Army standoff in Kashmir blown out of proportion: PM
10 Aug 2012 8:49 AM IST
The standoff between officers and soldiers of an armoured unit of the army in Jammu and Kashmir was being ‘blown out of proportion’, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday, asking Rajya Sabha members not to discuss it.
The prime minister, who is the leader of the upper house, intervened after Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the defence minister should make a reply as the issue was of a ‘mutiny in the army’.
‘The house must not have discussion on it, it is a small incident being blown out of proportion,’ the prime minister said.
‘It is not good for the morale of the army,’ he added. The standoff reportedly took place after a soldier of the 16th Cavalry of the army committed suicide in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector Wednesday morning.
Sources say a group of jawans locked up officers in a mess after the suicide. The Army has denied the incident, but has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the reason behind the suicide.
Sources say that the officers of the unit have been segregated from the jawans to conduct an objective inquiry. The jawans claim that the soldier was upset after he was denied home leave. The 16 Light Cavalry is the oldest armoured regiment in the country.
The prime minister, who is the leader of the upper house, intervened after Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the defence minister should make a reply as the issue was of a ‘mutiny in the army’.
‘The house must not have discussion on it, it is a small incident being blown out of proportion,’ the prime minister said.
‘It is not good for the morale of the army,’ he added. The standoff reportedly took place after a soldier of the 16th Cavalry of the army committed suicide in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector Wednesday morning.
Sources say a group of jawans locked up officers in a mess after the suicide. The Army has denied the incident, but has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the reason behind the suicide.
Sources say that the officers of the unit have been segregated from the jawans to conduct an objective inquiry. The jawans claim that the soldier was upset after he was denied home leave. The 16 Light Cavalry is the oldest armoured regiment in the country.
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