On his January 16 meeting with the defence secretary:The next night (January 16), at around 11pm, I got a call to come to office. The defence secretary (Shashi Kant Sharma, who is now the Comptroller and Auditor General) had called me. I first informed the Army chief and then went to meet the Defence Secretary. He (defence secretary) said he had just come back from the highest seat of power and that they are worried. He said bataiye kya ho raha hai (tell me what is happening). I told him that this was an exercise and I have already told them to stop and take a different route. He said to me that they should be told to go back quickly. I said that they will go as per the drill as there is method to their movement and, in any case, they would have gone back after the exercise.
He then asked about the para movement (para commando unit troops from Agra) also. I was initially not aware of it. They had been coming for training and going back. They used to come and go from that area in the past also. After the meeting, I told them to carry out no further movement and asked them to go back in smaller groups. I did feel bad because I am in touch with the defence ministry on an hourly basis and, still, they didn't raise this with me earlier. But when I explained to them, I think they understood perfectly.
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