Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday withdrew his controversial statement made on Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and tendered an apology for the same. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, "I genuinely believe what I said was wrong. So I apologize for it and withdraw my statement." 

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Dikshit had earlier in the day stirred a controversy when he asserted that the General Rawat shouldn't make statements like a 'sadak ka gunda' (a road-side goon). He said, "It feels our Army chief speaks like a roadside thug. While this is expected from Pakistan who are like the mafia, why does our own chief make such pronouncements?" 

Dikshit's comment drew flak from all the quarters. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter and expressed his angst.

"What's wrong with Congress Party? How dare Congress call Indian Army Chief as "Sadak Ka Gunda"!!," tweeted Rijiju.

Recently, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had said: “Youth in Kashmir are being instigated by a misinformation campaign on social media”  On June 8, General Rawat said the situation in Kashmir would be normal soon.

Kashmir has remained in a volatile state since July 2016, following the elimination of poster-boy militant Burhan Wani in an encounter in Tral. Some of the protests have taken place in the middle of active security operations, leading to security forces adapting a tougher stance under duress. The army chief said social media is an important tool being used by Pakistan to create unrest in Kashmir.

He said, "Pakistan is spreading disinformation among the youth of Kashmir with doctored videos and messages. This is further supported by some of the people in the valley who spread it and glamorise the young boys who have joined terrorist organisations."

Also on the government radar are social media networks like WhatsApp which aid in the spread of disinformation to stone-pelting protesters.