Fresh row over 2012 troops movement near Delhi; NSA says 'no distrust'

A fresh controversy has erupted over the movement of two Army units near Delhi in 2012 with the then DGMO Lt Gen A K Choudhary stating today that there may have been "distrust" between the Army and government on the issue then but rubbished talk of a coup threat.
"The possibility of a coup was unimaginable," he told reporters in Patna.
"There was misconception or there was perceptional difference or there may be distrust," Choudhary said, adding that the then Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma had asked him to send the troops back as the government at the highest level was "worried" over its movement.

When asked about this, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said there was no distrust between the Army and government.
"I don't see there is distrust. How can I comment on something that I don't see. Because I am a civilian, I work very closely with the Army everyday. I don't see that," he said in Delhi.
BJP voiced serious concern over Choudhary's remarks. Senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said though the government lacks trust deficit in all sectors, the distrust with the army was never comprehended.

"The distrust between the government and the army is a matter of serious concern. Army protects the nation and assures to protects its citizens. If this type of reports come, it is a matter of serious concern," he told reporters outside Parliament.

Choudhary said the movement of the troops was a "normal" exercise and the government immediately "understood" after he explained the matter to them. "But before that either there was misconception... Or may be distrust."
Asked by reporters whether there was any confusion in the government then over the troop movement, he shot back, "You ask them (Government)".
Pressed further whether alarm bells had rung in the government over the issue, he said, "I won't say they were alarmed or not alarmed".
He said there was daily interaction between the Government and the Army Headquarters and if at all there was any confusion then, they could have sought clarification in such meetings.