General V.K. Singh, Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, on Wednesday said there was no rift between the Army and the ministry of defence (MoD). The Army Chief was in Pune to review the passing out parade of the 122nd NDA course a day before he retires from office.
Addressing reporters after attending the parade at the National Defence Academy (NDA), General Singh maintained that defence minister A.K. Antony was a staunch supporter of the welfare of the armed forces.
“There is no misunderstanding between the MoD and us. The Army is part of the government. Sometimes you probably think that something is getting delayed because nobody is listening, that is not the case. We have a defence minister who is very clear in his support,” he said.
Speaking on the alleged attempt by Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh (retd) to bribe him to secure a deal for sub-standard military vehicles, General Singh said, “I don’t want to comment on what he (Lt. Gen Singh) has done. Those of us who know him well enough know what he tries, what he’s been trying and what he’s been doing. This is not the forum for me to castigate him or anything. He is most welcome to slide to any depths that he wants to.”