Bribe to Indian army chief: Is VK Singh scared of UPA govt?

New Delhi, Mar 26: Are Indians including the Army Chief VK Singh scared of the UPA government? Have the people in the country lost their hope on the central government and union ministers? The main opposition party - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at least thinks that the government has disappointed the Indian army chief as the new controversy over a bribe of Rs 14 crore has emerged on Monday, Mar 26.

BJP leader Jaswant Singh on Monday claimed, "I am disappointed that he (VK Singh) came directly to the press, but did he do this after disappointment."

"I have known the defence minister for long, he specialises in indecision... Is it because of his (defence minister's) indecision that the army chief had to go to media," added the BJP leader.

Indian Army Chief VK Singh shocked all with his interview with the newspaper The Hindu published on Monday. General Singh, during his interview with the daily, has been quoted as saying, "One of these men had the gumption to walk up to me and tell me that if I cleared the tranche, he would give me Rs 14 crore. He was offering a bribe to me, to the Army Chief. He told me that people had taken money before me and they will take money after me."

However, many started criticising the general raising questions about his (VK Singh's) inaction during the time when he was offered Rs 14 crore. A retired Army Chief, General VP Malik was shocked when he read Singh's interview with the national daily, The Hindu published on Monday, Mar 26. Mr Malik chided, "Why wasn't it reported and the company banned? An FIR should have been lodged. It's a very serious charge."

"Had I been the Army Chief, I would have banned the company, would have investigated the retired Army officer. Disciplinary action should have been taken against him," asserted Mr Malik.

Meanwhile, general (Retd) Shankar Roy Choudhary also claimed, "I'm not aware of any Army Chief being offered a bribe. If the Chief is saying then it must have happened. But I don't think it is possible to offer money to an Army Chief."

OneIndia News