NEW DELHI, Sept 26: Former J&K Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha today dismissed Gen (retd.) V K Singh’s charge that the army has funded political leaders in Kashmir and sought a credible, impartial inquiry into the claims made by him.
Gen Sinha, former vice-chief of army, accused Gen Singh of providing fodder to Pakistan which may have the issue on top on its agenda when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on September 29.
“There has never been any instance of the army funding of any NGO, funding any political leader. Army funds are used for entirely different purposes,” he told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN.
Gen Singh had earlier this week stated that army had funded certain leaders in J&K for “stability”, drawing criticism from political leaders and others.
The former J&K Governor said the former army chief’s remarks would do “tremendous harm” to the image of the army in Kashmir.
“It will have a disastrous effect not only in Kashmir but internationally and also on the image of the army,” he said, adding it is the only apolitical army with a wonderful record which has never dabbled in politics.
On what likely impact Gen Singh’s remarks would have on the politics of Kashmir, Gen Sinha said, “I think it will be disastrous. Already the leader of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said this shows how the people of Kashmir have been subjugated and held under occupation in the sham name of democracy.”
Asked whether he would suggest a thorough probe into what Gen Singh had claimed, Gen Sinha said, “Normally such things are not brought out in the open. Whatever action is taken is taken by the Government. Now that he has put it in the public domain, it is very important that a credible, impartial inquiry be carried out and anyone found guilty should be punished.”
To a question whether Gen Singh had violated the Official Secrets Act, he said, “So it looks to me. Also Gen Singh is subject to the Army Act which is very stringent.”
The basic fact is that OSA applies to everyone. “If it is any secret that he has leaked then he has violated OSA,” Gen Sinha said.
To another question on Singh’s claim about Panchayat elections of 2011 in J&K being funded by the army, Gen Sinha recalled that when he was the Governor an attempt was made to hold Panchayat elections prematurely.
“I stalled it. Army never provided funds for any purpose other than tactical military intelligence and also for Sadbhavana for winning hearts and minds of the people,” he said.
The former Governor felt that the Government should have sacked Gen Singh when he dragged it to court over his retirement age issue. “I would have done so,” he remarked. (AGENCIES)
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