Political outrage over Army chief General VK Singh's leaked letter, parties demand action

New Delhi:  The chief of the Indian Army, General VK Singh, may have skidded past the point of no-return on his collision course with the government. A letter from him to the Prime Minister, warning that India's security is at risk, has been leaked to the media. Many political parties have hinted that he is responsible for the leak.

Opposition parties in Parliament demanded that the government take action against whoever is responsible, expressing as much concern over the leak of the letter as its contents. General Singh is currently on tour in Kashmir and will return to Delhi tomorrow.  
In his letter, dated March 12, General VK Singh asks the Prime Minister to "pass suitable directions to enhance the preparedness of the Army". The chief describes the state of artillery, air defence, and infantry as "alarming." He writes the Army's tanks are "devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks" and air defence is "97% obsolete."

Many blame the Army chief for the leak, suggesting that this is his latest attempt to embarrass the Defence Ministry. A series of leaders from opposition parties, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, said the Army chief should be removed for breaching confidentiality and compromising institutional integrity. (Read: Some leaders ask for Army chief's removal - 10 big facts)

In Parliament, Defence Minister AK Antony described the letter as "top-secret." He said publishing "secret communication within government cannot serve our national security". Politicians like Lalu Prasad Yadav blamed the chief and asked for his immediate removal. "He is acting like someone who wants to stand for elections...remove him" said Lalu Prasad Yadav. Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Shivanand Tewari of the Janta Dal (United) agreed. Arun Jaitley of the BJP pointed out that alleged lapses in the procurement of equipment, as highlighted by the Army chief, should be addressed urgently, though privately. "Responsibility will have to be fixed and action be taken, irrespective of the position they may hold in the defence forces or the civilian administration. And that assurance must be given, and that is what we want," said the Left's Sitaram Yechury.

The details of the Army's weaknesses and its chasm with the government are now part of the imagery on display for Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is in Delhi for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit that begins tomorrow. On Monday, the Army chief revealed that he had been offered a bribe of 14 crores to clear sub-standard trucks in 2010. The Defence Minister retorted yesterday that he had asked the chief to take action against the retired defence officer who offered him the kickback, but the Army chief had refused. (Read: Rs. 14 crore bribe offered to Army chief recorded on tape: Sources) General Singh will meet most likely with the CBI tomorrow to discuss the kickback.

Former Army chief Shankar Roy Chowdhury said that the government has been alerted repeatedly to the exigent need to upgrade the Army's resources. "This is not a new thing...it is occupying media space because of the leaks," he said. "Pakistan must be laughing... rest assured Pakistan knows about it, China knows about it," he added.

The Army chief is set to retire at the end of May. Many believe that this week's developments suggest he is hungry for revenge before he exits office. (Read: Months of acrimony for army chief and the government) 

For most of last year, the minister and the Army chief fought a long battle over General Singh's age. The government refused to accept that General Singh was born in 1951 and not 1950.  Records with the Army show both years, but the government said that documents used to establish his seniority and promotions declared 1950 as his year of birth and could not be amended. The Army chief took the unprecedented action of taking the government to court. But he dropped his petition after Supreme Court judges indicated they were unlikely to accept his arguments.

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Punjab govt won't execute Beant Singh's assassin on Saturday: Top 10 developments

Chandigarh:  The Punjab government has said it will not execute Balwant Singh Rajoana on Saturday. Mr Rajoana was sentenced to death in 2007 by a special CBI court in Chandigarh for his role in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister, Beant Singh, who was from the Congress. Mr Singh had been killed in 1995. Here are 10 big developments in this story:

1) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said in the Assembly that Mr Rajoana cannot be executed on Saturday. His announcement comes on a day when the Shiromani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Comimttee or SGPC, which functions as a parliament of Sikhs, has sent a mercy petition to President Pratibha Patil. It allegedly cites 11 other similar cases where the death sentence was commuted.

2) The Sikh clergy has said the state government must fight to save Mr Rajoana. The Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, has conferred the title of zinda shaheed or living martyr conferred on him by Sikh high priests. Mr Rajoana has said he does not want this title.

3) A court in Chandigarh has asked authorities at the Patila Jail, 80 kms away, to execute Mr Rajoana on Saturday.

4) Mr Rajoana, who has been convicted for being a Babbar Khalsa terrorist, has refused to defend himself in any court saying he wants to die for "the cause of Khalistan" (a separate Sikh homeland).

5) Mr Rajoana was awarded the death sentence for the assassination of Beant Singh in 2007 by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court. Another terrorist, Jagtar Singh Hawara, was also given the death sentence. Mr Hawara has been described as the mastermind of the murder.

6) Beant Singh who was the chief minister of Punjab from 1992 to 1995 was largely credited with wiping out terrorism from Punjab. He was assassinated by a human bomb, Dilawar Singh, at the high security Punjab civil secretariat in Chandigarh in August 1995. Mr Rajoana was to serve as a back-up human bomb.

7)  The assassinated chief minister's family has also stated that it has forgiven Mr Rajoana and would like his death sentence be converted to life imprisonment.

8) The Punjab government has already sought para-military forces from the Centre as a precautionary measure, officials said.

9) Yesterday, the BJP, sharing power with SAD in the state, steered clear of the controversy saying the matter was sub judice. "It is for the courts to decide and nobody has a right to interfere," Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma had said.

10) On Saturday, the Patiala Jail said the execution is not possible. "After looking into the all legal aspects of the case minutely, the Jail Superintendent of the Central Jail Patiala is of the view that since this case has many legal and constitutional shortcomings, loopholes and flaws, the execution of the court order is impossible within the ambit of law," Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal told the Punjab Assembly today.

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Tainted Congress leader Kripashankar Singh's security withdrawn

Mumbai:  A day after the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police raided and attached properties owned by former Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh and his family, the Maharashtra government has withdrawn his security.

Mr Singh, who is alleged to have amassed assets worth over Rs. 300 crore, disproportionate to his known sources of income, had resigned from his post soon after the Bombay High Court ordered his prosecution for "criminal misconduct" under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Since then, he was untraceable. The tainted leader returned to Mumbai today.

In its February 22 order, the court had asked Mumbai Police to collect documentary evidence regarding all movable and immovable properties owned by Mr Singh and his family. The court had also ordered that the role of his family members be investigated. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activist Sanjay Tiwari, who alleged that the Congress MLA had amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Speaking to NDTV in Mumbai today, Mr Singh said, "A PIL alone cannot be used as the basis for levelling charges against me. Allegations against me have wrecked my career."

"I am not guilty. I am not absconding. I have done nothing wrong. I will fight as per law," he asserted. "The media targeting me and my family is wrong. I do not own those many properties as are being shown," he added.

Yesterday, 12 properties owned by Mr Singh and his family members were attached by the Mumbai Police. This after over 120 police personnel spread across the city and raided the premises. The attached properties include a duplex flat with terrace in Jupiter building in Vile Parle, Tarang bungalow, two flats, two offices and a plot in suburban Bandra, a shop at Bhandup and a shop and two flats including one he obtained through Chief Minister's quota in suburban Powai and a flat in Kurla. Only one of these properties in the metropolis is in the name of Mr Singh, the rest are owned by his wife, son, daughter and son-in-law.

The attachment of his properties at Panvel, Ratnagiri and Uttar Pradesh is likely to happen today. The raids are also said to be on for the second day. Sources say the Congress leader and his family members will be questioned after documents recovered during the raids are scrutinized.

During the searches conducted yesterday, Mr Singh's two BMWs were also seized. The police also found 400 live cartridges at his residence "Tarang", located in upmarket Bandra. The police are now trying to probe whether Mr Singh and his family have the necessary arms licences.

The once powerful Congress leader yesterday failed to secure from the Supreme Court an interim stay or quashing of the Bombay High Court order on his prosecution.

KRIPASHANKAR'S SON APOLOGISES

In a display of arrogance, while raids were on at tainted Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh's properties yesterday, his son Narendra Mohan flipped off mediapersons.

Today, he released a statement aplogising for the obscene gesture. "I regret the incident that took place. I am a responsible citizen and do respect freedom of press. My action though wrong, was a consequence of being under pressure at this juncture. I apologise to all media persons," the statement read.

Mr Singh also said, "What my son did was wrong and I apologise on his behalf."

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