New Delhi, December 26: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday expressed sharp disapproval of Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's criticism of students leading protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In response to General Rawat's comments on students' protest, Asaduddin Owaisi said that the Army chief should know the limitation of the institution he heads.

"Leadership is knowing the limits of one’s office. It is about understanding the idea of civilian supremacy & preserving the integrity of the institution that you head (sic)," Owaisi tweeted. In an apparent rebuke of students leading protests against the CAA, General Rawat said that students instigating large crowds to turn violent and carry out arson are not leaders. This is the first time General Rawat made a statement over prevailing law and order situation in the country. Why Citizenship Amendment Act+NRC Raise Fear And Concerns: A Multi-Dimensional Take.

"Leadership is all about leading. It is all about when you move forward, everybody follows. It is not that simple. It appears simple but it is very complex phenomena. Leaders are those who lead people in the right direction. Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions," General Rawat said at an event where Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan was the guest of honour.

"Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions, as we have witnessed in a large number of universities and college students... they are leading masses to carry out arson and violence in our cities and towns," the Army chief added. He stressed: "This is not leadership." General Rawat is among the top contender for the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-services matters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2019 01:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).