Manish Tewari, Congress leader and former Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting in the UPA Government, has landed in a controversy after he backed a four-year-old media report suggesting a coup attempt by former Army chief General VK Singh. Tewari said that the incident was “unfortunate but true”. His statement has provoked a strong rebuttal by the Congress, the BJP and Gen Singh.
However, the JD(U) has asked the Prime Minister to sack Gen Singh from his Cabinet while the left has demanded probe into the allegations.
Tewari’s controversial statement came during a book release function on Saturday when he was asked to comment on an Indian Express report of April 4, 2012, titled “The January night Raisina Hill was spooked: Two key Army units moved towards Delhi without notifying Govt.”
The report had alleged a non-notified and unexpected movement of a key military unit from the mechanised infantry unit in Hisar towards Delhi in the night of January 16-17, 2012.
“I am not getting into an argument. All I am saying is that to the best of my knowledge that story was correct. At that point of time I used to serve in the Standing Committee on Defence. And it’s unfortunate but the story was true,” Tewari responded.
Gen Singh, who is at present Minister of State for External Affairs, dismissed Tewari’s allegation.
“He has no work these days. He should be asked to read my book which reveals everything (on the issue),” he said.
Tewari’s statement was promptly dismissed by the Congress too. “I am again clarifying there is absolutely no truth in it (claims about troop movement in 2012). My colleague was neither a member of the Cabinet Committee on Security, nor any relevant decision making body,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, adding some troop movements are necessary, “inbuilt and inevitable part of the Defence mechanism”.
“It was inappropriate, unnecessary and completely wrong to suggest that there was any truth in those allegations when made,” he said. Singhvi also warned Tewari against commenting on things he is not authorised to speak about.
“We on behalf of the Congress very clearly and categorically want to deny this report,” another party spokesperson PC Chacko said.
The BJP demanded a statement from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ex-Defence Minister AK Antony on the issue. “Manish Tewari is raking up the issue wherein their own Government had denied that there was any coup movement. His now raising this issue throws up many questions which must be answered by the Congress. The timing is certainly politically suspect. We have seen in past that the Congress has tried to demoralise the armed forces by raising questions on national security,” BJP national general secretary Siddhartha Nath Singh said.
Shekhar Gupta, who was the Editor-in-Chief of Indian Express when the story was published, reacting to Tewari’s claim said though he would not comment on the war of words between political rivals. “I don’t believe that it (the news) needed further vindication, but yes anymore vindication is welcome. But more than vindication the debate is welcome because I think the system in India...The Government...Has been in denial over what had happened because it was a very unpleasant thing that happened,” he told a TV channel.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was part of the Defence Standing Committee then stated he “doesn’t remember” if the panel had discussed any such issue. Insisting discussion at the panel-level should not be brought in public domain, Naqvi said the Army has “already clarified” the matter and the same was over three years ago itself.
However, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat said the matter has to be looked into “if there is any truth in it.” She also questioned if there was any truth in the troop movement claim, why it was denied by the UPA Government thenIJ
JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take cognisance of the issue and demanded that Singh be sacked. “The issue (of troops’ movement) is detrimental for democracy. I will urge Prime Minister Modi to take cognisance of this report and remove Singh from the Cabinet. He should also set up a high powered committee to probe this issue,” Tyagi said.