GEN (RETD) VK SINGH: need to probe role of Defence Secretary and DG (Acquisition) in helicopter scam

Jalandhar, March 3, 2013: Retired Army Chief General VK Singh has said the ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi had been named in the inquiry of the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam but there was also a need to probe about the “role” of the then Defence Secretary and the Director General (Acquisition) when the deal had taken place.

Interacting with the mediapersons here on Sunday, he said there was a need of thorough inquiry into the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.

About the Tatra scam, he apprehended that the government was trying to “close” the inquiry. He asserted that there should be no attempt to close the inquiry into this scam. He alleged that the government was trying to protect government and bureaucrats in this scam. Rather, he sought that the ongoing inquiry into this scam should bring to a “logical” end.

General (retd) VK Singh, a leading member of Team Anna, was here in connection with the proposed visit of social activist Anna Hazare.

Further, he opined that there was a need to bring transparency in the functioning of the Army, to check recurrence of such scams in the future.

He asserted that there was a need to give autonomy to CBI. He believed that this step would check recurrence of scams in purchase deals in the future.

About Jan Lok Pal Bill, he said this Bill should be brought in true spirit as had been assured to Anna Hazare by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

He revealed that Anna Hazare would conduct a weeklong tour of Punjab starting from March 31. He said Anna would first go to Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar to pay his homage to the martyrs following which he would visit several parts of Punjab for creating a mass movement against corruption.

Gen (retd) VK Singh also took a meeting of the newly constituted Jan-tantra Morcha at Desh Bhagat Yadgari Hall here. He asked the Morcha men about the arrangements being made for the tour of Anna Hazare and his team members.