New Delhi:
The Army Chief General VK Singh has blamed "rogue elements" for trying to create "a schism" between the government the Army. He has also stressed that "The army and by extension, the Chief of Army Staff, are part of the same government."
His new statement, available first with NDTV, suggests a tone of reconciliation in a week where he has been accused by critics of deliberately embarrassing the government. Two controversies centred around him led to demands for his removal, which the Defence Minister AK Antony has reportedly rejected. On Monday, he disclosed that he had been offered a 14-crore bribe by a retired Army officer to clear a consignment of trucks that he described as "sub-standard." Then on Tuesday, a confidential letter written by him to the PM was leaked. It warned that India's security is at risk because his troops have archaic equipment.
General Singh's three-para statement today stresses that this week's developments should not be read as a battle between the government and the Army. He says "rogue elements are trying to create a schism between the Defence Minister and the chief." His comments come after the Defence Minister said yesterday that "all three service chiefs enjoy the confidence of the government"- a declaration that sought to rescue his relationship with the chief from an unprecedented low.
The fact that the General chose this week to disclose the officer of a kickback made to him in 2010 was questioned by many including the Congress and the main opposition party. By stating that he had informed the Defence Minister of the incident, he appeared to be suggesting that the minister had failed to take any follow-up action. Mr Antony retaliated in Parliament that he had asked the general to take action, but the Army Chief had refused. Today, General Singh said that he raised the issue of the bribe this week because "the person in question" re-surfaced this month. General Singh also suggests that "institutional corrective steps were taken" after talking to Mr Antony "to keep a wary eye" on the alleged bribe-giver. Though the chief has not named the lobbyist, Mr Antony has said the General had told him that the kickback was offered by a retired Lt General, Tejinder Singh. The Army Chief has been sued for defamation by Mr Singh, who has denied offering any money to the General.
The Army Chief yesterday angrily described attempts to blame him for the leak of his letter to the PM as "a cynical approach to tar my reputation." Today, his statement, far gentler in tone, says "selective leaks culminated in the airing of the letter to the PM." In an apparent explanation of the contents of that worrying letter, he says he is "duty-bound to serve the country and protect the integrity of the Army even if we sometimes have to look within." The letter had detailed the many deficiencies of one of the world's largest armies. General Singh said it lacked "critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks" and the air defense system is "97 percent obsolete."
While opposition parties agreed that the leak was a colossal lapse because it puts on display flaws in India's security, leaders and military experts have said the General's pointers must be urgently addressed. Those who are close to the chief say that he has shared similar concerns earlier with the government.
But his critics have described his actions this week as those of "a frustrated man" bent on punishing the government before he retires at the end of May. In January, General Singh took the government to court, demanding that records be amended to reflect he was born a year later than documented. If his claim had been accepted, he would have been eligible for another year in office. He withdrew his case after Supreme Court judges indicated they would not agree with him.