Govt did not allow Opposition to pay tribute to CDS Rawat, alleges Kharge

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that the government did not allow opposition leaders to pay tributes to the late CDS General Bipin Rawat and others who died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Addressing media, Kharge said after defence minister Rajnath Singh finished his statement, he along other leaders requested the Chair to allow them to pay tribute, but the Chair did not allow.

“I as the leader of the Opposition and floor leaders of other parties wanted to pay tributes…We asked for two minutes but were not allotted,” said Kharge.

Saying that “what kind of democracy is being run in the country?” Kharge added, “We (Opposition) condemn this. To pay our respect to the late CDS, army officers, jawans who died in the crash we even called off our dharna today.”

“It is unfortunate that we were not allowed to pay homage to the martyrs. We condemn that the Chair did not allow us. We can differ on political issues and we are fine with that. But here a person has died. 11 jawans died but we were not allowed to pay our tributes. I will pray may the government get wisdom and may the family members get the strength to tolerate the pain,” added the senior Congress leader.

Speaking the in the upper house over the chopper crash in which General Rawat and his wife died, defence minister Rajnath Singh said, “The government is trying its best to save the survivor from helicopter crash”.

The Chief of Defence Staff would be cremated with full military honors.

“I, on behalf of the august House, pay homage to the deceased persons and express condolences to the bereaved families…A tri service enquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by Indian Air Force, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command, said Rajnath Singh.