Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 13: Four days after Legislative Council Privilege Committee summoned former Army chief Gen VK Singh to appear before it on January 9, Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul today sent reply of Gen Singh to all 15 Ministers, former Ministers and MLAs, who had moved a privilege motion against the former Army chief in the Lower House on September 30, the first day of autumn session, and sought their response within a week.
However, the reply of Gen Singh released today by the Speaker gave an interesting twist to payoff allegations with the former Army chief claiming that whatever he had spoken during the television interviews was based on the information, which was known to his colleagues, subordinates, superiors and even `Raksha Mantri’ (Defence Minister A K Antony).
Mr Gul said he would initiate further action in the matter after getting response from movers of the privilege motion. He has given a week’s time to NC’s Ministers and former Ministers, who had moved the motion in the Assembly against Gen Singh’s remarks that Army had paid money to Jammu and Kashmir Ministers.
The movers of privilege motion included all sitting Ministers of National Conference excepting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, former Ministers and MLAs totaling 15 members of the Legislative Assembly.
The NC members had moved the privilege motion against Gen Singh on September 30, the first day of autumn session in both Houses of Legislature and had sought his presence before the Assembly for what they called the “baseless allegations” of the former Army chief that the Army had paid Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir, the remarks which Gen Singh had subsequently denied.
Incidentally, Gen Singh made a veiled reference of privilege motion of the privilege motion in his press conference at Ralegaon Sidhi in Maharashtra today while participating in indefinite fast of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
“I was busy in legal notices and taking advice as I has received some notices from Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and council,” he said.
Sources said the Speaker has forwarded the reply of Gen Singh in response to the breach of privilege motion given to him vide letter No. LA-9008/Legn/2013 dated 23.10.2013 to all the movers of the motion and asked them to submit their response to him within a week for initiating further action in the matter.
Mr Gul has also made public the reply given by Gen Singh to him in response to the privilege motion.
In his reply, Gen Singh said: “various quotes ascribed to me are inaccurate and incorrect to the extent of being misquotes. I have not spoken anything whatsoever that could even remotely affect or obstruct the functioning, decorum, dignity or position of the Legislature or any of the members that shall impede the members in carrying out their Legislative functions”.
He said he has not spoken anything that was not known in the public domain by way of certain books already published or the WikiLeaks expose prior to the two interviews given by him to national television channels.
“Whatever I had spoken during the interviews on TV channels or in the press was based on the information received from my colleagues and subordinates and also during the discharge of my duties in compliance of the directives of my superiors. The position last held by me was that of the Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army and my immediate superior was `Raksha Mantri’ (Defence Minister AK Antony).
“That the same are duly recorded audited and documented by competent authorities of the Union Government. It the House or your goodself (the Legislative Assembly Speaker) required perusing any such records then the same may be requisitioned from the competent authorities or the Union Government in right earnest,” Gen Singh said.
He added that his intent and motives were bona fide and none of his acts were ever directed at lowering the prestige or violating privilege of Legislature. He sought that proceedings against him should be quashed in the interest of justice.
Gen Singh said, “In light of facts and circumstances, it is respectfully submitted that the allegations levelled against me by way of a breach of privilege motion by members of Legislative Assembly are not made out and appear to be a case of misinformation.”
“Therefore, the same may kindly be quashed by your goodself (Assembly Speaker) and no further proceeding in regards thereto may kindly be carried out in the interest of justice,” he said.
Gul had issued the notice on October 24 asking Singh to explain his position on allegation of pay-offs to some ministers from the Army’s secret funds during his tenure.
“I wish to iterate that I have the utmost regard for all democratic institutions of the nation inter alia, all Legislative Assemblies and Houses of Parliament and also the members and functionaries thereof,” Singh said.
“I had clarified the entire issue during a press conference and defended institutions of J&K against the slander that was published by several newspapers as also electronic media, thereby leaving no ambiguity whatsoever as to the stand I had taken in the alleged TV interview,” he sought to clarify.
“With all the humility at my command, I reiterate and reassure your goodself and the august Assembly that my intent and motives are bona fide and none of my acts is neither directed at lowering the prestige or violating the privilege of Jammu and Kashmir Legislature nor obstructing or adversely affecting the functioning of the august House and its members thereof, for whom I have always had utmost regard and I hold them in high esteem,” Singh added.
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