New Delhi:
A controversy over former Army Chief VK Singh's explosive claims that army pays Kashmir ministers for projects to maintain peace has spiraled into full-blown war between the general and the central government.
Sources say top officials want a thorough investigation into allegations against General Singh in an internal army report that triggered the massive controversy.
The report had alleged that a secret intelligence unit set up by General Singh had funded a Jammu and Kashmir minister to try and destabilise the state's Omar Abdullah government.
The general, whose tenure was marred by a confrontation with the government over his age just before his retirement, has decided to fight back with a twitter chat soon.
In a tweet late last night, General Singh hit out at the government with a barb at the Intelligence Bureau (IB), under the home ministry.
"If someone were to ask for details of resources made available by IB then very many will run for cover. So less we say the better," said the general.
While responding to the allegations in the army report, the former army chief had said in a TV interview on Monday that that paying ministers was "nothing new in Jammu and Kashmir and was a means to get people together in Kashmir." The allegations led to a political storm.
In his latest tweets, the general once again defended his statement, saying, "When a state is in bad shape then all resources are used to stabilize it so what more revelations do we want??"
Top government officials say the General's revelations could have grave consequences for the credibility of India's peace initiatives in the Kashmir Valley.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had expressed similar concerns yesterday when he called for an investigation into General Singh's claims. "His accusations have made our jobs more difficult and have dealt a blow to the credibility of the people working in my government and political parties," he said.
Government sources said most of what the retired General has said "sounds completely wrong", but did add that "If what Gen Singh has said is true, then what has happened is completely wrong. The Army has no business making payments to or through politicians. But let us not jump to that stage yet. It will need to be probed further."
Sources say top officials want a thorough investigation into allegations against General Singh in an internal army report that triggered the massive controversy.
The report had alleged that a secret intelligence unit set up by General Singh had funded a Jammu and Kashmir minister to try and destabilise the state's Omar Abdullah government.
The general, whose tenure was marred by a confrontation with the government over his age just before his retirement, has decided to fight back with a twitter chat soon.
In a tweet late last night, General Singh hit out at the government with a barb at the Intelligence Bureau (IB), under the home ministry.
"If someone were to ask for details of resources made available by IB then very many will run for cover. So less we say the better," said the general.
While responding to the allegations in the army report, the former army chief had said in a TV interview on Monday that that paying ministers was "nothing new in Jammu and Kashmir and was a means to get people together in Kashmir." The allegations led to a political storm.
In his latest tweets, the general once again defended his statement, saying, "When a state is in bad shape then all resources are used to stabilize it so what more revelations do we want??"
Top government officials say the General's revelations could have grave consequences for the credibility of India's peace initiatives in the Kashmir Valley.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had expressed similar concerns yesterday when he called for an investigation into General Singh's claims. "His accusations have made our jobs more difficult and have dealt a blow to the credibility of the people working in my government and political parties," he said.
Government sources said most of what the retired General has said "sounds completely wrong", but did add that "If what Gen Singh has said is true, then what has happened is completely wrong. The Army has no business making payments to or through politicians. But let us not jump to that stage yet. It will need to be probed further."
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