Army Chief Offered Bribe

NEW DELHI: Army cheif V K Singh said on Monday that he was offered bribe by a lobbyist to purchase substandard vehicles. The parties were saying that he should have filed complaint earlier.

Congress attacked the General for keeping quiet for such a long time without lodging a complaint.Congress spokesman Tiwari say’s “It is really unfortunate. Being a government official and head of the Indian Army, he should have registered an FIR if someone came to him and offered a bribe”.

While senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh said, “taking a decision is the toughest thing for him to do” because of the nature of Defence minister.

“I am disappointed that he (Singh) came directly to the press, but did he do this after disappointment,” said Singh.He further added, “I have known the defence minister for long, he specialises in indecision… Is it because of his (defence minister’s) indecision that the army chief had to go to media”.

CPI leader questioned the timing of revelation “Why is he telling all these things now? What was he doing all along in the past? How come somebody has approached a general and tried to bribe him. When he can go to the Supreme Court for his age row, why could he not tell this information to the country? These are all genuine issues, which the general should answer,”

BJP leader Naidu said,”It is a very serious matter, and that is why we wanted the government to come forward and make a statement. The army chief said he has already informed the matter to the defence minister, if so what is the action taken by the minister… what has the government done so far about the issue”.

Army Chief also said that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a ‘sub-standard’ procurement order. He said he was unable to act because he does not able to understand the important of the statement.

Defence minister told reporters “It is a serious allegation, I have already taken action”.