Army chief like ‘goon on the street’: Cong leader

new delhi — Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday triggered a row after he likened army chief General Bipin Rawat to a “goon on the street” over the latter’s public remarks, prompting the BJP to demand his expulsion and an apology from Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress was quick to distance itself from the remarks of Dikshit, who, following criticism, was forced to withdraw his remarks and apologise. “Ours is not a mafia army like the Pakistani army which makes statements like the goons on the street. It looks bad when our army chief gives a statement like a ‘sadak ka goonda’ (goon on the street),” said the former Congress MP and son of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

He also said the Indian army had depth and was gentlemanly and as it was a great institution, it brought along a particular culture with it.

“I don’t think our army chief lived up to that...I believe this army chief does not live up to my image of what the Indian army should be. I believe, the army chief should not make political statements,” Dikshit said. He, however, later tweeted, “I have reservations on a comment of the army chief, but I should have chosen appropriate words. I apologise.”

Dikshit’s comments on the army chief drew flak from Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju. On Twitter, Rijiju wrote, “What’s wrong with Congress Party? How dare Congress call Indian Army Chief as “Sadak Ka Gunda”!! (sic).”

Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said: “Our party respects the army and so does the country. If some words have been used for its chief, it is unfortunate.”

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra was quick to demand an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the episode and Dikshit’s expulsion from the party. “This statement is absolutely shocking, it is appalling. Calling the respected Army chief of the country a ‘sadak ka goonda’, the Indian people will not accept it. — PTI