Lieutenant General BS Raju has been named Vice Army Chief: ‘Moment of pride’, say K’tka leaders

On Sunday, Lieutenant General Baggavalli Somashekar Raju took over as deputy chief of the army staff, while General Manoj Pande took over as India’s 29th army chief. Lt General BS Raju was the Director General Military Operations during the standoff on the LAC, the de facto border between India and China, before taking up the current job. Since June 2020, when both sides lost many personnel, the two countries have been embroiled in a standstill.

“Lieutenant General BS Raju paid homage to the #Bravehearts at #NWM and reviewed the Guard of Honour after being appointed Vice Chief of the Army Staff #VCOAS #IndianArmy. (emphasis added) “In a tweet on Sunday, the Indian Army stated.

“Over the course of his illustrious 38-year career, he has held numerous important regimental, staff, and instructional appointments in the Army HeadQuarters and in field formations, including Colonel Military Secretary Legal in the Military Secretary branch, Brigadier General Staff of the operationally active White Knight Corps, Deputy Director General Military Operations, and Director General Staff Duties,” according to an official statement.

As the army’s new DGMO, Lieutenant General Manoj Katiyar will take over.

India’s new army chief announced his priorities earlier on Sunday. “The fact that I have been awarded command of the Indian Army is a source of pride for me. The Indian Army has a proud history of maintaining the country’s security and integrity. In the same way, it aided in the development of the country.”

“The global landscape is fast changing, and we face numerous problems. It is the Indian Army’s responsibility to be ready to face any challenge in conjunction with other sister Services. My goal will be to continue the work started by my predecessors “he stated.

Meanwhile, Karnataka politicians from all parties have praised Lt General BS Raju’s elevation to the new position. “Lieutenant General Baggavalli Somashekhar Raju of Kannadigar has been named Deputy Chief of the Indian Army. BS Raju, a Karnataka-born general who has always been in the forefront of national security, “HD Kumaraswamy, the former chief minister, tweeted on Saturday.

“He participated in numerous key operations, including ‘Operation Progress’ in Kashmir, as a grandfather in the Chikkamagaluru district. I wish General Raju, Kannadambe’s proud son, luck in all his endeavours “In another tweet, he stated.

“Namma Karnataka can be proud of this. On May 1st, Lt Gen BS Raju will become the Indian Army’s next vice chief. He served as a DGMO during a border standoff with China in the dangerous Ladakh zone, hailing from Namma Chikkamagaluru “Shobha Karandlaj of the BJP sent out a tweet.

“Congratulations! Lt. Gen. BS Raju, a Karnataka native, has been named Vice Chief of the Indian Army! After many years, a Kannadiga has been selected to the Indian Army’s second-highest rank! (sic), “Arvind Bellad, a BJP leader, stated on Twitter.

Lt General Raju “commanded his Battalion in the Western Theater and in Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Parakram.” He also commands the Uri brigade along the Line of Control, as well as a Counter-Insurgency Force and the Chinar Corps in the Kashmir Valley. According to an official release, the General Officer also served as the Commandant of the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan.