Defence minister AK Antony in crosshairs for taking on arms lobby?

Allegations against Army chief Gen VK Singh, ranging from deployment of off-the-air interceptors to unauthorized troop movements to the capital, may have emanated from internal rivalries in the Army, but many now suspect these are now being used to make a case against Antony for his "inaction" and inability to handle the delicate equation between the political leadership and the Army.

The reasons for the suspicions are twofold. First, with the Army chief set to retire on May 31, the main worry of his rivals has ceased to exist. Second, Antony's anti-corruption stand has antagonized a whole range of interests: arms lobbies, middlemen, foreign governments and armament firms. '

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Defence-minister-AK-Antony-in-crosshairs-for-taking-on-arms-lobby/articleshow/12565240.cms

Chief out now Anthony will be the next target of Arms Lobby ??

Another brilliant piece of information by Josy Joseph.

" PIL alleges communal angle to Army chief General VK Singh's age row

The PIL, filed by retired Navy chief L Ramdas, former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami, three senior former Army officials and others, say that ex-Army chief JJ Singh, currently the governor of Arunchal Pradesh, masterminded " Operation Moses" to clear the way for Lt Gen Bikram Singh to succeed Gen VK Singh.

The PIL challenging Lt Gen Bikram Singh's appointment, which has been submitted to the SC registry, has said the Arunachal governor enjoyed blessings from the highest level, and that was why the conspiracy against Gen VK Singh succeeded even when he enjoyed the sympathies of defence minister AK Antony. ''

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PIL-alleges-communal-angle-to-Army-chief-General-VK-Singhs-age-row/articleshow/12575524.cms

Retired Lt Generals Lochab and Katoch ,Major General Verma and retired IAS Devashayam are also the co-signatories.

There is no doubt to the professional competancy and capability of General Bikram Singh .In fact he was himself injured in the anti Terror operation in Kashmir which is cited against him .

But the new angle of not granting extension to Chief is also worth investigating as the PIL has been filed by very Chief of Navy eminent Generals of highest integrity .

Now comes the Operation Moses .

 A lot of folks here (and even earlier, including me) have  been commenting on how various media editors/owners end up pushing the agenda of India's longest ruling party (aka Congress) and its ruling dynasty. There are a number of characters doing this , some do the work subtly and smartly (like Shekar Gupta) while some do it bluntly (like NDTV) and some do it with passion (HT's Vinod sharma) and some do it in a crude way and end up with egg on face (Vir). But one probable reason why media folks bend over the back to please the ruling party at delhi is the ever present attraction of becoming a nominated member of Upper House. The perks and privileges that carry with becoming one such member are just too much of a goody that all journalistic ethics are thrown in the wind while writing garbage.

Given all this, here is a suggestion - Let us amend the constitution of India to completely remove the concept of Nominated members in Rajya sabha. Rajya sabha itself is a necessary evil given our federal democratic setup but let us stick with having all of its members elected by assemblies of respective states. Let there be no concept of nominated members. The likes of Javed Akthar and Vinod Sharma are not of any use to Indian parliamentary system . Please get rid of these scumbags and make the upper house genuinely representative.

Ajit,

  With regard to Shekhar Gupta, it's been very clear that there is a visible trend to where his leanings are. First they trashed the Radia tapes, then the Anna movement, and now an attempt to derail the Army chief. I must say that I am somewhat in awe of this Chief who just takes it on the chin and goes on his business of doing what he thinks is right, and with a smile on his face. I wish our political class could borrow some of these qualities from the army that throws up individuals like Gen Singh. It's such a breath of fresh air in the cynical and manipulative times that we live in. Such a pleasant change from ramblings of Rahul baba and his merry men.

But Amit it is some of these journalists only who expose these scoundrels and have been doing it regularly, from 2G to CWG

Nagaraj Ji,

  Excellent take. This would, indeed, have been a wonderful April fool joke. I don't know why we are wasting so much airtime discussing the shenanigans of these sleazeballs. The choice is clear. Who should we believe: a general who has an impeccable reputation or a 3rd rate journalist in pay of the powers to be? It's a little hard to believe that the general has a completely different alignment of his moral compass in the past few months. On the other hand, we know the reputation of scoundrels who double up as jouralists. These slimy pigs who have skin thicker than the Berlin wall should be tried in the court of law and given exemplary punishment.

Rubbish! The general discredited himself by going public. Moreover he has not pointed his finger at anyone other than some retired army officer or officers.

See how the government lackey squirms when his paymasters are shown to be what they are - corrupt, communal and criminal. Finally, they have met their match in an honest and upright army chief. Only a matter of time before it emerges who the sutradhars are. PC and his son have already been named. Just a matter of time. PC is not working on his own, he has backing for which he brought in diversions even to terror cases. Wait till all the machinations unravel. It might make time, but eventually we will know who PC and son were sharing their loot with, or at whose behest and backing.

Shekar Gupta could have waited till 'First of April',then atleast he would have got the credit for one of the finest April Fool jokes from the Indian media.

Shekhar Gupta is a well known chamcha of the Indo Italian family/mafia.

Well the Army Chief had exactly perdicted as how the poltters will plan and will corner front Page News .

But it could be Shekhar Gupta and IE who will be hoodwinked by the Defence Armament people we never anticipated . Arms sellers' lobby along with greedy Babus and some serving and retired Officers have a reach to the ears of one one of top Editor in Chief is rather a far bigger News than the IE story itself.What a fall Shekhar Gupta ??? So sad !!! Unbelievable .

And who is the Amrish Puri like Minister who has been hinted by MJ AKBAR ??
Manmohan Singh better clean his Cabinet and get rid of him before some dark hints and finger pointing starts .This will be in the interest of the Nation as well as for  the Congress.

--

"Army Chief General V K Singh had warned of 'spook story' in March
 

New Delhi: That there was some talk about the mid-January movement of two elite Army units towards the capital which had exercised Army Chief Gen V K Singh's mind is evident in an interview he had given to an English magazine in middle of March.

"Even, let us say one of our forces or divisions or brigades does exercise, somebody will say, oh! they did exercise. It was not an exercise, they wanted to do something else.

"Now you will make a story out of it. There are lots of people who want to make stories these days for various nefarious aims, if I can put it like that," he had told 'The Week' magazine during the interview on March 13.

"So, you tell him (journalist) something juicy, it comes on front page and nobody even looks whether there is any truth in it. It is already done. So, you have already thrown muck on somebody. There are lots of people who are doing that and I don't know what their motives are," Gen Singh had said.'

ibnlive.in.com/news/army-march-may-be-misread-gen-singh-had-hinted/246099-3.html
 

 Look how many pillars of democracy  - the fourth estate  & the fifth colunmists  - are rushing , gushing out to protect the corrupt.  The silver lining is they do a pathetic inept job.

A thorough reading of Eric Ambler fictions - specially  'Night-Comers' - is recommended if these bunch of jokers must write a plausible political-military intrigue story.

I am really glad that Ramnath Goenka is dead. Had he been alive to see the current state of Indian Express, he would commit suicide.

Then, do you agree and accept that Journos are foolish and idiotic irresponsible fellows who do not know their rersponsibilities and limitations  in sensitive affairs concerning our security? Is Shekar Gupta an upstart?  Considering the inept governance by the UPA and mishandling of things in all possible ways, and, especially the way it got compromised on our security in Tatra scam and teased the whistleblowing  honest and patriotic General V K Singh. it is clear that the offenders in the UPA are trying to demoralise the Army further.  High time the PM takes immediate corrective steps and punish the enemies of our Nation within the UPA.  Will he act now atleast?

I tends to agree, Sekhar Gupta does a lot of bidding for govt. Unlike disgraced Vinod Sharmas or Kumar Ketkars; he is nuanced.

The goal seems to discredit gen V K Singh and divert the attention from the beating govt getting for its army mismanagement.

>>  discredit the anti-corruption General and ensure that the arms lobby can have its way unhindered.

Rubbish! The general discredited himself by going public. Moreover he has not pointed his finger at anyone other than some retired army officer or officers.

Shekhar Gupta is a known pimp of the congress. He hides it well, though.

As for the so-called "ongoing ill-advised public tensions between the general and the defence ministry", the Congress lackeys would be well advised to note that it was their arms lobbyists who seem to have ensured that there was not only public tension between the general and the defence ministry but also that the anti-corruption crusader was sought to be tarred and his reputation tarnished. This blog does well to note and remind us about how the same newspaper also carried on a similarly planted campaign against Team Anna. The idea is simple: discredit the anti-corruption General and ensure that the arms lobby can have its way unhindered.

I think the star of the show today was Vinod Mehta. He seems to be getting more and more emboldened ever since he stopped editing this magazine. Basically, he said on more than one TV channel that the Indian Express report was a plant. I caught bits of it on CNN-IBN but am told that he was far more vocal on Times Now. Shekhar Gupta had questioned Outlook story on Radia and now Mehta seems to be giving it right back to him. Well done old chap.

A storm in the teacup which became a hurricane because of the ongoing ill-advised public tensions  between the general and the defence  ministry.

I tends to agree, Sekhar Gupta does a lot of bidding for govt. Unlike disgraced Vinod Sharmas or Kumar Ketkars; he is nuanced.

The goal seems to discredit gen V K Singh and divert the attention from the beating govt getting for its army mismanagement.

Shekhar Gupta is a known pimp of the congress. He hides it well, though.

I am really glad that Ramnath Goenka is dead. Had he been alive to see the current state of Indian Express, he would commit suicide.

I think the star of the show today was Vinod Mehta. He seems to be getting more and more emboldened ever since he stopped editing this magazine. Basically, he said on more than one TV channel that the Indian Express report was a plant. I caught bits of it on CNN-IBN but am told that he was far more vocal on Times Now. Shekhar Gupta had questioned Outlook story on Radia and now Mehta seems to be giving it right back to him. Well done old chap.

 Look how many pillars of democracy  - the fourth estate  & the fifth colunmists  - are rushing , gushing out to protect the corrupt.  The silver lining is they do a pathetic inept job.

A thorough reading of Eric Ambler fictions - specially  'Night-Comers' - is recommended if these bunch of jokers must write a plausible political-military intrigue story.

Shekhar Gupta is a well known chamcha of the Indo Italian family/mafia.

As for the so-called "ongoing ill-advised public tensions between the general and the defence ministry", the Congress lackeys would be well advised to note that it was their arms lobbyists who seem to have ensured that there was not only public tension between the general and the defence ministry but also that the anti-corruption crusader was sought to be tarred and his reputation tarnished. This blog does well to note and remind us about how the same newspaper also carried on a similarly planted campaign against Team Anna. The idea is simple: discredit the anti-corruption General and ensure that the arms lobby can have its way unhindered.

Ajit,

  With regard to Shekhar Gupta, it's been very clear that there is a visible trend to where his leanings are. First they trashed the Radia tapes, then the Anna movement, and now an attempt to derail the Army chief. I must say that I am somewhat in awe of this Chief who just takes it on the chin and goes on his business of doing what he thinks is right, and with a smile on his face. I wish our political class could borrow some of these qualities from the army that throws up individuals like Gen Singh. It's such a breath of fresh air in the cynical and manipulative times that we live in. Such a pleasant change from ramblings of Rahul baba and his merry men.

Shekar Gupta could have waited till 'First of April',then atleast he would have got the credit for one of the finest April Fool jokes from the Indian media.

Well the Army Chief had exactly perdicted as how the poltters will plan and will corner front Page News .

But it could be Shekhar Gupta and IE who will be hoodwinked by the Defence Armament people we never anticipated . Arms sellers' lobby along with greedy Babus and some serving and retired Officers have a reach to the ears of one one of top Editor in Chief is rather a far bigger News than the IE story itself.What a fall Shekhar Gupta ??? So sad !!! Unbelievable .

And who is the Amrish Puri like Minister who has been hinted by MJ AKBAR ??
Manmohan Singh better clean his Cabinet and get rid of him before some dark hints and finger pointing starts .This will be in the interest of the Nation as well as for  the Congress.

--

"Army Chief General V K Singh had warned of 'spook story' in March
 

New Delhi: That there was some talk about the mid-January movement of two elite Army units towards the capital which had exercised Army Chief Gen V K Singh's mind is evident in an interview he had given to an English magazine in middle of March.

"Even, let us say one of our forces or divisions or brigades does exercise, somebody will say, oh! they did exercise. It was not an exercise, they wanted to do something else.

"Now you will make a story out of it. There are lots of people who want to make stories these days for various nefarious aims, if I can put it like that," he had told 'The Week' magazine during the interview on March 13.

"So, you tell him (journalist) something juicy, it comes on front page and nobody even looks whether there is any truth in it. It is already done. So, you have already thrown muck on somebody. There are lots of people who are doing that and I don't know what their motives are," Gen Singh had said.'

ibnlive.in.com/news/army-march-may-be-misread-gen-singh-had-hinted/246099-3.html
 

Then, do you agree and accept that Journos are foolish and idiotic irresponsible fellows who do not know their rersponsibilities and limitations  in sensitive affairs concerning our security? Is Shekar Gupta an upstart?  Considering the inept governance by the UPA and mishandling of things in all possible ways, and, especially the way it got compromised on our security in Tatra scam and teased the whistleblowing  honest and patriotic General V K Singh. it is clear that the offenders in the UPA are trying to demoralise the Army further.  High time the PM takes immediate corrective steps and punish the enemies of our Nation within the UPA.  Will he act now atleast?

 A lot of folks here (and even earlier, including me) have  been commenting on how various media editors/owners end up pushing the agenda of India's longest ruling party (aka Congress) and its ruling dynasty. There are a number of characters doing this , some do the work subtly and smartly (like Shekar Gupta) while some do it bluntly (like NDTV) and some do it with passion (HT's Vinod sharma) and some do it in a crude way and end up with egg on face (Vir). But one probable reason why media folks bend over the back to please the ruling party at delhi is the ever present attraction of becoming a nominated member of Upper House. The perks and privileges that carry with becoming one such member are just too much of a goody that all journalistic ethics are thrown in the wind while writing garbage.

Given all this, here is a suggestion - Let us amend the constitution of India to completely remove the concept of Nominated members in Rajya sabha. Rajya sabha itself is a necessary evil given our federal democratic setup but let us stick with having all of its members elected by assemblies of respective states. Let there be no concept of nominated members. The likes of Javed Akthar and Vinod Sharma are not of any use to Indian parliamentary system . Please get rid of these scumbags and make the upper house genuinely representative.

Rubbish! The general discredited himself by going public. Moreover he has not pointed his finger at anyone other than some retired army officer or officers.

See how the government lackey squirms when his paymasters are shown to be what they are - corrupt, communal and criminal. Finally, they have met their match in an honest and upright army chief. Only a matter of time before it emerges who the sutradhars are. PC and his son have already been named. Just a matter of time. PC is not working on his own, he has backing for which he brought in diversions even to terror cases. Wait till all the machinations unravel. It might make time, but eventually we will know who PC and son were sharing their loot with, or at whose behest and backing.

Nagaraj Ji,

  Excellent take. This would, indeed, have been a wonderful April fool joke. I don't know why we are wasting so much airtime discussing the shenanigans of these sleazeballs. The choice is clear. Who should we believe: a general who has an impeccable reputation or a 3rd rate journalist in pay of the powers to be? It's a little hard to believe that the general has a completely different alignment of his moral compass in the past few months. On the other hand, we know the reputation of scoundrels who double up as jouralists. These slimy pigs who have skin thicker than the Berlin wall should be tried in the court of law and given exemplary punishment.

A storm in the teacup which became a hurricane because of the ongoing ill-advised public tensions  between the general and the defence  ministry.

Defence minister AK Antony in crosshairs for taking on arms lobby?

Allegations against Army chief Gen VK Singh, ranging from deployment of off-the-air interceptors to unauthorized troop movements to the capital, may have emanated from internal rivalries in the Army, but many now suspect these are now being used to make a case against Antony for his "inaction" and inability to handle the delicate equation between the political leadership and the Army.

The reasons for the suspicions are twofold. First, with the Army chief set to retire on May 31, the main worry of his rivals has ceased to exist. Second, Antony's anti-corruption stand has antagonized a whole range of interests: arms lobbies, middlemen, foreign governments and armament firms. '

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Defence-minister-AK-Antony-in-crosshairs-for-taking-on-arms-lobby/articleshow/12565240.cms

Chief out now Anthony will be the next target of Arms Lobby ??

>>  discredit the anti-corruption General and ensure that the arms lobby can have its way unhindered.

Rubbish! The general discredited himself by going public. Moreover he has not pointed his finger at anyone other than some retired army officer or officers.

A storm in the teacup which became a hurricane because of the ongoing ill-advised public tensions  between the general and the defence  ministry.

I am really glad that Ramnath Goenka is dead. Had he been alive to see the current state of Indian Express, he would commit suicide.

I tends to agree, Sekhar Gupta does a lot of bidding for govt. Unlike disgraced Vinod Sharmas or Kumar Ketkars; he is nuanced.

The goal seems to discredit gen V K Singh and divert the attention from the beating govt getting for its army mismanagement.

Shekhar Gupta is a known pimp of the congress. He hides it well, though.