JOIN USArmy chief Gen V K Singh’s revelations of a bribe offer has thrown up more questions than answers. The foremost query is why the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) did not file a first information report or call the military police and turn in the bribe-giver?
Why did not defence minister A K Antony take action on the COAS’ tip off, presumably nearly 18 months ago, though it is said there was nothing in writing to precipitate action.
Antony acted only after the issue blew up in his face when Singh made disclosures to the media. The chief, who only weeks ago lost the battle over his age, has now raised the bribe issue a little over two months ahead of his retirement. The timing of the disclosure is naturally suspect.
Still, more than the army chief, the onus lies with Antony whom the BJP targeted on Monday. Antony may be forced to tell Parliament, perhaps as early as Tuesday, the action taken by the government before a CBI probe was ordered.
According to former army chief V P Malik, bribery was far too serious a matter to be neglected. “The chief or defence minister should have acted long ago.”
This is the fresh controversy to hit the army and the defence ministry which have been in the news for all the wrong reasons for several months. After the army chief’s age row which spurred a no-holds barred spar between him and the ministry, the controversy over defence minister’s office being bugged surfaced on Mach 2. On March 6, the army, in an unusual move, denied the incident but blamed retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh and some disgruntled serving officers for `planting’ the story in the media. Tejinder Singh refuted the charges.