New Delhi: Bollywood actor Richa Chadha on Thursday apologised for her response to a tweet wherein the Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi was quoted saying that the Indian Army is ready to execute orders like taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
'Galwan says hi,' the actor tweeted earlier, quoting a post on the statement, which sparked a controversy.
In an apology statement posted on her official Twitter account, she wrote: "Even though it can never be my intention in the least, if the 3 words which are being dragged into a controversy have offended or hurt anyone, I apologise and also say that it would sadden me if even unintentionally my words have triggered this feeling in my brothers in the Fauj of which my own Nanaji has been an illustrious part."
"As a Lt. Col, he took a bullet in the leg in the Indo-China war, in 1960s. My Mamaji was a paratrooper. It's in my blood," Richa added.
"A whole family is affected when their son is martyred or even injured while saving the nation which is made up of people like us and I personally know how it feels. It is an emotive issue for me," the actress mentioned.
Richa Chadha drew flak for her prior tweet as netizens termed it as being disrespectful to the Indian Army.
Director-Producer Ashoke Pandit requested the Mumbai Police to lodge an FIR against the actress "for mocking & abusing our security forces".
Other social media users also expressed their displeasure over the tweet.
The contentious remark is in reference to the Galwan valley clash between India and China.
The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020 following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. Both nations have held several military-level talks to resolve outstanding issues on the friction points in eastern Ladakh.
20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in the fierce hand-to-hand combat on June 15, 2020 in the Galwan Valley, an incident that marked one of the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decades.
China has so far acknowledged the death of five soldiers during the clash even as the toll is speculated to be higher.