India’s first and current Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat died in an army chopper crash on Wednesday. The Mi-series chopper was carrying General Rawat's staff and
family members when it crashed near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor.
According to reports, 14 passengers were on board the aircraft, including Bipin Rawat, his wife, the Defence Assistant, security commandos and IAF pilots. Reportedly, the chopper was
heading to the Wellington defence establishment.
As India mourns the death of the country’s first tri-service chief, little you know is that Gen Rawat had chemistry with controversies. From his disputed statement on CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) violent protests to Commendation medal Major Gogoi, here is Gen
Rawat’s long history of Controversies.
- When Rawat commented on violent CAA protest
In mid-2020, CDS General Bipin Rawat sparked controversy by openly denouncing people who led violent protests, claiming that leadership wasn't about instructing people to commit
arson and violence. The General also made comments that appeared to be targeted at anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests across India.
Opposition leaders and senior retired officers slammed the general's remarks.
- When Rawat defended Major Leetul Gogoi’s “human shield”
Major Gogoi was awarded the Army Chief's Commendation medal for tying a man to an army jeep and using him as a human shield in Kashmir. Gogoi had justified his actions as the only
way to get through a stone-pelting mob. He was honoured for his long-term commitment to counter-insurgency operations.
General Bipin Rawat had defended Gogoi using a Kashmiri man as a "human shield."
"This is a proxy war and proxy war is a dirty war. It is played in a dirty way. The rules of engagements 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," Rawat had said.
The news of Major Gogoi getting the commendation medal drew widespread criticism, including from army veterans as well as political parties. The National Conference and the People's
Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir had blasted the decision, calling the incident a "gross violation of human rights."
- When Rawat said "I wish people had fired instead of throwing stones at army"
General Rawat spoke about the security issues in Jammu and Kashmir during an interview with PTI, and stated it would have been easier if Kashmiri protesters fired shots instead of pelting
stones, so he could do what he 'wanted.'
"In fact, I wish these people were firing weapons instead of hurling stones at us. Then I'd have been content. Then I'd be free to do whatever I wanted," he stated.
- When Rawat asserted "people need to be afraid of army"
CDS Gen Rawat had invited great criticism after he said that people of the country should be afraid of its army. "If people are not afraid of the army, then the country is doomed."
"Adversaries must be afraid of you and at the same time, your people must be afraid of you. We are a friendly Army, but when we are called to restore law and order, people have
to be afraid of us," said the CDS.