General Rawat's statement 'politically motivated', PM Modi 'politicising' the Army: Tariq Hameed Karra after joining Congress

Founder PDP member and former Lok Sabha MP Tariq Hameed Karra, who joined the Congress , termed as "politically motivated" the statement of army chief General Bipin Rawat on "tough action" against those supporting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

"As far as the army chief's statement is concerned, I feel it is a politically motivated statement. It is very unfortunate that a force like the army, which has been deputed to save the nation's sovereignty, is politicised," he told reporters soon after his formal joining at the AICC headquarters. Karra accused the Prime Minister of "politicising" an independent institution like the army, saying he was using the army chief's statement.

The former PDP leader also sought to backtrack from his statement later saying, "I am saying that it is an unfortunate thing if army is brought into politically motivated things". He said, "I linked the Prime Minister with the army chief's statement. I linked the army chief's statement with Mr Modi who is exploiting the same thing. He (Modi) is politicising and his ministers are politicising for the sake of the party. Unfortunately, our Prime Minister for him the party is paramount not the national interest".

Asked if the Congress supported Karra's remarks, party general secretary and incharge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs Ambika Soni sought to downplay his remarks and accused the BJP of politicising the army chief's statement.

"Army chief's statement has been politicised by the BJP and Jitendra Singh and we agree with him on this. It is wrong and unfortunate for the ruling party to politicise things connected with the army and involving the armed forces organisation in these politics," Soni said.

She said, "I don't think Mr Karra said his statement is politically motivated. The army chief's statement was being used politically by Dr Jitendra Singh. When Jitendra Singh tries to politicise and accuse Congress of supporting those involved in terrorist activities, they are deliberately trying to politicise".

Soni said the Congress party has always stood against terrorism and has sacrificed its top leaders to terrorism. "To accuse us, no one will believe such wrong statements," she said.

Earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar came out in support of Army Chief Bipin Rawat whose comments that those obstructing anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir will face tough action, triggered a political slugfest.

Parrikar said those creating hurdles for security forces in Jammu and Kashmir are trying to protect the terrorists and that the government has given free hand to army to carry out anti-terror operations.

At the same time, the Defence Minister said government does not consider that "everyone is on the other side" and the officer leading the raids or operations will have to take a call based on the ground situation.

"Those who obstruct the operations are trying to protect the terrorists and his (General Rawat's) comment is based on that. In these matters, the decision to act will be the commanding (officer) or the officer who is on the spot. It cannot be generalised," Parrikar told India Today TV.

He said the government has given total free hand to army to carry out anti-terror operations where local police and CRPF are also involved.

Asked whether he was worried that Rawat's comments may lead to alienation of the people in the Kashmir Valley, Parrikar said he told the Army Chief to bring the youths who are on "wrong track" back to the mainstream. "We do not consider that everyone is on the other side. But in that particular situation, if there is obstruction, the officer who is heading the raid or operation has to take a call," he said.

Acknowledging that the hostile conduct of locals was causing higher casualties in the Kashmir valley, Rawat on Wednesday had warned those attacking security forces during anti-militancy operations of "tough action".

In a stern warning, Rawat had said people indulging in stone throwing, people indulging in supporting the terrorists and helping them escape will be treated like over ground workers of the terrorists and will be dealt with accordingly.

The Army chief's warning had come after four soldiers, including a Major, were killed in two separate encounters in Kashmir.

In criticism of the Army chief's remarks, Congress said restraint should be adopted by security forces while dealing with people in the state.

The BJP accused the Congress of speaking in the voice of separatists and politicising the Army for "lowly political gains" while defending Rawat's statement on tough action against locals hampering counter-militancy operations in Kashmir.

Rawat had also said people creating hurdles during anti-terror operations and displaying flags of Pakistan and ISIS in Jammu and Kashmir will be dealt as anti-nationals and will face "harsh" actions.

The Army Chief had said security forces in Jammu and Kashmir were facing higher casualties due to the manner in which the local population was preventing them from conducting the operations and "at times even supporting the terrorists to escape".

Asked why infiltrations as well as terror attacks are taking place in Kashmir despite the surgical strike, Parrikar said the LoC was "quite silent" and specific operations are carried out based on intelligence inputs.

Without giving details, he said many operations take place and that one of the operations did not went off as planned, adding terrorists holed up in villages are often neutralised.

Meanwhile addressing a group of ex-servicemen in Pune, Parrikar said the government has given "full freedom" to the army to conduct any counter-insurgency operation.

"If any officer from armed forces goes out on a counter- insurgency or counter-terrorist operation, government gives full freedom to them to do whatever they feel is right and I am not going to stop them.

"During winter time all these militants, who hide in adjoining jungles, come to the villages to take shelter and this is the best time to flush them out," said Parrikar.

He said if specific information is there and if somebody tries to create obstruction or hindrance, the army knows how to deal with such elements and it takes that freedom.

He further said, "Army knows that person without weapon should not be attacked, but if anybody is coming in between such operations and helping terrorists, it also knows how to deal with such people."

The Defence Minister said there is nothing wrong in the statement by General Rawat. "There was no need of indulging in politics over this statement as it was give by the Army Chief himself."

Parrikar also addressed couple of election rallies in the city where the civic body polls will be held on February 21.