'I don't want to react', says Sitharaman on Army Chief's remark on AIUDF

The controversy erupted after General Rawat spoke of proxy warfare in the Northeast by Pakistan with help from China and the "planned" influx of Bangladeshi immigrants.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has refused to comment on General Bipin Rawat's remark linking All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)'s growth and the immigration of Bangladeshis in the northeast.

"I don't want to react to anything...Somebody said something, somebody talking about....why should I react?" she told journalists on the sidelines of Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit when asked to comment on General Rawat's remarks.

The controversy erupted after General Rawat spoke of proxy warfare in the Northeast by Pakistan with help from China and the "planned" influx of Bangladeshi immigrants. He also referred to Ajmal's AIDUF in connection with reports of an increase in Muslim population in several districts of Assam.

"I think the government is looking at the Northeast with correct perspective...With development will come control of the people residing in this area. I don't think now you can change the population dynamics of this region... there is a party called AIUDF. It has grown at a faster rate than the BJP has over the years. The AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam," General Rawat had said.

Hitting back at General Rawat, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Thursday said the Army Chief has been misinformed and misguided. He said parties like AIUDF and AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties.

Ajmal said, "We respect General Rawat a lot but I think he has been misinformed and misguided. If Army chief is saying that demographic change is happening in Assam then it is the government's job to check it. We are the only party which said that shoot anyone who infiltrates into our borders."

OneIndia News