'Tarnished' reputation of V.K Singh brings 'sad day' for armed forces: General Hoon

Lt. General (Retired) P.N. Hoon on Thursday launched a frontal attack on former army chief General V.K. Singh, against whom an enquiry has been ordered for setting up a special unit in the army headquarters to allegedly topple the Jammu and Kashmir Government and said the incident was a sad day for the armed forces.

"I would like to stress and say that a person is known by the deeds that he has done and that is how a reputation is built up. Now, as far as General V.K. Singh is concerned, unfortunately, his reputation has been tarnished right from the time that he took up his case for the extension of his service by one year. ...It was a shameful thing that happened," Hoon said.

"If it has come out to be true, it is the most horrible thing a sad day for the armed forces," he added.

Hoon said the former chief V.K. Singh was known for his tarnished reputation for some time now.

"I would like to stress and say that a person is known by the deeds that he has done and that is how a reputation is built up. Now, as far as General V.K. Singh is concerned, unfortunately, his reputation has been tarnished right from the time that he took up his case for extension of his service by one year. ...It was a shameful thing that happened," Hoon said.

"This was in the last year of his service, which I think the country didn't take well and certainly the people also did not take that well; how can an army chief today go to a court of law? Where is the discipline? Where has it gone?" he added.

Earlier, former army chief General (Rtd.) V.K. Singh shared the stage at a rally in Rewari, Haryana, with Gujarat Chief Minister and NDA's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

According to media reports, the "top secret" report was submitted on March 11 this year and army chief General Bikram Singh met Defence Minister A.K. Antony to brief him on the implications of the report.

Media reports claimed that General V. K. Singh set up a special unit in the army headquarters which, among other covert activities, tried to topple the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

The report claims that a secret Board of Officers which conducted the inquiry has recommended that the CBI should look into the matter.

Media report also claims that the unit set up by General V K Singh called the Technical Services Division (TSD), a part of Military Intelligence Directorate, tried to block General Bikram Singh's promotion.

The reports said that the recommendation has been examined by the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Defence.

The report was prepared by Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia as part of a Board of Officers (BOO) formed by Gen. Bikram Singh to review the functioning of the top secret unit set up under his predecessor.