V K Singh says BJP the only ‘nationalist’ party
New Delhi: Former Army Chief Gen V K Singh, who had a bitter legal battle with the UPA government over his age issue, on Saturday joined the BJP, saying it is the only “nationalist” party working in the nation’s interest and it should come to power.
“In today’s circumstances, I see only the BJP as a nationalist party that works in the interest of the nation. That is why I took this decision,” Gen Singh, who retired 10 months back, said on joining the party along with a number of other ex-servicemen in the presence of party President Rajnath Singh.
Gen Singh asked ex-servicemen to strengthen nationalist forces to help form a “stable, strong and nationalist” government.
Appealing to all ex-servicemen, he said, “We, who have served on the borders so that the entire country can sleep in peace, should work with nationalist forces if we want to do something for the nation.”
Singh said, “That is the reason why we people have moved in stride with BJP to help in nation building, national interest and in strengthening the nation and help bring such a government to power which is stable, strong and takes decisions in national interest. I am hopeful that with all your support we will be able to fulfil this dream.”
The function to mark the entry of the 63-year-old former Army Chief in BJP was attended by some retired generals, Air Commodores and former officers from the armed forces.
Welcoming him into the BJP fold, Rajnath Singh said if BJP comes to power, it will take care of the armed forces and ex- servicemen and promised to set up an Ex-Servicemen Welfare Commission.
Rajnath Singh used the occasion to attack the UPA government, saying it has not looked after the armed forces well and cited the recent mishaps involving the Navy. Attacking the government over ceasefire violations by Pakistan, including beheading of two Indian soldiers, and intrusions by China, the BJP Chief said the Indian security set up has been weakened under UPA.
“The Indian security system has not one but many holes. Is it not the government’s responsibility to tighten the Indian security system,” he said, adding that if BJP comes to power it will give the forces a free hand to strengthen India.
Gen Singh joined BJP months after he shared dais with its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at an ex-servicemen rally in Rewari in Haryana.
Asked if he has left Anna Hazare, whom he has also shared dais with on many occasions, he said, “No, I have not left anybody.” The former Army Chief said Hazare has not joined Trinamool Congress but is “only supporting those who have supported him”.
In an apparent attack on the Congress, he said, “This (BJP) is a party which is democratic and not owned by a family” and said it is a party which thinks of the nation much more than anyone else.
The BJP chief also questioned the government over the timing of the ‘one-rank, one-pension’ decision, saying it came too late clearly with an eye on the upcoming elections and claimed BJP has been in favour of the decision for long and has raised the issue in Parliament too. He said it will be the BJP which will finally implement the decision.
Rajnath Singh also said that the defence forced needed modernisation which was not being done.
Stressing the need for indigenous production of weapons, he wondered if India could send a spacecraft to Mars, why it could not produce defence equipment. He lamented that the country does not have a war memorial and promised that the BJP would build one if it came to power.
Gen Singh’s tenure as the Army Chief was mired in controversy over his age. He became the first serving chief to drag the government to the court over his age issue which was decided in favour of the government by the Supreme Court.
The dispute over his age arose because he had two sets of date of birth — May 10,1950 and May 10,1951 — in his official records.
Government had recognised 1950 as his official date while he was insisting that it should be 1951, which would give him 10 months more in service.
Soon after retirement, Gen Singh had adopted an anti- government stance and blamed the bureaucracy and the Prime Minister’s Office for creating troubles for him during his tenure. (PTI)