BEML chief dismisses VK Singh's remarks on Tatra trucks

Dismissing Army Chief General VK Singh's comments on Tatra trucks as "not true", state-owned BEML today said that it had never received any single complaint from the force in its over two decades association.

At a press conference here, he said he had "great respect" for the army chief but did not not agree with his reported remarks that the Tatra trucks were "sub-standard".

Addressing a press conference here, BEML Chairman VRS Natarajan said that Gen Singh had praised the vehicles after he took over as the Army Chief and there is no issue with either serviceability or availability of spares of Tatra trucks.

"We have supplied 7,000 vehicles in the last 26 years. For last 10 years, I have been the chairman of the company, not a single complaint has come from the Army Headquarters or any of the directorates.

"We never got complaints about Tatra vehicles that shows these vehicles are performing excellently...No complaint of any nature has come to us so far either directly or indirectly on performance," he said.

Asked whether he ever personally interacted with Gen Singh on this issue, Natarajan said, "I have met the Chief only once after he took over. I interacted with him... Particularly, he was mentioning that Tatra vehicles are good and we support you."

To a query about the inquiry which has been ordered by the CBI against BEML in 2009, he said it has nothing to do with BEML or its performance or any wrong doing.