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The Defence Ministry and the Chief of Army are likely to settle for a temporary truce.
After the Chief of Army, General V.K. Singh's statement on Friday that he is a part of the Government and certain rogue elements are trying to create schism between him and the Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, there is a change of mood in the Government.
A section of the Congress leadership, including ministers in the United Progressive Alliance Cabinet, were putting pressure on the Defence Ministry to send the Army chief on “compulsory leave”. Sources indicated that, instead, the complaints raised by him will be considered seriously by the Government. Mr Antony, sources said, is opposed to any punitive measures against the General at this stage.
The Army Chief, in an interview to The Hindu , had alleged that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to push the Tatra truck deal. Mr Antony issued a statement on Friday that a vigilance probe against senior management of the Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) is on after a senior Congressmen complained against the firm.
MPs belonging to the BJP and the CPI(M) also complained to the Defence Ministry and to the Prime Minister against the Tatra truck deal. “There will be a thorough probe into the issue. The Army Chief's complaints, as well as the complaints from politicians, will be looked into and a decision will be taken soon,” a source in the Government said indicating “stringent” measures against corrupt officials in the Government and in the Army. There is also a demand to blacklist the company that supplies Tatra trucks.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Army Chief has named retired Lt General Mr Tejinder Singh in his complaint to the CBI on the alleged offer of Rs 14 crore to push the purchase of Tatra trucks. A probe into the leakage of the Army Chief's letter to the Prime Minister is also on.
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