V K Singh's remark on money for J-K ministers sets off political storm

Former Army Chief V K Singh's claim that money was paid to ministers in Jammu and Kashmir from secret funds set off a political storm today with ruling National Conference(NC) and ally Congress daring him to name the beneficiaries amid a demand for a CBI probe.
As the NC threatened legal action against Gen(retd) Singh if he failed to name the ministers, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said government was ready to probe if the beneficiaries were identified.
The Congress dubbed Singh's remark as irresponsible and not in national interest while the NC said he has done something "extremely wrong" on the issue of funding of political parties.

"V K Singh should name politicians. He should reveal the names (of those to whom money was allegedly paid). If details are given, we can investigate," Shinde said.
In a statement bearing signatures of all the present and former NC Ministers, the ruling party said it will be forced to take legal recourse if he failed to name the ministers.
It also said that the ministers concerned in the Omar Abdullah cabinet will quit if they are named by Singh, calling his allegations "absurd and far from truth".

Singh yesterday claimed that "certain ministers" in J and K are given money by the Army for "stability" and that this has been going on since Independence.

Farooq Abdullah, President of J and K's ruling NC, demanded a CBI probe into the allegations made by Singh.
Singh's remark drew a sharp reaction from the Congress with former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressing shock and a party spokesman slamming him for his "irresponsible" statement.
"I have no knowledge about this and I am as curious as you are to know about the names of the persons who were being paid and who are being paid," he added.
Congress spokesperson P C Chacko said "irresponsible" statements from Singh brought "disgrace" to the Army.
J and K Sports minister and state Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin dared the former Army chief to name the ministers who were given funds.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the issue is not about an individual but about the weakening of an institution. "That the government is doing all this (targeting Singh) is wrong as these are matters or national security," she said.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also waded into the row over Singh's remark, saying if he discloses Singh's advice to him years ago on counter-insurgency operations as the then chief of Eastern Army Command it would be a "big embarrassment" to everyone.