Terming the demise of General Bipin Rawat as a "big loss", a close friend and National Defence Academy (NDA) batchmate said the "visionary" was the right choice for the country's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Speaking with ANI, Brigadier Mandeep Singh Sandhu (Retd), Ex-Army Special Forces, recalled how General Rawat was "very focused" on doing something for the nation and the Army always. "He was the right choice as the first CDS due to his wide operational experience," Brigadiar Sandhu said.