I respect former Lt General Hooda's views on surgical strike: Army chief
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Dec 8, 2018, 13:25 IST
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. (Source: ANI)NEW DELHI: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that he respects the view of Lt General DS Hooda (retd) on surgical strikes being over hyped as Hooda was a part of the operation.
Army Chief's response came in response to former Lt General's comment where asserted that leakage of photographs and videos of the strike created unnecessary hype about 2016 military operation, which even acquired political colour.
"These are individual person's perceptions so let's not comment on them. He was one of the main persons involved in conduct of these operations so I respect his words very much," said Rawat.
Former Lt. Gen Hooda was the army commander, Northern Command, when 2016 surgical strikes were carried out against Pakistan by the Indian Army.
Former Lt. Gen was participating in a panel discussion at a military literature festival in Chandigarh when he had said that it would have been better had “we done it secretly.” The aim of any such offensive had to be not only tactical but strategic too, which should substantially hamper enemy morale, he had added.
The serving commander of the Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh also responded to the former commander Hooda's comment and said that the surgical strike helped in curbing terrorism.
"Surgical strike is one of the options available to Army. It had a positive effect on the country,we have been able to curb terrorism to a great extent," said Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.
Army chief Rawat was also questioned about the army personnel who is one of the accused in the Bulandshahr violence that resulted in the death of Uttar Pradesh inspector Subodh Kumar Singh.
"If there is some evidence and police feels that they suspect the soldier, then we will produce him before them. We will fully cooperate with police," said the army chief.
A soldier named Jitendra Malik is a suspect in Bulandshahr violence, who was spotted in several of the 14 video clips that are under scrutiny by the UP police.
Army Chief's response came in response to former Lt General's comment where asserted that leakage of photographs and videos of the strike created unnecessary hype about 2016 military operation, which even acquired political colour.
"These are individual person's perceptions so let's not comment on them. He was one of the main persons involved in conduct of these operations so I respect his words very much," said Rawat.
Former Lt. Gen Hooda was the army commander, Northern Command, when 2016 surgical strikes were carried out against Pakistan by the Indian Army.
Former Lt. Gen was participating in a panel discussion at a military literature festival in Chandigarh when he had said that it would have been better had “we done it secretly.” The aim of any such offensive had to be not only tactical but strategic too, which should substantially hamper enemy morale, he had added.
The serving commander of the Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh also responded to the former commander Hooda's comment and said that the surgical strike helped in curbing terrorism.
"Surgical strike is one of the options available to Army. It had a positive effect on the country,we have been able to curb terrorism to a great extent," said Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.
Army chief Rawat was also questioned about the army personnel who is one of the accused in the Bulandshahr violence that resulted in the death of Uttar Pradesh inspector Subodh Kumar Singh.
"If there is some evidence and police feels that they suspect the soldier, then we will produce him before them. We will fully cooperate with police," said the army chief.
A soldier named Jitendra Malik is a suspect in Bulandshahr violence, who was spotted in several of the 14 video clips that are under scrutiny by the UP police.
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