Guwahati: The shocking death of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has left a void at the highest level of India's military hierarchy. Rawat steeped in as the first CDS on January 1, 2020. However, his sudden demise has left all the possible plans incomplete and without a lodestar.
Top sources have informed that decision regarding the post of CDS will be taken in the next seven to ten days. According to the rules, any Commanding officers or flag officers of the armed forces are suitable for the position.
There was a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday evening. The meet has condoled the deaths of CDS Rawat and others who were dead in the tragic chopper crash.
However, no word on the successor of Rawat was put up throughout the meeting. But, a decision will soon be taken because the government cannot keep such a position vacant for a long time.
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On Thursday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement in Lok Sabha at around 11:15 am and in Rajya Sabha around noon. General Rawat's mortal remains will be brought to New Delhi on Thursday. The cremation will take place in New Delhi tomorrow.
The CDS was going to the Defence Staff College in Wellington when the helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has informed that a Court of inquiry was ordered into the mishap.
With the sudden demise of General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane has now become the senior-most military officer in the nation. Also, Naravane could possibly take up the position of the next CDS.
General Bipin Rawat became the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the country in January 2020. So, on the day of the Independence Day address in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that there would be an appointment of a CDS above the three armed forces Chiefs.
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