Complaints on social media to invite action: Army Chief

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 15

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat today warned jawans against using social media platforms to air complaints saying such personnel shall be liable for punishment.

Addressing troops on Army Day, Gen Rawat said the Army had well-established norms to address complaints and using social media to express grievances was lowering the morale of security personnel.

The Army's social media policy allows jawans and officers to use social media platforms like Facebook strictly for their family and private lives. Revealing one’s regiment, location, rank or military identity is barred. Hence, no pictures or videos of self in uniform are allowed and no opinion on military issues can be presented on social media.

Referring to the use of social media, Gen Rawat said: "Aapne jo karwai ki hai aap iske liye apradhjanak hain, aur saza ke haqdaar ho sakte hain (You are violating rules by your act and you could be punished for that).

“If any jawan has any grievance, he has been provided with a proper forum to resolve his issue and maintain a balance. If you are not satisfied with the action, you can contact me directly," he said.

Gen Rawat also said that despite Pakistan's continuous engagement in proxy war against India, “we want to restore peace on the Line of Control". "But we will not hesitate from giving a fitting reply in case of any ceasefire violation," he asserted.

The Army Chief awarded gallantry medals to soldiers who showed extraordinary courage while performing duty.

On the terror menace, he said that in the last few months of 2016, the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir turned very volatile.

"Be it LAC (Line of Actual Control) or LoC (Line of Control), we will take the appropriate action and our soldiers are doing a commendable job on all fronts," he said.

Later in the evening at the 'at home' function at the Army Chief's residence, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said a new mechanism was being put in place to ensure the system of having a Sahayak was streamlined. The Army has proposed that the regular Army Sahayak should not be given in a peace station.

Every year, Indian Army celebrates 15th January as Army Day to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) KM Carriappa took over the command of Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post-Independence.