Never played politics with Army like BJP, won't ever do it: Congress

The Congress Party on Monday said they have fullest confidence in the Indian armed forces and maintained that it has never played politics with the institution and will never do so unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Look, things are very simple; the Congress party knows what is to be done and what is not to be done. The Congress has full confidence in the Indian soldiers, the army and army brass. We never did any politics with the army and we will never do this," Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya told ANI.

"The Congress has the fullest confidence in our army; we know what is to be done and what is not to be done. I don't want any advice from the BJP. Our love for the Indian Army is much more genuine than that of the BJP," Bhattacharya added.

Bhattacharya's reaction came after the BJP yesterday condemned the Congress Party for its criticism of the Centre over the appointment of new Army Chief Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat, saying there should be no politics on defence forces.

The BJP said Lt. Gen. Rawat has been elevated to the top post considering the current security scenario.

Terming Lt. Gen. Rawat's appointment as "unprecedented", Congress leader Manish Tewari said the party does not doubt the new army chief's abilities, but seeks to know as to why senior people were superseded and the fourth in line has been named as the new army chief.

The CPI too criticised Lt. Gen. Rawat's appointment by superseding two officers. CPI national secretary D. Raja alleged that every appointment by the government has become controversial, be it in the judiciary, the CBI or the army.

Describing the controversy as "unfortunate", he said it is not in the interest of democracy and the country.