Lt.Gen. Bakshi to join back, attend Combined Commanders' Conference

Lt. General Praveen Bakshi, who went on month-long leave in December after he was superseded in the selection of the Army chief's post by General Bipin Rawat, will be joining back the service early next week, sources said on Friday.

He will also attend the Combined Commanders' Conference which is to be held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on January 21, a source said.

It was being speculated that he may skip the conference, which will be attended by the commanders of the three forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Lt. Gen Bakshi had earlier missed a meeting in Delhi where all other command heads had gathered to discuss agenda for the Combined Commanders' Conference on January 10.

The source told IANS he was joining back, but refused to comment if it meant cutting short his leave.

"The duration of his leave in the media was largely an outcome of speculation, therefore it is inappropriate to say he has cut short his leave," the source, who did not want to be named, said.

Bipin Rawat was made the Army chief overlooking the seniority of Eastern Army Commander Lt. General Praveen Bakshi and Southern Army Commander Lt. General P.M. Hariz in December last year.

The chief of the Eastern Army Command, Bakshi, in an address to soldiers on the New Year's eve, said there was a "malicious campaign" against him to tarnish his image.

The Army chief on Friday said he would look into the grievances of Bakshi and if the matter needs to be investigated and is brought to his notice, action will be taken.

"If anything needs to be investigated, we will look into it," the Army chief said in response to a question on the allegations made by Bakshi.

He also added that Bakshi talked to him and said he had accepted the government's decision and extended support to him.

Gen Rawat in response to a question also said that Bakshi will be attending the January 21 conference.

He, however, added: "We both have reached out to each other. Ever since I was appointed as the chief, all he has told me is that I accept the decision of the government and will support you and the organisation."

"When he spoke to me on 31st (December), he said he has accepted the decision of the government," Gen. Rawat said at a press conference on Friday, ahead of the Army Day on January 15.

--IANS

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