Gen Rawat takes charge as CDS, says forces stay away from politics

General Bipin Rawat, who took charge as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Wednesday (January 1) in New Delhi, asserted that the armed forces act by taking orders from the government of the day and keep away from politics.

“We keep ourselves away from politics. We act according to the directives of the government of the day,” he said.

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His remarks came amid allegations that the forces were being politicised. Gen Rawat also said that his focus as CDS will be to integrate the efforts of the three services and to work as a team.

“As a team, we will work towards a goal where 1+1+1 is either five or seven, and not three. What I mean is, the synergised effort should not be the sum of the whole, it should be much more. And we have to achieve that through integration,” he added.

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Gen Rawat said his focus will be to ensure best and optimal use of resources allocated to the three services. Before taking charge, he received the guard of honour and paid tributes to Martyrs at the National war memorial.