Former army officers have questioned Olympic shooter and BJP MP Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s contribution to the Indian military, after Rathore claimed that surgical strikes did not happen under the UPA, when he was serving in the armed forces.
Rathore on May 1 was reported as saying, “They (Congress) should keep these surgical strikes (claims) to themselves. I was in the Army, and so I am aware of what exactly happened and what didn’t.”
Rathore, who retired as a Colonel also said, “Today, the entire Army is standing with the BJP and Narendra Modi. They can’t possibly be standing with them just for the sake of it. I know what used to happen there (in the Army).”
Calling the BJP MP an “absolute disgrace” Retired Major Priyadarshi Chowdhury slammed Rathore for “scouting for safe havens.” He said if Rathore spent time among his fellow army men, serving in the military, then he would have known the truth.
If only @Ra_THORe had spent time with his men rather than scouting for safe havens, he would have known the truth.
Absolute disgrace!
I Was in The Army, I Know The Truth’ : Rajyavardhan Rathore on Cong’s Surgical Strikes Claim https://t.co/QQ0BxaeelP
— ପ୍ରିୟଦର୍ଶୀ/प्रियदर्शी/Priyadarshi (@MajChowdhury) May 2, 2019
Amit Chowdhury who served in the Indian Air Force (IAF) pointed out Rathore must have been representing the country in various tournaments all over the world. He said that the detailed records at the army headquarters could shed a light on how many days Rathore was present in uniform.
Wasn’t he representing the country in various tournaments all over the world? Without practice he can’t win tournaments and this can be checked thro Army Hqrs as to how many days he was in present with uniform on
— ???????????????????????????? (@TheAmitCHOWDHRY) May 3, 2019
Ex-Indian Air Force officer, Padam Chowdhary, called out the falsehoods being spread. Chowdhary slammed Rathore for leading a cushy life “practising his sport” and not witnessing “a single day of regimental life.”
This man had been practising his sport and enjoying life in safety.
He hasn’t seen a single day of regimental life.
Falsehood all over!— Padam Chowdhary (@PadamChowdhary) May 4, 2019
Lieutenant General HS Parag said that since 2001, Rathore spent more of his time on the shooting range “winning laurels” than serving in the army.
Wef 2001 he was more on the shooting ranges winning laurels for the country than in the army! The first individual silver medal.
— Lt Gen H S Panag(R) (@rwac48) May 4, 2019
Another former army officer called into question how many days Rathore, being a sportsman, wore the military uniform and served in operational area. He pointed out that such inactive lieutenant colonel won’t be privy to much operational information.
I am an ex Army officer and i know for how many days you as a sports man wore uniform or served in operational area and how much operational information an inactive Lt col may have please don’t defame Army and operational capabilities of Indian Armd Forces have for long back
— रक्षक ,, sahdeo (@Sahdeo12) May 4, 2019