My answer is no. Because the issue is quite sensitive and
also involves the country’s security. I am
talking about yesterday's (Sept 20) exclusive report in the Indian Express about
the alleged irregularities committed by the Technical Services Division (TSD),
a military intelligence unit set up by former Army Chief General VK Singh in
May 2010. The alleged irregularities (including attempted covert political
interference in J&K, attempt to block Commander Bikram Singh's promotion as
the Army chief, and misuse of funds worth crores) were found following a secret
Board of Officers inquiry into the functioning of the TSD.
The inquiry into TSD, led by Lieutenant General Vinod
Bhatia, DG Military Operations, has recommended that the functioning of TSD
should be probed by an external agency like CBI. (The inquiry was an internal
exercise by the Army.)
Today the Hindustan Times added a new angle to the TDS issue
by stating in a news that TDS was involved in covert operations in Pakistan and
was even on the trail of 26/11 mastermind and LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. It’s this
angle which makes me doubt whether the govt would order a CBI inquiry into the alleged
TDS irregularities. Because if TDS’s Pakistan
connect is true, then the govt won’t like the CBI going into TDS’s operations
in Pakistan.
A good number of Narendra Modi supporters in their online comments on the Express report are blindly
supporting Singh and criticizing the govt. (Recently Singh had shared the dais with Modi at the latter's rally in Haryana.) But an impartial person, while
looking at the events in the recent past concerning Singh, will also find fault with his conduct. For example, he went back on his word about his date of
birth given to the army establishment and wanted to continue as the army chief
for one more year. Honest, brave soldiers don't do this.
When the Supreme Court advised Singh to withdraw his petition
on the date of birth issue, the government to pacify Singh offered him for one
year all the emoluments, perks and privileges of the army chief even without
his holding the office. Had Singh been true to the cause espoused by Anna
Hazare, with whom he has appeared a couple of times, he would have refused to
touch the army chief's emoluments, perks and privileges which he was not
entitled to post-retirement.
The Express report had another startling
revelation. When the newspaper failed to get Singh's response to phone calls, text
messages, and an emailed questionnaire on the inquiry report, it tried to
approach him through a mediator. But Singh reportedly told the mediator, "...
should the newspaper write anything about me, they will get in the neck".
The Express report is available on this link:
The HT story is available on this link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Army-spook-unit-carried-out-covert-ops-in-Pakistan/Article1-1125008.aspx
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