Gen Rawat's political remarks assailed.

NEW DELHI -- Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Thursday slammed the people calling for protests in the country against the new citizenship law, saying leadership was not about guiding crowds including students 'to carry out arson and violence'.

His remarks drew sharp criticism from some retired and serving military officers, who accused him of needlessly wading into the raging political controversy over the controversial law.

'Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions, as we are witnessing in a large number of university and college students... This is not leadership,' said Gen Rawat, speaking at a healthcare leadership summit here.

'A leader is a person who leads you in the correct direction, gives you the right advice and then ensures that he cares for the people he leads. So, leadership is by personal example and that is what we in the armed forces are proud of,' added Gen Rawat, who is tipped to take over as the country's first-ever chief of defence staff after completing his three-year tenure as the army chief on Dec 31.

Serving and retired officers, who stressed that the armed forces are justifiably proud of their apolitical and secular ethos, maintained the army chief had 'crossed the line yet again' by taking a public stand against...