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Major Gogoi honoured: Jitendra Singh says it's a matter of national honour, PDP unimpressed

The honour given to Army officer Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a man to a jeep as a human shield against stone-pelters in Kashmir, is a matter of pride for all patriotic Indians, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

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The honour given to Army officer Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a man to a jeep as a human shield against stone-pelters in Kashmir, is a matter of pride for all patriotic Indians, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

He said in the recent past, an atmosphere of fear was being created by certain persons to make people believe that those who abuse India are the ones who are only talked about.

"So there were people, who kept faith in patriotism, had to face disappointment. Such an announcement (of rewarding the Army officer) at this time has led to the feeling of pride and honour of the people. We are entirely indebted to the Indian Army," said Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

Major Gogoi, who had tied a man to a jeep during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on April 9, was honoured yesterday with the Army Chief's Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.

Addressing a press conference, Singh said the honour to the Major was the country's way to show its reverence to the Army's professional aptitude and commitment.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which shares power with the BJP in Jammu & Kashmir, disapproved of the Army chief's commendation for Major Gogoi . PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat said honouring Gogoi was not proper as the act was a human rights violation.

He said action should be taken against any human rights violation.

"If he (officer) has been rewarded for this bravado, I do not feel this is proper," Bhat told reporters here.

He was responding to a question about the Major being honoured yesterday with the Army chief's Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.

"The stand of the PDP is that this seems wrong in public perception. This is a human rights violation and there should be an investigation," the PDP leader said.

The Army Major is at the centre of a row for tying a Kashmiri man Farooq Ahmad Dar to an army vehicle during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on April 9 allegedly as a shield against stone-pelting.

Gogoi today appeared before the media to say that his action was intended to save the lives of many people.

Breaking his silence, he said about 1200 stone-pelters had surrounded a small group of security personnel at a polling booth in Utligam village of Budgam district and if he had ordered firing, there could have been at least 12 casualties.

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