No rift between Army, Defence Ministry: General V.K.Singh

Khadakwasla (Maharashtra), May 30 (ANI): On the penultimate day of his distinguished military career of 42 years, Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh, on Wednesday said there was no rift between the Army and the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Addressing reporters after attending the Passing Out Parade (POP) at the National Defence Academy (NDA) here, General Singh maintained that Defence Minister A. K. Antony was a staunch supporter of the welfare of the armed forces.

"There is no misunderstanding between MoD and us. The Army is part of the government. Sometimes you probably think that something is getting delayed because nobody is listening, that is not the case. We have a Raksha Mantri who is very clear in supporting the armed forces," he said.

On Lt. Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh, the army officer accused of attempting to bribe him to secure a deal for sub-standard military vehicles, General Singh evaded direct censure, but said he was free to do what he liked.

"I don't want to comment on what Lt. Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh has done. Those of us who know him well enough, we know what kind of things he tries, what he has been trying and what he has been doing. This is not the forum for me to castigate him or do anything else. He is most welcome to slide into any depths that he wants to," General Singh said.

Responding to a question on a show -cause notice sent to Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag, the army chief said the former had been granted an extension.

"Dalbir Singh Suhag has asked for an extension. His request has been acceded to," General Singh said.

Singh had issued a show cause notice to Lieutenant General Suhag under the 'Discipline and Vigilance (DV) Ban', while asking him to explain 'lapses on his part' for a failed operation by the 3 Corps Intelligence and Surveillance Unit's (CISU) in Jorhat of India's northeastern state of Assam.

The outgoing army chief said he wanted to be remembered as someone who worked for the country.

"I want to be remembered as a soldier, as somebody who has tried to uphold what the army stands for," General Singh said. (ANI)