General Bipin Rawat Says Pakistan Pushing Bangladeshis Into Northeast; Army Chief Shouldn’t Interfere in Political Matters, Says Asaduddin Owaisi

Speaking at a conference on bridging gaps and securing borders in the Northeast region, General Rawat had said that Pakistan and China were working together to keep India's northeastern states disturbed

New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s remark that Pakistan is pushing Bangladeshi nationals into Northeastern states with support from China as part of its proxy warfare has triggered a row. Taking exception to the Army Chief’s statement, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Party (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi advised General Rawat to stay away from political issues.

“The Army Chief should not interfere in political matters it is not his work to comment on the rise of a political party, Democracy and Constitution allows it and Army will always work under an Elected Civilian leadership,” Owaisi tweeted.

Speaking at a conference on bridging gaps and securing borders in the Northeast region, General Rawat had said that Pakistan and China were working together to keep India’s northeastern states disturbed.

“I think the proxy game is very well played by our western neighbour, supported by our northern border (China) to keep the area disturbed. We will continue to see some migration happening. The solution lies in identifying the problem and holistically looking at it,” he said.

Commenting on the rise of Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam, General Rawat had said that the party had grown faster than the BJP in the state.

“There is a party called AIUDF. If you look at it, they have grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP grew over the years,” he said, while referring to the BJP winning only 2 seats in 1984.

The AIUDF, which was formed in 2005 with an aim to champion the cause of Muslim community, currently has three MPs in Lok Sabha and 13 legislators in the state assembly.