During a high-decibel discussion on the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) in 1990 on national news, Major General S.P. Sinha (Retd.) started screaming "Maut ke badle maut (death for death) and “Balatkar ke Badle Balatkar (rape for rape)" to avenge the atrocities and exodus of Hindu minorities living in Muslim majority Indian Kashmir.
The statement drew instant ire among the fellow panelists, news anchor and live audience at the studio of TV 9 Bharatvarsh.
The army has also distanced itself from the comments of the retired officer, saying after the retirement of an officer, they do not come under the purview of Code of Conduct for serving personnel or the Army Act.
The debate’s video is going viral on social media, drawing the widespread condemnation of army veterans and netizens for sullying the reputation of India's Armed Forces.
Former Director General of Military Operations, Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia (Retd.), slammed Sinha, calling his statement “obnoxious, insensitive and unfortunate”.
Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) also condemned Sinha while calling him “loose missile”.https://twitter.com/ atahasnain53/status/ 1195950261958664193
Several others asked to strip him of his Major rank and sought a public apology over his statement.
In 1990, a mass migration of the Hindu minority in Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir took place after a violent armed insurgency erupted in Kashmir. As per Indian government data, more than 62,000 families are registered as Kashmiri refugees, including some Sikh and Muslim families.