In India, Army officers generally refrain from making political statements. There are specific scenarios when they have been summoned to take care of civilians. The very recent debate on Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat’s remark has erupted huge controversy which also involves the bitter truth regarding Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam.
Incidentally, while referring to the increase in the Muslim population in Assam in recent decades, the Army Chief remarked, “There is a party called AIUDF. If you look at it, they have grown at a faster rate than BJP grew over the years. The AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in Assam.”
No doubt, the case of illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh is a cause of great concern for India and the Army Chief has somehow told the bitter truth with fundamentalist political outfit AIUDF. The influx of Bangladeshi immigrants isn’t a myth as the controversy regarding national registry of citizens highlighted the troubled scenario in the pivotal north eastern state.
The statement of the Army Chief hasn’t gone down well with the opposition parties as AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal criticized the political statement in Twitter saying,”Gen Bipin Rawat has made a political statement, shocking!
Why is it a concern for the Army Chief that a political party, based on democratic and secular values, is rising faster than BJP? Alternative parties like AIUDF, AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties.” Later he also 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 infiltrate into our borders.”
There is no denying the fact that General Bipin Rawat’s remark resonates with the reality in Assam. In the last Assembly Elections in Assam, it was quite evident that AIUDF backed upon the ‘Muslim’ votes in the state and segregation of the votes has clearly highlighted the vote bank of AIUDF which largely comprises of the Bangladeshi immigrants.
Although the whole administrative work concerning national registry aims at pinpointing the Bangladeshi immigrants, virtually it is impossible to find a full proof solution. In such a scenario, the Army Chief’s remarks do carry much significance and is of great national interests even the opposition parties have tagged his remark as pro-BJP stance.
