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In a strong letter to Defence Minister A K Antony dated December 17, Amarinder Singh said the controversy had taken a toll on the Army’s morale. “We have over eight lac ex-servicemen in Punjab, where this issue remains an active topic, as it is, I am sure, amongst ex-servicemen in other states as well. Needless to say, General V K Singh continues to get support of the vast majority,” the letter said.
Attacking former Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor, Amarinder said that politics played a large part in creating the controversy to benefit a few individuals. The discrepancy in Singh’s date of birth in Army records, the Congress leader said, “seems to be part of some Army HQ politics geared to placing individuals in position to be future chiefs”.
The defence ministry and the Army refused to comment on the letter and its contents. The letter was sent days before the defence ministry rejected the Army chief’s representation on the matter, after taking legal advice from the attorney general.
AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari, also a Congress leader from Punjab, has expressed concern over the dispute too, adding that he hoped that those in charge would find a “modus vivendi (temporary agreement)”.
Amarinder Singh, who is the frontrunner among Congress’s chief minister hopefuls, described the Army chief as a “soldiers’ general” and said that for a soldier, “izzat” came above all. “...When that honour is questioned, he must fight for it. This, I believe, is where the General’s battlelines are drawn. I must also say, this is where I too, fully agree with him,” he has written.
“The Supreme Court has laid down that an individual’s age is established by that given in his high school certificate. In the General’s case, this criteria is not being followed,” Amarinder’s letter states. In their opinion in the case, four former Supreme Court chief justices also said that the matriculation certificate that mentions Singh’s date of birth as May 10, 1951, be taken as the correct proof.
The Army Chief is now believed to be considering the option of moving the Supreme Court.
The controversy over the officer’s age arose when files were being moved to approve Singh’s appointment as an Army commander. The Army had two different dates of birth in records — May 10, 1951, and May 10, 1950.
The BJP has refused to be drawn into the controversy, with chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad stating that his party did not “wish to comment on individual matters”.
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Let us not politicise the post of Army Chief. This matter should have not come out in Public for discussion
Why the General has become conscieous at a time when his retirement is nearing? Why he did not made efforts for it's correction earlier? In other words, if a junior lavel Officer had committed this mistake, e.i.not made representations after his seniority list is out,for correction of any thing wrong in the list within a time frame, he would have been charge-sheeted & punished.Now as a matter of fact, when he has made this issue open for public & made it a issue of his repute, he shoould do it not at the cost of morale-buster & discipline. The General should quit the post of COS of Indian Army &fight in the court of Law.
logically if the general has not availed any benefits due to his incorrect date of birth, then it should be corrected and he should be granted extended tenure. however as this may cause demoralisation to others who may then go to court, it will be better that the chief is given the post of a governor of one of the bigger states, which would be a promotion and a better utilisation of his wide knowledge and experience. in fact he can even be made the first lokpal (alas! if the bill gets passed in rajya sabha), and if provision exists to make eminent citizens a lokpal. the controversy is best laid to rest at the earliest by the govt. in the interest of the nation, rather then extend it to long drawn judicial process in the overburdened courts.
The media always highlights matters in a negative manner. Probably their own integrity is second to making money by sensationalising news. On TV too yesterday the reporter was talking about this affecting the morale of the army. Why should this affect the morale? Upholding the rule of law and propriety as the Ministry has done (instead of the usual collusion and coddling up seen in politics) would only increase the morale. The media should be appreciating the manner in which the Defence Ministry is upholding the propriety.
Intrinsic Integrity? what is that? It has no place in UPA Dictionary. A gesture on the part of Capt. Amrendra Singh will certainly go a long way because he is not only a Congress man, but more so a Soldier and as right said by him for a soldier PRIDE is the only medallion that he cares for more. It confirms with conviction that Congress stands for Corrupt and promotes corruption at all levels.
Chief of Army staff, General V. K. Singh, he should not fight for his date of birth. You are dedicated loyal and brilliant officer. All throughout your service the year of birth 1950 was considered for all purposes. Please leave to Defence ministry for final say. Respect the verdict as you are an honorable and brave Indian solider.
Mr.Sharma, please be intimated that Gen Singh's age was maintained as 1951 since his commissioning in all Army records. It was changed to 1950 on behest of some currupt officers those who wanted to keep Gen Singh out of race for top post.I think you must find out facts before making such statement.
Let the army find solution within their own system. The system applies equally to a General as well to a Jawan. Politician and bureaucrats must keep themselves away from it. And same goes for those black sheeps within the organisation trying to manipulate the issue for their vested interests.
dear editor, The Gen should accept what is in recird instead of trying to change his date of birth for gainng anither year in serviice Capy Sing from Pinjab should not have associated or recommened in this manner Matter must be left to theministry only At any rate GEN singh hasacted in a manner he can not be allowed to continue hence hisleaving wil be welcome. datd January 03rd 2012 Time 0543 Hrs ist
This is a result of the bureaucratization of the Indian Defense Services. Manipulating files is a new learned art from the bureaucracy. They are so powerful that the Army Navy and Airforce is trying to ape them in order to maintain its status as a premier block of our National Security Apparatus, which incidentally does not work well as it is usurped by bureaucrats and low end politicians