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Money paid to J&K ministers by Army not bribe: VK Singh

Ex-Army chief General VK Singh on Tuesday clarified on his claim that "certain ministers" in Jammu and Kashmir are given money by the Army for "stability" and that this has been going on since Independence.

Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Under attack for claiming that "certain ministers" in Jammu and Kashmir are given money by the Army for "stability" and that this has been going on since Independence, ex-Army chief General VK Singh on Tuesday clarified that he never meant to say that the money was given as a bribe for personal expense. Addressing a press conference here, Gen Singh said that if someone thinks that he meant ministers have been bribed then it is wrong. Further making his stand clear on the issue, the ex-Army chief said that the funds paid to ministers were meant to save youths in the J&K from joining the separatist movement. “Money was never given for political purpose, it was for stability events organised by intelligence units,” Gen VK Singh said, adding, "Money was also meant for social schemes, infrastructure and all the amount was accounted for and monitored where it went." The ex-Army chief had earlier claimed that "certain ministers" in the state are given money by the army for "stability" and that this has been going on since Independence. Singh, who is in the eye of the storm over the charges, also told some TV channels that the accusations against him were false and motivated. Expressing disappointment with details of Technical Support Division (TSD) coming out, the ex-Army chief said that it is sad that the details of this unit have come into public domain. He also hit back at the selective leakage of the reports and demanded a thorough probe into the matter. Gen Singh warned that divulging details of Army`s secret operations in public would harm the country`s national security interest.