Parliament observe two-minute silence on demise of CDS Rawat

Both houses of the Parliament observed two-minute silence on the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other personnel in a military helicopter crash. As the Lok Sabha met for the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the tragic helicopter crash. Afterwards, Singh also made a statement in the Rajya Sabha.
In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivash said, the country has lost an exceptional soldier. He said, General Rawat was commissioned on 16th December in 1978 into the Fifth Battalion of the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles. He said, General Rawat had a vast operational experience and served on various frontiers during his four decade service in the army. He said, Rawat had also commanded a Multi-national Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
Remembering the contribution made by General Rawat,. Harivansh said, he brought transformative reforms in security architecture of the country. He said, General Rawat was appointed the Vice Chief of the Army Staff before assuming office of Chief of the Army Staff and he was the first Chief of Defence Staff. Deputy Chairman said, General Rawat was awarded several gallantry and distinguished service awards during his service in the Army. In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla lauded the contributions made by General Bipin Rawat as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff.