<p>Former Army chief V K Singh's call for dissolution of Parliament and its gherao has raked up a debate whether a man who has commanded the 1.3 million-strong force should be making such demands involving the highest institutions of democracy.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Recent statements by Singh, first for dissolving the Parliament and then about its gherao in support of sugarcane farmers, have evoked mixed reactions from his predecessors and colleagues.<br /><br />"It is not befitting of an ex-Army chief to indulge in such activities. Even after retirement, he is looked upon by the serving people as their ex-chief and such things do not seem good.<br />"The Parliament is a supreme body in a functioning democracy of ours and cannot and should not be held hostage on any issue," Singh's predecessor Gen Deepak Kapoor told PTI.<br /><br />Supporting his move to join politics, Maj Gen (retd) G D Bakshi said when 70 per cent of the American presidents can be ex-servicemen, then why can't Gen Singh enter politics.<br />"He is well within his rights to join politics as an ex-Army chief as it is not just the domain of corrupt and criminals," he said.<br /><br />Another former Army chief Gen V P Malik said legally there was nothing wrong in what Gen Singh was doing but it was "inappropriate" on his part on propriety issues.</p>
<p>Former Army chief V K Singh's call for dissolution of Parliament and its gherao has raked up a debate whether a man who has commanded the 1.3 million-strong force should be making such demands involving the highest institutions of democracy.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Recent statements by Singh, first for dissolving the Parliament and then about its gherao in support of sugarcane farmers, have evoked mixed reactions from his predecessors and colleagues.<br /><br />"It is not befitting of an ex-Army chief to indulge in such activities. Even after retirement, he is looked upon by the serving people as their ex-chief and such things do not seem good.<br />"The Parliament is a supreme body in a functioning democracy of ours and cannot and should not be held hostage on any issue," Singh's predecessor Gen Deepak Kapoor told PTI.<br /><br />Supporting his move to join politics, Maj Gen (retd) G D Bakshi said when 70 per cent of the American presidents can be ex-servicemen, then why can't Gen Singh enter politics.<br />"He is well within his rights to join politics as an ex-Army chief as it is not just the domain of corrupt and criminals," he said.<br /><br />Another former Army chief Gen V P Malik said legally there was nothing wrong in what Gen Singh was doing but it was "inappropriate" on his part on propriety issues.</p>