Not fair to draw comparison of Indian, Chinese Army: Singh

Bhiwani (Haryana), Feb 5 (PTI) Noting that defence forcesare not evaluated on the basis of numbers only, Army Chief GenV K Singh today said it will not be fair and appropriate todraw comparison between the Indian and Chinese armies.

Asked about the strength of Indian defence forcescompared with that of China, Singh said here that the bravesoldiers from Haryana and the country have no match.

"The defence forces are not evaluated on the basis ofnumbers only. Other factors like morale, physical efficiency,courage and enthusiasm are also important," General Singh saidin a media interaction after inaugurating a two-day ArmyMela-2011 being held at local Bhim Stadium.

Moreover, it would not be quite fair and appropriate tocompare Indian Army with the Chinese Army, he said.

To a question, he said the Army is capable of facing anychallenge in terms of the nation''s security.

He admitted that the army was facing a shortage ofofficers and added that to fill the gap youths were beinginspired through events like the Army Mela.

The General said that the media should research on whythe youth were losing interest in joining the Army.

In reply to another question regarding allegation ofcorruption against some army officers in the light of Adarshscam, Singh said that he had earlier cleared his stand on thisissue through the media and added many steps had beeninitiated so that such allegations are not levelled in future.

He said the Army had declared this year as ''Year forHandicapped'' and a sum of Rs 1 crore had been kept for thewelfare of working personnel.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda,who was also present on the occasion, said that the state hasalways been in favour of one rank one pension for the Armypersonnel.

General Singh said that the Union government wasconsidering the issue and for JCOs and soldiers upto 90 percent of one rank one pension has been achieved while the issueregarding officers is under consideration.