NEW DELHI: In a major upset, government on Saturday announced Lt. General Bipin Rawat as the next chief of Army staff, bypassing two of Rawat’s seniors in the Army, which may trigger a controversy. Last time government ignored the senior principle was in 1983, when Lt. Gen SK Sinha was ignored over Lt. Gen AS Vaidya, which led to resignation of Lt. Gen Sinha . In fact, this is for the first time in India, two generals vis Lt. General Praveen Bakshi and Lt. Gen PM Hariz were superseded. Now, the government will have to explain the reason for ignoring the seniority rule.
However, the official sources said Lt Gen Rawat was found best suited among the Lt Generals to deal with emerging challenges, including a reorganized and restructured military force in the north, continuing terrorism and proxy war from the west, and the situation in the North-East. His command tenure in Line of Actual control (LAC) on China border and Kashmir Valley has given Lt. Gen Rawat an edge over his senior colleague Lt. General Praveen Bakshi, keeping in view the prevailing security situation with the Pakistan border.
On late Saturday evening, government putting an end on month long speculations by announcing Lt. Gen Rawat to succeed General Dalbir Singh, who will retire at the end of this month while Air Marshal BS Dhanoa will replace Arup Raha at the helm of Air Staff. By announcing name of Lt. General Bipin Rawat, government has ignored Praveen Bakshi, the Eastern Army Commander and Lt. General PM Hariz, who is Head of Pune based Southern Command of Army.
Government took time to announce names of Service Chiefs, as traditionally announcement was made two months prior. Delay in announcing name led to speculations.
Supersion in the Army happened earlier also like in 1972, the Gandhi government side-stepped the very popular Lt General P S Bhagat, one of the handful of Indian Victoria Cross awardees from World War II, who was in line to succeed General (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw. This was done by giving his junior, General G G Bewoor a year's extension, during which time Bhagat retired. Bewoor, thus, succeeded Manekshaw.
Rawat, an infantry officer, took over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. Rawat was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978, from IMA, Dehradun, where he was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’. Rawat has “vast experience” in counter insurgency operations and high altitude warfare. He commanded an Infantry battalion, along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector; a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley.
Bipin Rawat has held important staff appointments at Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary’s Branch at Army HQ. He has also been Major General General Staff at HQ Eastern Command. Prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat tenanted the appointment of the GOC-in-C, Southern Command.
And Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, a fighter pilot, presently he is the Vice Chief of the Air Staff was commissioned in the IAF in June 1978. He is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
According to IAF, Air Marshal Dhanoa is a Qualified Flying Instructor and has flown various types of fighter aircraft in his distinguished career. During the Kargil Operations, he commanded a fighter squadron and himself flew numerous night strike missions in the mountainous terrain.
He has the distinction of having held a number of the important operational appointments including Station Commander of a fighter base and leader of an Indian Military Training Team abroad He has also served as Chief Instructor (Air) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters and Senior Air Staff Officer of two operational Commands. Prior to being appointed as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the Air Marshal was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command.