Political storm over V K Singh's remark on money for J-K ministers

New Delhi: A political storm erupted today over former Army Chief V K Singh's remark that money was paid to Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir with Congress and ally National Conference calling it “irresponsible” and demanding he reveal the names amid a call for a CBI probe.Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said government was ready to probe if beneficiaries were identified, a day after Gen(retd) Singh said that “certain ministers” in J and K are given money by the Army for “stability” and that this has been going on since Independence.“V K Singh should name politicians. He should reveal the names (of those to whom money was allegedly paid). If details are given, we can investigate,” Shinde said.Farooq Abdullah, President of J and K's ruling NC, demanded a CBI probe into the allegations made by Singh.“I think time has come when a CBI inquiry should be held immediately to see what is the funding that the Army has done and who are the people that received these funds and how these funds have been utilised,” he said.Singh's remark drew a sharp reaction from the Congress with former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressing shock and a party spokesman slamming him for his “irresponsible” statement.“I think it's a very, very terrible statement that he has made. It must be investigated. The Army has nothing to do with funding of political parties. They should never do this. The Army should be kept apolitical,” said Azad, a Union Minister.“And if he has done that, he has done something extremely wrong.” Azad said he was shocked to hear about Singh's remark since he himself has been a Chief Minister of J and K.“I have no knowledge about this and I am as curious as you are to know about the names of the persons who were being paid and who are being paid,” he added.Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said “irresponsible” statements from Singh brought “disgrace” to the Army.“What he has said, I do not think he himself can prove it,” Chacko said, adding, “Even a retired general is a general. He should not be making such statements.”Union Minister Rajiv Shukla said Singh's remark was not in national interest and that persons, who have held such high positions like Army Chief should not make such statements after retirement without any substance.J and K Sports minister and state Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin dared the former Army chief to name the ministers who were given funds.Singh is already in the eye of the storm over reports that attempts were made by a secret intelligence unit set up during his tenure to topple the J and K government.“Army transfers money to all the ministers in Jammu and Kashmir...because there are various things to be done and ministers have to do so many things as part of the stabilizing factor in the state and for organising various activities,” he said yesterday.Questioned whether all ministers are paid, Singh amended his statement, saying, “May be not all the ministers but certain ministers and people who are given a certain sum to get a particular thing done. That job involves bringing stability to a particular area.”Shinde told reporters that he has not received any communication from the government or anyone else demanding a CBI inquiry into Singh's statement on Army payments.”I have not yet received any official communication from the Jammu and Kashmir government or any one else demanding a CBI inquiry into the V K Singh issue. I am yet to get details of the allegations made by V K Singh on payments made to Jammu and Kashmir ministers,” he said.Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said the V K Singh issue was a matter of national security and it could not be discussed in public.”Anyone who has served in the Army and that too in such a top post should not be talking like this. There should be restraint,” he said.Asked whether any inquiry will be ordered by the Home Ministry, RPN Singh said the Army and the Ministry of Defence will look into it. J and K CPI-M leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami said by making such claims, the former Army Chief has “insulted” the voters of the state.While asking the Defence Ministry to order a high level enquiry into the allegations of Singh, Tarigami said “the people have the right to know the truth.”The Army has no role to play in the domestic politics be it Jammu and Kashmir or any part of the country. “The allegations demean the very democratic fabric of the country.””All the political parties of the state irrespective of their affiliations should speak in a united voice on these serious allegations,” Tarigami said.