NEW DELHI : Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today asked former Army chief V K Singh to name Jammu and Kashmir politicians who were allegedly paid money by the Army for “stability”, saying if details are given the government was ready to probe.
“V K Singh should name politicians. He should reveal the names (of those to whom money was allegedly paid). If details are given, we can investigate,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The Home Minister’s remarks came in the wake of the retired general’s statement that that “certain ministers” in the state are given money by the Army for “stability” and that this has been going on since Independence.
Singh, who is in the eye of the storm over reports that that attempts were made to topple the Jammu and Kashmir government during his tenure as the Army chief, had said yesterday, the “Army transfers money to all the ministers in Jammu and Kashmir…Because there are various things to be done and ministers have to do so many things as part of the stabilising factor in the state and for organising various activities.”
Questioned whether all ministers are paid, he amended his statement, saying, “May be not all the ministers but certain ministers and people who are given a certain sum to get a particular thing done. That job involves bringing stability to a particular area.”
Shinde told reporters that he has not received any communication from the Jammu and Kashmir government or anyone else demanding a CBI inquiry into Singh’s statement on Army payments.
“I have not yet received any official communication from the Jammu and Kashmir government or any one else demanding a CBI inquiry into the V K Singh issue. I am yet to get details of the allegations made by V K Singh on payments made to Jammu and Kashmir ministers,” he said
Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said the V K Singh issue was a matter of national security and it could not be discussed in public.
“Anyone who has served in the Army and that too in such a top post should not be talking like this. There should be restraint,” he said.
Asked whether any inquiry will be ordered by the Home Ministry, RPN Singh said the Army and the Ministry of Defence will look into it.
(PTI)
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