Congress questions new Army Chief's appointment

Congress Manish Tewari questioned the appointment of Lt.Gen. Bipin Rawat as the new Army Chief. Manish Tewari asked as to why the seniority was not been taken into account during the appointment.

New Delhi, Dec 18: Taking a strong exception to Lt.Gen. Bipin Rawat's appointment as the new Army Chief, the Congress has questioned the government's move. Congress leader Manish Tewari asked as to why the seniority was not been taken into account during the appointment.

Rawat and Air Marshal Dhanoa, presently the Vice Chiefs of their respective services, will take over on December 31, when incumbents Gen. Dalbir Singh and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha demit office on retirement from service.

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Tewari took to micro-blogging site wtitter to question the PM over this. In a series of tweets, he asked why the other seniors in the uniform were overlooked.

Why has Seniority not been respected in Aptt.of Army Chief?Why have Lt Gen PRAVIN Bakshi & Lt Gen Mohamed Ali Hariz been superseded Mr PM?

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) December 17, 2016

2/2 Why has third senior most officerLt Gen Bipin Rawat with due respects to his professionalism superseded other two in a herarichal force?

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) December 17, 2016

3/3 correctionGen Rawat is not third but fourth senior most. Even Lt Gen BS Negi Army commander Central Command is senior to him ? Why Mr PM

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) December 17, 2016

4/4 and I only hope& pray it is untrue that this supersession in the Army is not a precursor to suppressions in other institutions Like SC??

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) December 17, 2016

Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat would be the new Army Chief and Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa the new chief of Indian Air Force, the Defence Ministry announced on Saturday.

The Left, too, questioned Rawat's appointment. CPI(M) politburo member Md Salim said: "Generally, we never comment on issues related to the armed forces. But it seems that the government is trying to change the traditions and norms of India's major institutions."

Lt Gen. Rawat and Air Marshal Dhanoa, presently the Vice Chiefs of their respective services, will take over on December 31, when incumbents Gen. Dalbir Singh and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha demit office on retirement from service.

Rawat will be the second consecutive chief from the Gorkha Rifles. He will succeed Gen Dalbir Singh who was commissioned into 4/5 Gorkha Rifles

(with IANS inputs)