'Let Army Chief say what he wants': MoS VK Singh on Gen Rawat'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.

A day after row erupted over General Bipin Rawat's remark linking All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)'s growth and the immigration in the northeast, Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retired) VK Singh has said that let the Army Chief say whatever he wants. Singh, who is a former army chief, said that everything is being politicised these days.

"We have a habit of politicizing everything.Let the army chief say what he wants to. If you don't like it, you don't like it," Singh told reporters on Friday.

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