Is The Former Chief of The Indian Army an
Honourable Man?
While democracy in India is maturing and settling down,
governance leaves far too much to be desired and achieved. In such times,
VKSingh the former Chief of the Indian Army, emerged for the naive and the
credulous, a crusader and champion of the people’s dormant aspiration, as the
first serving General to take the
government to court on an inane issue and expose rampant corruption in the procurement
of arms, ammunition, equipment and military hardware. His unequivocal allusion
to a bribe of Rs 14 crore being made to him by a recently retired Lt Gen, for
pushing through a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks for use in the Army, was shocking
and painful.
Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh, a NDA squadron mate and a
senior, who was alleged to have made the offer of the bribe, went ballistic on
the fact and accordingly sued a clutch of very senior officers in the
Integrated HQ of Defence (Army) on charges of defamation. The court of the
Metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi, on 20th July 2012 granted bail to
the Vice Chief of the Indian Army, a Lt General, a Maj General, a Lt Col and the
former Chief Gen (retd) V K Singh, on a bond of Rs 20,000 each. There could not
be a greater ignominy for an Army who’s Vice Chief, Lt Gen and Maj Gen
presented themselves in a court and requested for bail. This is what Gen (retd)
V K Singh has brought the honour and dignity of the Army to; by having its Vice
Chief and the Director General of Military Intelligence to be granted bail. An
unprecedented event, in the glorious history of the Army.
In the matter of the date of birth controversy of Gen
(retd) V K Singh, he grandstanded for his honour and integrity; but forgot to
uphold the honour of the institution which he headed, by dragging its Minister
to court, then. And now, regardless of
the damage which continues to be done to the Army’s image, the shrewd VK Singh
is completely immune to the disgrace which he has brought upon himself and the
serving Vice Chief and other General rank officers. So much, for this man’s
concern for the image and reputation of the Army. What is the example which
this man has set for the officers and men? Who at one time were tricked by his
machismo and bravado to confront authority and revered his daring to do so. But
today, when he is on the outside bereft of his authority, quite akin to the
King and the Pawn going into the same
box after the game, the covers from his various shenanigans to beat and cheat
the system will slowly get removed with
the passage of time. Truth has an uncanny manner of coming to the fore and in
the numerous matters which are under the scanner: even though the Raksh Mantri
in a display of sagacity wants to bury and forget the past, will spring up when
the time comes for it to emerge.
I for one have always maintained without any ambivalence,
that Gen (retd) V K Singh is far from an honourable man; because honour to me
is steeped in being selfless and which he never was, while in service.
Brigadier (retd)nS D Dangwal
+919410900051
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