Also Read- Indian army chief: Pakistan, China behind influx of people from Bangladesh into India’s northeast
The AIUDF, which has three Lok Sabha MPs and 13 MLAs in the Assam assembly, strongly objected to the remarks, asking why the heavens were falling over the electoral success of a “secular, democratic” party. In its maiden electoral battle, the AIUDF won 10 seats in the 2006 Assam Assembly polls. The number went up to 18 in 2011. AIUDF chief Ajmal said he respected the army and its chief for the sacrifices the force makes in the service of the nation. “But the army chief has a misunderstanding that needs to be cleared. Whatever he has said is in violation of his constitutional mandate. I see nothing but politics in his statement,” Ajmal said. Earlier, in a series of tweets he slammed the general for making a “shocking,” “political statement.”
Jumping into politics
Since Rawat was appointed army chief, his freewheeling comments have also often crossed the line into politics. In January, Rawat attacked China on the Doklam crisis, calling for a multi-pronged approach, including diplomatic, military and partnerships with other countries in the region, to deal with Beijing. China’s foreign ministry, in turn, responded to Rawat’s statements. Even more troublingly, Rawat waded into nuclear policy, arguing that India is ready to call Pakistan’s nuclear “bluff.” Rawat has also proffered his views on Kashmir. In February, 2017, he said Kashmiri civilians interfering with operations against militants will be considered anti-national and the army could even use force to deal with them. Rawat on Wednesday created a furore when he made comments about the AIUDF. Given that Rawat was speaking about migration from Bangladesh, the implication was that the AIUDF has grown as a result of this alleged influx. Rawat referred to the alleged migration as an act of “lebensraum,” the German word that means “living space” – an ideological principle used by Nazi Germany to support the country’s territorial expansion. As if this wasn’t enough, Rawat blamed Pakistan and China for pushing Bangladeshi migration.Also Read- ‘Gen Rawat’s comments spurred by failure to compete with China’
Lebensraum, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the AIUDF: there is a lot to unpack here. However, far more important than that what was said is the fact of who said it. The chief of the Indian Army making adverse observations about an Indian political party or commenting on the foreign policy aims of India’s neighbours is highly irregular. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident: it is part of a larger trend of the politicisation of the Indian Army. Increasingly, the army is not just a fighting force but is a participant in public debates as well. This would be a troubling phenomenon in any democracy, where politics should be conducted exclusively by civilians.Parts of this story were taken from Times of India, Gulf News and Sroll.in.