Ex-chief admits army money paid to J-K ministers, but for social schemes

Former chief of army staff General V K Singh has admitted that money from a secret army fund was given to some ministers in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, but only for social schemes.

General Singh told television channels, including CNN-IBN and Times Now, that the money was given as part of Operation Sadbhavna schemes carried out by the army.

He said it was given to only to stabilise areas affected by terror, as well as the areas across the border.

General Singh said certain ministers in the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet were given these amounts from time to time, which prompted the state government and the Union Home Ministry to ask him on Tuesday to name the ministers who were paid the money.

Union cabinet Minister Farooq Abdullah described the statement made by General Singh as a "terrible and serious one" and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter immediately.

He said if this is true, then what business does the army have to use its funds for political purposes.

Meanwhile, General Singh has filed an RTI application seeking a copy of the Army probe report which reportedly questions the functioning of a unit set up by him for human intelligence gathering.