Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that the Army is well prepared to face external and internal threats to the country, according to several media reports.
"The Indian Army is fully ready for a two-and-a-half front (China, Pakistan and internal security requirements simultaneously) war," he was quoted as saying. His statement came at a time when India is dealing with cross-border infiltration bids on a day to day basis.
On Thursday, two infiltration attempts were foiled in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri and Naugam, killing three terrorists. He further said that even though the country is equipped for a multi-front war, there are mechanisms in place to defuse an adverse situation.
Rawat also added that a new strike corps, 17 Strike Corps, is being raised specifically for mountain warfare. "It is being raised from scratch. The recruitments are on. As it is, to prepare an Army soldier it takes about three years from recruitment process to training and then orienting and finally their deployment," he was quoted as saying.
General Rawat also spoke about modernisation plans of the army, adding that the government is supporting the forces in every manner.
Rawat also said that the use of human shield by the Indian Army is not a norm but individual officers are entitled to decide the tactic depending on circumstances.
He also dismisses criticism that the Army is trigger-happy, but says the level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir needs to be brought down for any meaningful dialogue with stakeholders. "Dialogue and violence cannot go together," he said.
He also appeared unfazed by the comparison to the notorious General Dyer of Jallianwala Bagh infamy.
"See, I am an Army officer, just anything cannot affect me. You have to be prepared to face such... People can misinterpret (comments made by him)," General Rawat said on Thursday.
He was asked about academician Partha Chatterjee comparing him with General Dyer, who ordered firing at a crowd of protesters at Jallianwala Bagh of Amritsar on 13 April 1919, in which 379 people were killed.
"There is no need to react. He (Chatterjee) was trying to draw a reaction from somewhere else. It should not bother me," the General said.
Asked if he was not hurt by the comparison, he said: "Not at all".
(With inputs from ANI and IANS.)
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