Shouldn’t Indian Army Chief Mind His Language? 

By Ramachandra Murthy Kondubhatla

Indian Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat has provoked China with his statement at a Delhi-based think-tank on Wednesday. He spoke of muscle-flexing by China saying, “China was salami slicing, taking over territory in a very gradual manner, testing our limits of threshold, which India has to be wary about.” He also said India has to prepare itself for a two-front simultaneous war.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday asked the General to refer to President Xi Jiping’s contention that the two countries are each other’s development opportunities and not threats. The ministry said the General’s attitude should not spoil the atmosphere created at the BRIC conference four days ago, during which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping decided to look forward to better bilateral relations, keeping the Doklam stand-off aside.

One does not know if the Army Chief has the sanction of the prime minister or the defence minister to make such a controversial statement. This issue is developing at a time when Nirmala Sitharaman has taken charge of the defence portfolio. Our ultimate aim should be to make peace and not war

Modi knows only too well the size of Chinese economy and its army. In fact, India cannot afford a war even with Pakistan, leave alone China. Not that it cannot beat Pakistan, but any war would destract the nation from its path of development. War should only be the last resort after diplomacy fails and no other option is left.

It is truly strange that the Indian Army Chief should speak unguardedly when an impression has gained that Indian political establishment has deftly handled the Dokalam issue by not reacting to the provocative media statements from the state-owned newspapers in Beijing. The Indian government has deliberately maintained dignified silence with the lone exception of Finance Minster Arun Jaitley, who was then holding the Defence portfolio too, who remarked that India today is not the India of 1962. He was reacting to the Chinese media’s advice to India to learn from the historical lessons drawn from the humiliating defeat in 1962.

The Chinese retort to Jaitley was that even China today is not the China of 1962. After that, there were many other provocative jibes from the Chinese media and the political leaders, but neither Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj nor any other official of the Indian government joined the issue. It was a prudent decision given the fact that India does not want a war with China, which is superior on every count.

Against this background, the loose talk by the Army chief is mind-boggling. Gen Bipin Rawat is credited with emotional and unconventional views. He was made army chief superseding Lt Gen. Praveen Bakshi and PM Hariz. This happened for the first time in 33 years. Generally, seniority is respected and the senior most General is promoted as the Army chief. Gen. Bipin, who hails from Uttarakhand and whose father too was a General in the Army, has been getting quick promotions in his career. On January 1, 2016, he assumed the post of the General Office Commanding-in- chief, Southern Command, and in September, he was made the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. On December 31, 2016, Gen Bipin Rawat became the 27th chief of the Army.

There were many other provocative jibes from the Chinese media and the political leaders, but neither Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj nor any other official of the Indian government joined the issue. It was a prudent decision given the fact that India does not want a war with China, which is superior on every count

Soon after, he found his foot in the mouth when he commended the job of Maj. Gogoi, who tied a Kashmiri to an Army jeep as a human shield to protect it from stone-pelters. He gave the Major the Aarmy chief’s commendation medal. There was a lot of criticism from political quarters as well as the media. Even retired army officers had flayed the Army chief for what he did. But Gen. Bipin defended himself saying, “This is a proxy war and proxy war is a dirty war. It is played in a dirty way. The rules of engagement are there when the adversary comes face to face and fights with you. It is a dirty war…That is where innovation comes in. You fight a dirty war with innovations.”

Retired Lt General HS Panag tweeted that, “The IA (Indian Army) traditions, ethos, rules and regs (regulations) swept away by the mood of the nation.” Retired Colonel Anil Kaul also criticized the Army chief’s statement. Rawat responded in his own brazen style saying, “ People are throwing stones. People are throwing bombs at us. If my men ask me what do we do, should I say just wait and die? I will come with nice coffin with a national flag and I will send your bodies home with honour. Is it what I am supposed to tell them as a chief? I have to maintain the morale of my troops who are operating there.”

Pakistani army chiefs are used to making provocative statements against India. But their Indian counterparts leave things to the political executive. Indian prime ministers reply to Pak generals in one way and the Chinese government in a different way. Gen. Rawat has not been observing the distinction. Earlier also, he said the Indian Army should be prepared for war on two-and-a-half fronts, meaning China, Pakistan and the internal threat from the Maoists. He is perhaps the first Indian Army Chief to speak this way.

It is truly strange that the Indian Army Chief should speak unguardedly when an impression has gained that Indian political establishment has deftly handled the Dokalam issue by not reacting to the provocative media statements from the state-owned newspapers in Beijing

He has been provoking both Pakistan and China with his unwarranted statements going way too beyond his brief. One does not know if the Army Chief has the sanction of the prime minister or the defence minister to make such a controversial statement. This issue is developing at a time when Nirmala Sitharaman has taken charge of the defence portfolio. While the lady is expected to address many questions related to shortage of arms, ammunition and equipment supplies to strengthen the Army and prepare it to face any eventuality, her ultimate aim should be to make peace and not war.

A no-nonsense man, Rawat is known to be a straight player. He needs to restrain himself in the interest of the country.