NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff, General B.C Joshi, has taken umbrage at the handling of the Hazratbal crisis. The army chief is particularly piqued by an uncharitable reference to him by Jammu & Kashmir Governor K. V. Krishna Rao, in a report that appeared in a British newspaper, Observer, Rao ridiculed the army chief by saying that “Joshi is like a woman without lipstick. He doesn’t understand we have to crush them (militants).” Rao’s remarks are being virulently discussed in political and military circles.
A perturbed government has attempted to mollify the angry general and the Prime Minister himself spoke to him and asked him to. Visit Srinagar for an on the spot assessment.
Rao’s remark which angered the Army Chief appeared on OcL24 in a despatch from Srinagar. The Indian mission in London, as well the military intelligence network: had sent copies of the report to” Delhi. The army chief was upset (by the derogatory remarks: and’ considered stepping down.
army officers a cause the governor of acting like a “super general” leading to a complete lack of coordination between various agencies and forces engaged in finding a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 12, 1993
