BJP guns for Army vice-chief

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said the Army vice-chief Lt Gen K Pattabhiraman’s statement that the force could “do without women” reflected a gender bias and demanded his suspension.

“It is a reflection of working of the Army and its mindset. If I were the defence minister I would call the vice-chief and tell him we can do without you, you can go,” Ms Swaraj said. Since Congress president Sonia Gandhi is a woman, she should ascertain the facts from defence minister Pranab Mukherjee and issue directions accordingly, Ms Swaraj asserted.

The Army has, however, said Lt Gen Pattabhiraman was “misquoted” and it was the government’s policy to encourage women to join the armed forces. Meanwhile, defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government supported posts for women in the
armed forces.