Union minister for External Affairs General (Retd) VK Singh stressed on Tuesday that the Indian Army is competent to deal with Pakistan and they would do whatever was required to give the hostile neighbour a befitting reply. The former General was in lucknow to attend functions of Maharana Pratap birth anniversary.
“The Defence ministry has given a free hand to our Army and they will do what is necessary. But the Army carried out action and do not propagate it. We should have faith in our Army and they will not let us down,” he said.
When pointed out that the BJP used to rake up the same issue and attacked the previous Congress government, the General said, “The situation at that time was different even though I was not in politics. During my two years of tenure as Chief of Staff of the Army, there was no such incident of terror attack on the force.”
later, the Union minister said that some more time should be given to the Yogi Adityanath government for improving law and order in Uttar Prdaesh.
“The BJP government inherited 15 yuears of anarchy and a rotten system. To improve the overall law and order situation in a big state like UP, the government needs time and no regime can give results in 45 days,‘’ said Singh.
The General said, ``The CM and his council of ministers were doing their best for whatever was required to improve the situation. But they need time for good results,”
Flanked by two UP ministers - Ashutosh Tandon and Swati Singh, General Singh said that the party got a landslide victory in Assembly poll and the government has to fulfil the aspirations of people.
On a poser about talks being underway with US over H1B Visa to Indians, the Union minister said, “We are trying to convince them that how Indians were working there and contributing to their economy. The Indian government was making all out effort so that Indians in US do not face problems.”
Refusing to comment on the pending lokpal Bill, Singh said that the process was on to find out a path for the Bills as there was issues like non-existence of a leader of Opposition in the lok Sabha.
“ The Modi government is serious on the matter and something would be done soon,” he said while reacting on Supreme Court’s directive that the Centre should appoint a lokpal soon.
General Singh also appreciated the working style of Central government and went to the extent of saying that the functioning in the BJP was similar to that of the Army.
“ I have spent over 40 years in the Army and joined the BJP in 2013, as it is a party which serves the people and the nation,” Singh said.