Gen VK Singh retires after a controversial tenure

New Delhi, May 31: Hanging up his boots after a controversial tenure, outgoing

Chief Gen

today said the internal health of the force has improved during his 26 months in office.

Interacting with reporters after his farewell guard of honour here, Singh, 62, said he was alarmed about an incident where a Major had complained about a fake encounter and there was no investigation by the 3 Corps headed by Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who is in line to head the force in 2014.

"The internal health of the Army has improved and I am sure that this will continue in the future also. What I said before taking over, that has been implemented and as what I have said always is that the army works on its 'naam, namak and nishan' (name, salt and symbol)," he said in reply to a question on the internal health of the 1.13-million strong force.

On whether he felt that there were far too many controversies during his tenure, Singh said, "There is no controversy. If we pay too much attention towards certain things, they become controversial."

Asked about his major achievements in the 26-month at the helm, Singh said, "What we have been able to achieve is changing of mindsets in the Army. We have been able to take on the path of transformation which includes making the Army ready, relevant, agile and much more effective. Leaner in terms of how it takes its decisions (and that) is already in the pipeline."

We have been able to ensure that the hollowness that was affecting the Army has been addressed in very cogent manner and we had support from Defence Minister (AK Antony), he said. "We have achieved fairly good targets," he added.

PTI