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Pranab: no rift between army chief, government
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday dismissed speculation of a rift between Defence Minister A K Antony and army chief General V K Singh.
“There is no difference between them. It has been already explained by the defence minister on the floor of the house,” Mukherjee said, referring to Antony’s statement in parliament.
Mukherjee’s comments came in the backdrop of efforts by Gen Singh and the central government seeking to allay fears of a rift between them.
While Singh on Friday sounded conciliatory, blaming “rogue elements” for perceived differences with the government, Antony said all the three defence chiefs “enjoyed the confidence” of the government.
The controversy started after the army chief alleged that he was offered a bribe to clear a defence purchase and, in a leaked letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, pointed out gaps in India’s defence preparedness, which prompted the opposition to demand the sacking of both Singh and Antony.
Meanwhile, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V K Saraswat asked both the defence ministry and the army to adopt a “cautious approach” while handling any differences.
“If there are differences of any type, they should adopt the most cautious approach,” Saraswat told a press conference at a defence exhibition at Pragati Maindan in New Delhi.
“The harmony within the ministry of defence with respect to our functioning and image is very important,” he said.
Saraswat, the scientific adviser to the defence ministry, was responding to a question on what advice he would give Antony on the controversy relating to army chief’s letter to the prime minister and on his recent interviews about bribe offer to approve an order of Tatra trucks.
Saraswat said he only advised the defence minister on technical matters and not on such controversies.
“As a citizen of this country, I can only say both of them are great people, they have done great service to the nation,” he added.
He also defended the Tatra trucks.
“The Tatra vehicles have given outstanding performance in various terrains at required speeds and we have used them for Prithvi and Agni launches. In our experience, there has not been a bad performance ever or any troubles with Tatra,” Saraswat said.
He said the DRDO had been using Tatra trucks as a platform to carry and fire strategic missiles too during trials.
“Our vehicles are based on what is already inducted into the army, for easier maintenance. Hence we use Tatras,” he said.
“Our experience of using it for launches is very, very positive and not substandard,” he said in reply to a question on whether he agreed with the army’s perception that these were substandard.
The army in a press release earlier this year claimed that a retired lieutenant general had offered a bribe to Gen Singh, who too confirmed it in media interviews, for approving an order for 600 Tatra trucks for the army.
“I don’t mind,” said Saraswat to queries if they will use more Tatras in the future,
Tatra trucks have been defended as the best technology available in the market by its Indian manufacturers BEML, apart from defence ministry officials.
Meanwhile, Gen Singh, during a visit to Gurgaon in Haryana said: “I am committed to work for the serving and ex-servicemen of the Indian armed forces.”
He also said that it was very necessary to provide the best equipment to soldiers.
“A majority of retired soldiers live in rural areas. Looking at the problems at the CSD (canteen stores department) services, we have already moved a procedure to open such canteens in rural areas,” Singh said.
The army chief also launched the “Emergency Alert Mobile Service” for retired soldiers. The SMS will provide help to retired officers across the country, during tough times.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday dismissed speculation of a rift between Defence Minister A K Antony and army chief General V K Singh.
“There is no difference between them. It has been already explained by the defence minister on the floor of the house,” Mukherjee said, referring to Antony’s statement in parliament.
Mukherjee’s comments came in the backdrop of efforts by Gen Singh and the central government seeking to allay fears of a rift between them.
While Singh on Friday sounded conciliatory, blaming “rogue elements” for perceived differences with the government, Antony said all the three defence chiefs “enjoyed the confidence” of the government.
The controversy started after the army chief alleged that he was offered a bribe to clear a defence purchase and, in a leaked letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, pointed out gaps in India’s defence preparedness, which prompted the opposition to demand the sacking of both Singh and Antony.
Meanwhile, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V K Saraswat asked both the defence ministry and the army to adopt a “cautious approach” while handling any differences.
“If there are differences of any type, they should adopt the most cautious approach,” Saraswat told a press conference at a defence exhibition at Pragati Maindan in New Delhi.
“The harmony within the ministry of defence with respect to our functioning and image is very important,” he said.
Saraswat, the scientific adviser to the defence ministry, was responding to a question on what advice he would give Antony on the controversy relating to army chief’s letter to the prime minister and on his recent interviews about bribe offer to approve an order of Tatra trucks.
Saraswat said he only advised the defence minister on technical matters and not on such controversies.
“As a citizen of this country, I can only say both of them are great people, they have done great service to the nation,” he added.
He also defended the Tatra trucks.
“The Tatra vehicles have given outstanding performance in various terrains at required speeds and we have used them for Prithvi and Agni launches. In our experience, there has not been a bad performance ever or any troubles with Tatra,” Saraswat said.
He said the DRDO had been using Tatra trucks as a platform to carry and fire strategic missiles too during trials.
“Our vehicles are based on what is already inducted into the army, for easier maintenance. Hence we use Tatras,” he said.
“Our experience of using it for launches is very, very positive and not substandard,” he said in reply to a question on whether he agreed with the army’s perception that these were substandard.
The army in a press release earlier this year claimed that a retired lieutenant general had offered a bribe to Gen Singh, who too confirmed it in media interviews, for approving an order for 600 Tatra trucks for the army.
“I don’t mind,” said Saraswat to queries if they will use more Tatras in the future,
Tatra trucks have been defended as the best technology available in the market by its Indian manufacturers BEML, apart from defence ministry officials.
Meanwhile, Gen Singh, during a visit to Gurgaon in Haryana said: “I am committed to work for the serving and ex-servicemen of the Indian armed forces.”
He also said that it was very necessary to provide the best equipment to soldiers.
“A majority of retired soldiers live in rural areas. Looking at the problems at the CSD (canteen stores department) services, we have already moved a procedure to open such canteens in rural areas,” Singh said.
The army chief also launched the “Emergency Alert Mobile Service” for retired soldiers. The SMS will provide help to retired officers across the country, during tough times.
