Statement by the Army Chief strikes a conciliatory note.
"For the media to constantly project every issue as a battle
between the government and the Army is misleading. The Army and the extension –Chief
of Army Staff (CoAS) – are also a part of the government. There are rogue
elements in our society who have played an active role in trying to create a
schism between the Honourable Raksha Mantri and the COAS. This is untrue and
needs to be guarded against.
The timing pertaining to the bribe issue has drawn
considerable attention. It is pointed out that after the matter was brought to
Honourable Raksha Mantri’s notice certain step had been taken institutionally
to keep a wary eye on the retired person, who had offered the bribe. Eighteen
months later the person resurfaced in the beginning of March this year and launched
a smear campaign under the veil of anonymity alleging that the Army was
snooping on the Honourable RM. Once the concerned individual had been
identified by Army Headquarters, his identity and antecedents were made public.
There have been a string of selective leaks in the past culminating with a
public hearing in the letter to the Honourable Prime Minister.
We are duty bound to serve our country and to protect the institutional
integrity of the Army at all costs, even if sometimes we have to look within. We
have to identify and within confines of the system and the law expose these
elements. Freedom of speech and individual opinions need to be respected. But
frivolous comments on these issues will only muddy the water."
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