General V K Singh on Thursday took over as the new Army Chief and declared that improving the force' "internal health" and core values will be high on his agenda.
Making his intentions known, 59-year-old Singh, who will be the country's 26th army chief, made it clear that till the time the country's internal health is good it would not be able to fight the external threats.
Singh, a trained commando, was in the media glare when he had, as the Eastern Army Commander in Kolkata, recommended the sacking of his predecessor Deepak Kapoor's Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash in the Sukhna land scam case.
The new chief, who has vast experience in counter- insurgency and high altitude operations, said the forces were well prepared and would "stand up to and measure up to" any challenge that the nation faced from China.
"Internal health is very important. And for any organisation to do well, it must ensure the internal health is good.
"To that extent, that's why I said that our core values, our ethos, tradition will receive due attention," Singh told reporters.
He was replying to a question on the issue of corruption charges against Prakash in the Sukhna land scam.
"Till the time our internal health is good, we would not be able to fight the external threats. So, we will focus attention on improving internal health," he added.
Singh, who took over from Gen Deepak Kapoor, will be at the helm of the 1.13 million personnel-strong Army for over two years. He also took the salute in a Guard of honour given by 2 Rajput Regiment, the battalion he had commanded as a Colonel.
Asked how the Indian Army measured up vis-a-vis the Chinese Rapid Action Force, Singh said: "I can assure you that for any challenges that are against us, we are very well prepared."
The General said it was a moment of pride and he felt humbled having to head the Indian Army. "We intend ensuring that our core values, our rich traditions and professionalism gets a boost and that would be my main priority".
Prakash was a senior adviser to former Army chief General Deepak Kapoor and was caught in a controversy for allegedly 'influencing' the sale of a 71-acres land near the Sukna military base in Darjeeling district of West Bengal to a private realtor.
Three other General-rank officers were also indicted by an Army probe in the scam with Gen Kapoor, who retired yesterday, initiating disciplinary proceedings against two of them and administrative action against others
Concurring with the concerns expressed by Defence Ministry over Chinese military modernisation plans, Gen Singh said the forces would stand up and measure up to any challenge that the nation faced.
"The concern expressed is correct....Through you, I would like to pass it on to our countrymen that our army -- and it is their army -- will stand up to and measure up to any challenge that the nation will face," he told reporters.
He said the government had provided an increase in the allocation for the Army in this year's budget and "our effort would be to utilise it to be well prepared."
He noted that preparation was an ongoing process and that the Army would ensure its training methodologies became more practical keeping all challenges in mind.
The Defence Ministry has, in its annual report for 2009-10, said it was "conscious and alert" about China's military modernisation and infrastructure development in Tibet and adjoining areas. The report said the ministry has taken "necessary steps" to restructure its force levels along the border. PTI
