The Indian Army’s northern command chief Lt. General Devraj Anbu yesterday sharply rebutted Assaduddin Owaisi by saying that the Army doesn’t believe in communalizing martyrs after the Hyderabad member of parliament had questioned why people were silent on sacrifices of Muslim soldiers in recent terrorist attacks in Jammu.
“We do not communalize martyrs. Those making (such) statements don’t know the Army well,” said the top Army officer during a press conference, in response to a query without naming Owaisi. He also said, “We take on the religion of our troops. We do not communalize any of them. It’s only for those who do not know the functioning of the army too well. They need to see that we put everything aside and live together.”
Owaisi had raised a controversy after he had pointed out that five of the six soldiers who had passed away after terrorist attacks in Jammu’s Sunjwan military station were Muslim, and that people who doubt patriotism and integrity of Muslims must remember this before commenting.
When a query was asked to Lt. General Anbu in this regard, he did not name the chief of AIMIM party, but said that the religion of soldiers and martyrs is not to be considered when they serve together and defend the nation.