Former Army Chief General VK Singh (file pic)
Jammu:
Former Army chief General VK Singh will have to appear before the privilege committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly's upper house today for his controversial remarks on state ministers being paid by the army.
Though the privilege committee is expecting General Singh to appear, there are no clear indications yet on whether the former army chief would abide by the summons.
In a TV interview in September last year, General Singh had said that paying ministers was nothing new in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it was a means to "get people together in Kashmir". He was reacting to allegations that a secret intelligence unit set up by him had funded a minister to topple the National Conference-led government. The minister, Ghulam Hasan Mir, has denied the allegation.
After his comment sparked a massive controversy, General Singh addressed a press conference, saying, the money wasn't a bribe.
"This money wasn't for their personal use or political reasons. It was not a bribe. It was meant to organise events to win the hearts and minds of people and get them away from separatist propaganda," the former army chief said, also emphasising that every paisa was accounted for.
A resolution moved by Chief Minister's Omar Abdullah's National Conference has asked General Singh to name the politicians he claims to have been paid by the army or face legal action.
Though the privilege committee is expecting General Singh to appear, there are no clear indications yet on whether the former army chief would abide by the summons.
In a TV interview in September last year, General Singh had said that paying ministers was nothing new in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it was a means to "get people together in Kashmir". He was reacting to allegations that a secret intelligence unit set up by him had funded a minister to topple the National Conference-led government. The minister, Ghulam Hasan Mir, has denied the allegation.
After his comment sparked a massive controversy, General Singh addressed a press conference, saying, the money wasn't a bribe.
"This money wasn't for their personal use or political reasons. It was not a bribe. It was meant to organise events to win the hearts and minds of people and get them away from separatist propaganda," the former army chief said, also emphasising that every paisa was accounted for.
A resolution moved by Chief Minister's Omar Abdullah's National Conference has asked General Singh to name the politicians he claims to have been paid by the army or face legal action.
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