Friday, March 30, 2012

Rogue elements out to create schism between Army and MoD: Army Chief

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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