December 17, 2020 5:11:27 am
While the committee was discussing uniforms, Gandhi chimed in to say that panel members should not waste senior officers’ time discussing issues that should remain within the domain of the military.
Congressional leader Rahul Gandhi and two party colleagues left a meeting of the Defense Standing Committee on Wednesday after a heated exchange after Gandhi objected to a BJP member’s suggestion about uniforms and rank structure in the three armed forces.
It emerged that Gandhi wanted to know why more serious issues were not being discussed with top Army officials, including the Chief of Defense Staff, who appeared before the committee on Wednesday.
While the committee was discussing uniforms, Gandhi chimed in to say that panel members should not waste senior officers’ time discussing issues that should remain within the domain of the military.
It is known that he suggested that members should discuss serious national issues, such as the situation on the Royal Line of Control.
The committee, according to the agenda on the official website, was being briefed by representatives of the Defense Ministry on “Introduction to the rank structure of the Defense Forces, including their uniforms, stars and insignia.”
When Gandhi spoke about uniforms and insignia and said that each style and symbol had its own story, it is known that the committee chairman, Jual Oram, prevented him from completing his comments. This caused Gandhi to protest and he left the meeting.
Congressmen Rajiv Satav and Anumula Revanth Reddy also left the meeting. Opposition members such as the Danish Ali of BSP and Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena backed Gandhi.
According to BJP MPs, it was their party’s Rajya Sabha member, Lieutenant General DP Vats (retired) who, at the last committee meeting where Gandhi was not present, suggested that the defense committee members get acquainted with uniforms, ranks and insignia. armed forces personnel to avoid embarrassing moments when addressing officers.
.
