Swamy bats for V K Singh, says corrupt forces are unhappy

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Outspoken BJP leader SubramanianSwamy today came out in support of V K Singh, amid the ongoingrow over the Army chief’s affidavit against him, saying theMinister was continuously being targeted by "certain corruptforces" and there was a "paid slander campaign" against him. Swamy said that the government should take steps toprotect Singh since as a Minister he cannot defend himself ina "slugfest with the present Chief of Army Staff" Gen DalbirSingh Suhag. He claimed the corrupt forces are unhappy with Singh ashe as the Army chief had prevented illegal kickbacks inweapons purchase and exposed certain officials to vigilanceinquries. Singh is now the Minister of State for External Affairs. Citing examples, he said that the culprits in AdarshHousing Society and the Sukhna Land scam were exposed duringSingh’s tenure as Army chief. "The DV (Discipline and Vigilance) Ban on appointment ofcertain Generals was issued after due process. No COAS (Chiefof Army Staff) can issue a DV Ban on a whim," the Rajya SabhaMP said in a statement. Suhag had this week in an affidavit in Supreme Courtaccused Singh of victimising him when he was the Army chief. In 2012, Suhag was placed under a discipline andvigilance (DV) ban by Singh, for his alleged "failure ofcommand and control" after a Court of Inquiry was ordered intoan operation carried out in Jorhat, Assam, on the night ofDecember 20-21, 2011 by the 3 Corps Intelligence andSurveillance Unit. Suhag, who was the then General Officer Commanding of theunit, said the imposition of DV ban on him and issuance of ashow cause notice by the then COAS "was illegal andpremeditated". Swamy said that DV Ban is a matter which is examined bynot just the Vigilance Branch but also by MoD at the highestlevels. Only after these three bodies recommend DV ban, can theprocess be initiated, he said. "The most recent attempt to slander Gen Singh for thevigilance inquiry was so ordered against Lt Gen D S Suhag inMay 2012 and not by Gen V K Singh as part of the allegedpersonal animosity between them," he said. Swamy said the government should take steps to protectSingh from this "paid slander campaign" since being aMinister, he cannot defend himself in a slugfest with thepresent Army chief. PTI SAPRT