New Delhi, March 9: Army chief General Bikram Singh today ruffled dovish diplomats and feminist feathers by his language of retaliating to ceasefire violations during the “private” visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. However, his words went down well with the government and in the military.

Ashraf’s visit to Ajmer Sharif became more controversial after the head of the shrine said he would not welcome him because of the beheading of Indian soldiers on the LoC in January.

In January, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said “it could not be business as usual” with Pakistan in the wake of the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers.

Ajmer Sharif dargah diwan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan had said yesterday he would not welcome the visiting dignitary.

The BJP welcomed the move. “It is a good decision which reflects what our citizens think. I do not know what is the thinking of central government (on this),” BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said.

General Bikram Singh refused to comment on the visit of the Pakistani PM – that he called a “political decision” — but said Indian soldiers on the LoC “are not wearing bangles” and that “there will be retaliation at the tactical level to violations”.

The army chief was responding to questions from the press during a visit to Chandigarh.

Feminist leaders could take objection to his use of the words “not wearing bangles” (“chooriyan nahin pehne hain”, the army chief had said in Hindi) but they were more upset with what they called an impolitic statement during the visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister. “The language is definitely sexist. People in positions of power should be more careful about choosing their words. But his comments here should be taken in its political context. What I want to ask the army chief is what’s the point of his warmongering language,” said Left leader Brinda Karat.

Jagmati Sangwan, vice-president of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association wanted the army chief to withdraw his statement.

“If people sitting on such important posts speak like this, then it devalues not just women but also organisations that work for them. If he has said this because of some pre-conditioning, then he should have the courage to take it back,” she said.

In Jaipur, where he hosted Ashraf for lunch, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said: “This was a private visit. It was a pilgrimage (for Ashraf). This was not the occasion and nor did I have the authority to discuss such issues (as terrorism),” he told scribes at Rambagh Palace Hotel.