Indian army will never carry out coup, ex-Army chief Gen V K Singh tells Aap Ki Adalat

New Delhi, Feb 16: Former army chief retd. Gen V K Singh has said that the Indian army "will never carry out a coup, it will only defend the nation". Replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in India TV's show Aap Ki Adalat, the former general blamed some bureaucrats and some army officers for planting, what he called, wrong information in the media about the movement of two units of the Army near Delhi. "Today, I can reveal that some bureaucrats and some army officers had planted this baseless news. These two units were part of routine mobilization, and if you remember, there were some developments in Maldives 6-7 days later, these units were meant to go there", said the former COAS. Asked what could be the motive behind planting such news, the retired general said, "it's very clear. A man (Gen Singh) stands up against the government, and you want to defame him. You want to coerce him. That could be the only motive". The former COAS also alleged that a former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister was given a plot by the owners in the Tatra truck scam, and the son of a senior Planning Commission appointee stayed in their guest house for one and a half years. "There were several officials in the Ministry whose pockets were being lined. Naturally they had a vested interest in defaming me", said the retired general. Singh ruled out his entry into active politics, saying: "I have a small mission "Reclaim India". I want to raise awareness among the people. Moreover, the present political system is such that good people may not enter politics. That does not mean, all those who are in politics are bad. This country has given me the best for the last 42 years, and I want to give something back to my country". The former general said, there should be three requisites for a good politician -- good image with no criminal case pending, capability and the motivation to serve the nation and society. Asked why he attended a rally with Indian National Lok Dal chief Om Prakash Chautala, who is himself in jail on charge of corruption, the retired general clarified it was to celebrate the birth anniversary of his father Chaudhary Devi Lal. "Devi Lal ji is the man who introduced Old Age Pension in Haryana years before other states started this scheme. He also waived off tax on poor people's bicycles. If Chautala was there because of his father, I can't push him out", said Singh. The former Army Chief said: "Had I wanted to become a governor or an ambassador, I could have stayed silent on the Tatra truck scam. Rs 26 lakh worth trucks were being sold to the army for Rs 1 crore. Most of the judges, when they approach 64 years, angle for chairmanship of commissions. Most of the bureacrats, approaching retirement, agree to do whatever they are asked to. "I am not that sort of man. There are two types of people - one who sits on bended knees and takes alms, and the other who stands straight with head held high, ready to fight injustice. I belong to the other group", said Singh. On the Technical Supports Division controversy, the former general said, like the RAW, this unit was set up in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks to keep watch on developments across the border. "Like RAW, which never does research, the TSD is neither technical, nor does it provide support, nor does it have snooping equipments. It was set up on the operational directive of the Raksha Mantri to enhance army's capability. The process of setting up the TSD began before my tenure", Singh said. Asked by Rajat Sharma whether the report that nearly Rs 18 crore was spent on TSD to find out about the citizenship of the daughter of present Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh, the retired general laughed saying: "These are all imaginary. It's better not to believe such reports. And if I want to know the nationality of somebody, I would rather check the passport, why use TSD?" On the issue of an Army major entering his residence, the former Army chief said, "First of all, he came suddenly to my residence in the absence of myself and my family members. He asked my exchange staff to go way. He went to different rooms, and even opened up my computer in the study. It was then that my daughter came in suddenly. Then, what will you do?" Asked whether the TSD was used for snooping on ministers and bureaucrats, the retired general said: "I don't need to snoop on ministers and bureaucrats. I don't give bribes, nor receive bribes." The former army chief lashed out at former Pakistan dictator Pervez Musharraf saying that he has been spreading lies about Kargil conflict since the beginning. "He (Musharraf) has this habit of lying. First, he said, his army was not involved in Kargil. Now it has been revealed, he had come 11 km deep inside Line of Control and spent the night. It means he had been telling lies all along." On Musharraf's claim that Kashmir could have been Pakistan's, had not Nawaz Sharif (the then PM) gone to the US president, the retired general said: "I can only say this much that while living presently in a nice house in England, he should stop daydreaming." The former Army chief said, India should adopt a no-nonsence policy towards Pakistan. "Pakistan never sincerely accepted our hand of friendship. We have to evolve a policy of how to deal with our neighbour. We should make Pakistan understand that if it does something wrong, we will hit back, and if it behaves well, then we can be friends. Like a big brother, we need to give a tight slap, if it misbehaves", said Singh. India TV will telecast Aap Ki Adalat with Gen (retd) V K Singh today (Saturday) at 10 pm, and tomorrow (Sunday) at 10 am and 10 pm.

Indian army will never carry out coup, ex-Army chief Gen V K Singh tells Aap Ki Adalat

New Delhi, Feb 16: Former army chief retd. Gen V K Singh has said that the Indian army "will never carry out a coup, it will only defend the nation". Replying to questions from Rajat

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