This is an article on the sordid episodes of the feud between the Defense Ministry and the Army Chief General V K Singh and the attempt to sensationalize the issues by the General.
Since some time the relation between the current Army Chief Gen V. K. Singh and the Defense Ministry. It started with the retirement age issue of the resent Army chief. He had given 2 sets of birth certificate to the Government, one at the time of recruitment and another one subsequently. As per teh certificates the date of birth's are May 10, 1951 and another May 10, 1950. The Military Secretary branch recorded his date of birth as 10 May 1950 basing the application submitted by V K Singh to the National Defence Academy. On the verge of retirement the General raked up the issue and went to the Supreme Court, and dragged the Defense Ministry, for Justice.He lost this legal battle of his contention of "prejudice" and "perversity" against him by the Ministry. The bench of S C which heard the case observed that 'The bench said "no prejudice" was done to General Singh and there was "no perversity" or gross error in recognizing his date of birth as May 10, 1950'. He is decent enough not to attribute the judgement as a collusion.
This incident is an indicator of the type of person the General V. K. Singh is. He is the highest officer after the titular head of the defense forces, The President of India. Just for the sake of 1 more year of service was it worthwhile on his part to rake up the controversy?
Now the General V. K. Singh has raked up another controversy. He has alleged that one officer in the defense force has approached him with a bribe of Rs 14 crores for finalizing a deal of purchase of vehicles of the defense establishment. It is ridiculous and preposterous for the General to get the news splashed in the ever obliging impudent media to make it a sensational issue on the eve of his retirement so that he gets the publicity for free. If what he say is true what kind of officer he is? As the boss of the defense establishment he should have immediately taken action against his own subordinate who had the temerity to offer bribe to him and then he should have rushed to the media with the action initiated. Is it not a reflection on his character. In his 'sensational exposure' of corruption he has stated that he reported this matter to the defense mintier. What prevented him from initiating action against the briber instead of oral complaint to the minister. He should have initiated action against the official concerned or passed on a message to the defense department concerned which is supposed to look into the matter and take suitable action. The concerned department is right under the General.
Such types of persons were there earlier, are there now and will be there in future also as long as the political parties behave as of now. The political parties in India have only two principles depending on whether they are on the side of Ruling the country or in Opposition camp. The parties in ruling side are expected to defend their stand and the opposition parties for opposing irrespective of the merit or the effect on the Nation. Both the sides do not exist to work unitedly on the important issues of poverty eradication, corruption, speedy justice to people and transparent administration etc. The Opposition parties have taken up the matter of General against the Government and are making a ruckus of the same. Every stick is good enough to beat the opponent.
However, it is a good thing that the Defense Minister has ordered a CBI inquiry. I strongly feel that the issues of such people who are on the verge of retirement should be handle with care. Just because a stick is in hand should not be used to beat. It will only encourage such persons in future and leading to indiscipline and opportunism in services which will be adverse for administration.
It is very much to be regretted that the media which is supposed to be 4th limb of the institution of democracy is functioning like 5th columnists or yellow journalists. Watching the media will give an impression that the media is only to sensationalize the issues rather than helping to expose the ills of the society. The media assumes that whatever they feel correct is correct and all others should fall in line. They have a preliminary obligation to find out the merits at least prima facie instead of rushing to publicize issues. On every issue of the nation each channel wants to show they are the first to bring out the news even if it is a matter like the urination or going to stool of the person/s they consider as somebody. Of course they or the Generals or the political parties or the social activists are not to be blamed as we get only what we deserve.
Since some time the relation between the current Army Chief Gen V. K. Singh and the Defense Ministry. It started with the retirement age issue of the resent Army chief. He had given 2 sets of birth certificate to the Government, one at the time of recruitment and another one subsequently. As per teh certificates the date of birth's are May 10, 1951 and another May 10, 1950. The Military Secretary branch recorded his date of birth as 10 May 1950 basing the application submitted by V K Singh to the National Defence Academy. On the verge of retirement the General raked up the issue and went to the Supreme Court, and dragged the Defense Ministry, for Justice.He lost this legal battle of his contention of "prejudice" and "perversity" against him by the Ministry. The bench of S C which heard the case observed that 'The bench said "no prejudice" was done to General Singh and there was "no perversity" or gross error in recognizing his date of birth as May 10, 1950'. He is decent enough not to attribute the judgement as a collusion.
This incident is an indicator of the type of person the General V. K. Singh is. He is the highest officer after the titular head of the defense forces, The President of India. Just for the sake of 1 more year of service was it worthwhile on his part to rake up the controversy?
Now the General V. K. Singh has raked up another controversy. He has alleged that one officer in the defense force has approached him with a bribe of Rs 14 crores for finalizing a deal of purchase of vehicles of the defense establishment. It is ridiculous and preposterous for the General to get the news splashed in the ever obliging impudent media to make it a sensational issue on the eve of his retirement so that he gets the publicity for free. If what he say is true what kind of officer he is? As the boss of the defense establishment he should have immediately taken action against his own subordinate who had the temerity to offer bribe to him and then he should have rushed to the media with the action initiated. Is it not a reflection on his character. In his 'sensational exposure' of corruption he has stated that he reported this matter to the defense mintier. What prevented him from initiating action against the briber instead of oral complaint to the minister. He should have initiated action against the official concerned or passed on a message to the defense department concerned which is supposed to look into the matter and take suitable action. The concerned department is right under the General.
Such types of persons were there earlier, are there now and will be there in future also as long as the political parties behave as of now. The political parties in India have only two principles depending on whether they are on the side of Ruling the country or in Opposition camp. The parties in ruling side are expected to defend their stand and the opposition parties for opposing irrespective of the merit or the effect on the Nation. Both the sides do not exist to work unitedly on the important issues of poverty eradication, corruption, speedy justice to people and transparent administration etc. The Opposition parties have taken up the matter of General against the Government and are making a ruckus of the same. Every stick is good enough to beat the opponent.
However, it is a good thing that the Defense Minister has ordered a CBI inquiry. I strongly feel that the issues of such people who are on the verge of retirement should be handle with care. Just because a stick is in hand should not be used to beat. It will only encourage such persons in future and leading to indiscipline and opportunism in services which will be adverse for administration.
It is very much to be regretted that the media which is supposed to be 4th limb of the institution of democracy is functioning like 5th columnists or yellow journalists. Watching the media will give an impression that the media is only to sensationalize the issues rather than helping to expose the ills of the society. The media assumes that whatever they feel correct is correct and all others should fall in line. They have a preliminary obligation to find out the merits at least prima facie instead of rushing to publicize issues. On every issue of the nation each channel wants to show they are the first to bring out the news even if it is a matter like the urination or going to stool of the person/s they consider as somebody. Of course they or the Generals or the political parties or the social activists are not to be blamed as we get only what we deserve.
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