Army Chief vs government: 10 big developments today

NDTV Correspondent, Updated: March 29, 2012 15:22 IST
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/army-chief-strikes-back-on-leaked-letter-10-big-facts-190955?pfrom=home-lateststories&cp

1) Army Chief General VK Singh has today forcefully taken on politicians who have suggested he is responsible for the leak of a confidential letter written by him to the Prime Minister, warning that India's security is at risk because the Army's equipment is obsolete. His statement said, "This is an outrage! Official communication with the PM, RM (Raksha Mantri) or anybody for that matter with the COAS (Chief of Army Services) is privileged information. The leaking of the letter should be treated as high treason. This cynical approach to tar my reputation has to stop. The source of the leak has to be found and dealt with ruthlessly."

2) Defence Minister AK Antony said two hours later that the three chiefs of the armed forces "enjoy the government's confidence." He also said that the leak was "anti-national" and that the Intelligence Bureau has been asked to investigate the matter. Some political leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav suggested yesterday that the Army Chief is behind the leak and asked for his dismissal.

3) Support for General Singh comes from retired navy chief Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas. He said: "Only one man benefits from the leak of the Army Chief's letter to the PM - the Raksha Mantri as it diverts attention from the bribe issue. MoD (Ministry of Defence), known for its selective leaks, has to draw a line somewhere. This is the worst possible cynicism that they can adopt. Besides, no man in uniform, let alone VK Singh, would ever do such a thing."

4) Admiral Ramdas is likely to file a Public Interest Litigation or PIL demanding an investigation into the leak of the Army Chief's letter.

5) A Delhi court today accepted a defamation case against the Army Chief by retired Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh. Earlier this month, an Army press release named him for offering bribes on behalf of a company that supplies trucks to the army. The company and the retired officer have both denied this.

6) On Monday, the Army Chief revealed in an interview that he was offered a bribe of 14 crores in 2010 for allowing "sub-standard" trucks into the army.  He said he informed the Defence Minister about the offer. The minister retaliated in Parliament saying that though he requested the Army Chief to take some follow-up action, General Singh said he did not want to pursue the matter.

7) Yesterday, the Army Chief further aggravated the government by asking the CBI to investigate allegations of corruption against a serving general who is second in line to replace him when the chief retires at the end of May. General Singh forwarded a letter sent last year to him by Trinamool Congress MP Ambika Banerjee. The MP accuses Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag of corruption. He currently heads the Dimapur-based 3 Corps.

8) The Defence Minister said today that the CBI will conduct an inquiry against Lieutenant General Suhag, who may become the next Army chief after Bikram Singh retires in 2014. To be in line for becoming the Army chief, he needs to be promoted to Army Commander. His rank, however, will not change. The Indian Army includes seven Army Commanders.

9) The Army Chief's relationship with the Defence Ministry crashed and burned over his demand that the government accept his date of birth as 1951 and not 1950. Had the government agreed, it would have affected when the chief was to retire.  But the government said it could not amend the chief's records and General Singh became the first serving chief to take the government to court. In February, he withdrew his petition in the Supreme Court after judges indicated they would not be able to accept his arguments.

10) The Army Chief visited the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu with his wife last evening. He is on an official tour of Kashmir and is scheduled to return to Delhi today.