Zeenews Bureau
Vishakhapatnam: Terming a newspaper report suggesting that the government was kept in the dark about a troop build up near Delhi as “absolutely baseless”, Defence Minister AK Antony said on Wednesday that patriotism of the Indian armed forces can never be doubted.
Speaking to reporters after the induction of nuclear submarine into the Indian Navy, Antony said, “Absolutely baseless. Army has already explained this. It
is usual, natural activities. Nothing unusual. We are absolutely confident of the patriotism of the armed forces.”
Terming armed forces personnel as "true patriots", Antony said, “They will not do anything to undermine Indian democracy…don’t question the patriotism of soldiers who die on the borders of the country. I am proud of Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.”
Urging the media not to lower the dignity of the armed forces on issues of national security, Antony said, “On issues like this affecting national security, we cannot take luxurious controversies, please honour the dignity of the Indian armed forces.”
The Indian Express had claimed that central intelligence
agencies reported that on the night of January 16, an
unexpected - and non-notified - movement by a key military
unit from the mechanised infantry based in Hisar in the
direction of the capital.
Another unit - identified as a large element of the 50th
Para Brigade based at Agra - was also moving towards Delhi,
the report said.
According to the report, the Army had said that the
exercise was to check effectiveness in fog.
