peace is maintained at the border. But I will say it again that if need be, we will not hesitate in using our power,” he said.

India shares a 3,323-km boundary with Pakistan, including a 749-km Line of Control (LOC). The Army lost more than 60 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 and there have been frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan across the LOC.

Gen Rawat also sent across a message to all ranks of the Army, saying every soldier counted.

“I am fully conscious of my responsibility to the rank and file of the Army. Every individual, every soldier in the Army counts irrespective of the arms and service he belongs to because it is the contribution of every soldier that makes the Army efficient and strong,” he said.

On Saturday, Gen Rawat took over as the 27th chief of the 1.3 million strong Indian Army succeeding Gen Dalbir Singh, who retired after 42 years of service.

Gen Rawat said, “I would like to use the opportunity to convey to the rank and file in the Army that everyone in the Army, wherever or whoever he may be, is equal in my eyes based on the tasks that they are required to perform.”

His comments come at a time when there is a feeling among sections of the armoured corps that only the infantry, that Gen Rawat belongs to, has the upper hand and Lt Gen Bakshi could not make it only because he was from the armoured corps.

Both Gen Rawat and his predecessor, along with senior officers in key positions, are from the Gorkhas.

Gen Rawat said he accepted the government’s decision to appoint him as the chief with all humility.

“I respect the officers who have been superseded. They have worked with me shoulderto-shoulder and I can say it for certain that they will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder to keep the unity and power of the Army in the future also,” he said.

He said he is fully aware of the role and the task assigned to the Army by the government. “We are duty bound to maintain the security and sanctity of our borders, assist the government in the maintenance of internal law and order and also provide succour during any disaster that may befall any part of our nation,” he said.

Rawat said that welfare of veterans, ‘veer naris’, and those who have been disabled in the line of duty would continue to be taken care of by the Army till their last breath.