#WATCH: Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit says it feels bad when our Army Chief gives statement like a "sadak ka gund… https://t.co/p9dWU6YSnC — ANI (@ANI_news) 1497186798000

I have reservations on a comment of the Army Chief, but I should have chosen appropriate words. I apologise — Sandeep Dikshit (@_SandeepDikshit) 1497187898000

NEW DELHI: Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday likened Army chief General Bipin Rawat to a “goon on the street” over his recent remarks, triggering a controversy.While BJP sought an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi, AICC distanced itself from Dikshit’s remarks. Later, he withdrew his remarks and apologised. “Ours is not a mafia Army like Pakistani army which makes statements like goons on the street. It looks bad when our Army chief gives a statement like a ‘sadak ka goonda’ (goon on the street),” Dikshit said. He said the Indian Army was a great institution with culture. “I don’t think our Army chief lived up to that... I believe this Army chief does not live up to my image of what the Indian Army should be. I believe, the Army chief should not make political statements,” he said.He, however, later tweeted, “I have reservations on a comment of the Army chief, but I should have chosen appropriate words. I apologise.”The controversy comes days after the act of Youth Congress members in Kerala slaughtering a calf to protest new cattle trade regulations drew wide condemnation and saw the AICC distancing itself from the incident. Dikshit’s remarks triggered heated discussions on social media.MoS Kiren Rijiju tweeted, “What’s wrong with Congress Party? How dare Congress call Indian Army Chief as “Sadak Ka Gunda”!! (sic).”Gen Rawat, in an interview, had defended Army Major Leetul Gogoi’s act of tying aKashmiri to his jeep as a “human shield” against stonepelters. “I wish these people, instead of throwing stones at us, were firing weapons at us. Then, I would have been happy. Then, I could do what I (wanted to do),” he had said.