Military should be kept out of politics, says Army chief

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said the military works best when it's kept out of politics.

"The military should be somehow kept out of politics. Of late, we have been seeing that politicisation of the military has been taking place. I think we operate in a very secular environment. We have a very vibrant democracy where the military should stay far away from politics," Gen Rawat said on the sidelines of an event here, organised by the United Service Institution

In the 'good old days', the norm was that women and politics were never discussed in the forces.

However, these subjects were gradually 'inching' their way into the discourse and this should be avoided, he added.

"Whenever (any) issue (of) linking any military establishment or military personnel with political entity comes, such issues should best be avoided," he said.

While the armed force  is largely seen as an apolitical organisation, former Army Chief Gen V K Singh dragged the UPA government to court; joined a political party (BJP) post-retirement, contested and won a Lok Sabha seat to become a minister in the NDA government.

Another former Army Chief Gen J J Singh contested the Punjab assembly polls and lost. There are several other ex-servicemen in various political parties.