Army chief Bipin Rawat has triggered a controversy after saying that the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has grown faster than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam.

Soon after General Rawat started getting criticised for making 'political' statements, the Indian Army sought to downplay its chief's comments.

There is nothing political or religious in the talk. Army Chief just mentioned amalgamation & development in the seminar on North-East organised at DRDO Bhawan on 21 Feb 18: Army

"There is nothing political or religious in the talk. Army Chief just mentioned amalgamation and development in the seminar on North-East organised at DRDO Bhawan on 21 Feb 18," news agency ANI quoted the Indian Army as saying today morning.

The event mentioned in the Army's response was a seminar on 'North East Region of India - Bridging Gaps and Securing Borders' that General Rawat addressed yesterday.

During his address, General Rawat spoke about the population dynamics in the Northeast and migration from Bangladesh.

The demographic dynamics of the region cannot be changed, General Rawat said, before adding, "There is a party called AIUDF, if you look at they have grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP has grown over the years. When we talk of Jan Sangh with two Members of Parliament and where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam."

General Rawat's comment comparing the AIUDF's and the BJP's growth were later criticised by AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal who questioned, "Why is it a concern for the Army Chief that a political party, based on democratic and secular values, is rising faster than BJP?"

"Gen Bipin Rawat has made a political statement, shocking! Why is it a concern for the Army Chief that a political party, based on democratic & secular values, is rising faster than BJP? Alternative parties like AIUDF, AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties", Ajmal tweeted.

Gen Bipin Rawat has made a political statement, shocking! Why is it a concern for the Army Chief that a political party, based on democratic & secular values, is rising faster than BJP? Alternative parties like AIUDF, AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties.

1 M Badruddin Ajmal (@BadruddinAjmal) February 22, 2018

By making such statement, isn't the Chief of Army Staff indulging into politics which is against the constitutional mandate given to him. @rashtrapatibhvn @PMOIndia please take note.

2 M Badruddin Ajmal (@BadruddinAjmal) February 22, 2018

AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said that the AIUDF is working for the downtrodden. "This is why our popularity is growing faster than BJP. We are hopeful that people of Assam irrespective of caste and creed, will accept AIUDF and our party will come to power soon."

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi too called out General Bipin Rawat, saying he was "interfering in political matters'.

"What, the Army Chief should not interfere in political matters it is not his work to comment on the rise of a political party ,Democracy & Constitution allows it and Army will always work under an Elected Civilian leadership (sic)", Owaisi tweeted.

What,the Army Chief should not interfere in political matters it is not his work to comment on the rise of a political party ,Democracy & Constitution allows it and Army will always work under an Elected Civilian leadership https://t.co/PacWqqYXz1 Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 22, 2018

The Indian Army, in a statement issued in this morning, said that there was "nothing political or religious" about General Rawat's comments.

"There is nothing political or religious in the talk. Army Chief just mentioned amalgamation and development in the seminar on North-East organised at DRDO Bhawan on 21 February 18", the Army said.

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