This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Indian Army General Who Was Overlooked As Chief Cuts Leave Short, Rejoins Work

“Good team player.”
Eastern Army Commander General Praveen Bakshi was the senior-most general in the Indian Army but was overlooked for the post of Chief of Army Staff.
Indian Army
Eastern Army Commander General Praveen Bakshi was the senior-most general in the Indian Army but was overlooked for the post of Chief of Army Staff.

Eastern Army Commander General Praveen Bakshi--the senior-most general who was overlooked for the post of Chief of Army Staff--has cut short his leave and returned. He went on a long leave as General Bipin Rawat took over as the Chief of Army Staff on 1 January 2016.

The Indian Army refused comment. Top sources, however, said that "General going on leave wasn't appreciated by the Ministry of Defence." Earlier, after being overlooked, General Bakshi had met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar twice. It is understood that Parrikar told the General Bakshi that the Government expected him to be a "good team player".

General Baskshi, who didn't attend the Army Commanders Conference, will however be attending the Combined Commanders Conference that starts from 21 January. "He has consented to attend," Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today told reporters in New Delhi.

The Combined Commanders Conference is an annual event. Commanders of all three services--the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force--come together to address and sort out issues common to the three services. Prime Minister Narender Modi will be also be addressing the commanders.

General Rawat who was speaking to the media for the first time after taking over as the Army Chief said that he had tried to reach out to General Bakshi. "I have reached out to him and he too has reached out to me," he told reporters.

Also On HuffPost:

Rare Moments From Jayalalithaa's Life

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.