CPI-M’s Prakash Karat Attacks Army Chief, Accuses Him Of Using Excessive Force On Stone-Pelters In Kashmir

In an editorial published in the People's Democracy, mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), party’s former general secretary Prakash Karat has attacked Army Chief General Bipin Rawat for ‘mishandling’ the situation in Kashmir and has accused the Indian Army of "using excessive force to suppress the people of Kashmir who are voicing their political protest".

In the column, Karat accused General Rawat was reflecting the views of the Narendra Modi government, which seeks to suppress the people of Kashmir who are voicing their political protest, and said that the remarks made by the Army Chief about dealing with civilian protesters in Kashmir exemplifies all that is wrong with the way the Modi government is dealing with the situation there.

Rawat had stated in the interview that: "In fact, I wish these people instead of throwing stones at us, were firing weapons at us, then I would have been happy. Then I could do what I (want to do)," the article added.

The CPI(M) leader also criticised General Rawat for giving a commendation to Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a civilian in front of his jeep as a human shield.

"The army chief, by commending this act, has let down the high professional standards of the army. Some former serving generals of the army have decried the use of the civilian as a human shield. They have correctly pointed out that the army cannot treat its own people in such a manner," Karat said in the article.