Sandeep Dikshit apologises for statement on Army chief

12 June, New Delhi

After receiving flak from several quarters over his remarks likening Army Chief General Bipin Rawat to a ‘sadak ka gunda’ (goon on the street), Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit today apologised for his comments.

The Congress leader had Sunday stirred a controversy after he likened the Army Chief to a “goon on the street”. ”Ours is not a mafia army like the Pakistani army which makes statements like the goons on the street. It looks bad when our Army chief gives a statement like a ‘sadak ka goonda’ (goon on the street),” Dikshit, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, said.He said the Indian Army had depth and was gentlemanly and as it was a great institution, it brought along a particular culture with it.

“I don’t think our Army chief lived up to that…I believe this Army chief does not live up to my image of what the Indian Army should be. I believe, the Army chief should not make political statements,” Dikshit said.

The remarks evoked a strong response from the BJP. Condemning the remarks by Dikshit, Sambit Patra of the BJP demanded an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and said such leaders should be expelled immediately.Coming in for flak, Dikshit, however, later tweeted, “I have reservations on a comment of the Army chief, but I should have chosen appropriate words. I apologise.”