The army lost a lot of its sheen and the environment became "vitiated" due to the "unsavory" age row episode involving former army chief General V K Singh, his predecessor General (retired) J J Singh has said. In his first comments on the controversy over General Singh's age issue, General J J Singh also rejected as "malicious and incorrect" comments made against him regarding an alleged "succession plan" in the army.
Gen Singh, who is right now the general officer commanding-in-chief, Western Command, will become the first Sikh officer to head the army.
Former Army chief General Joginder Jaswant Singh was on Thursday appointed the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. The appointment, made by President Pratibha Patil, will come into effect from the date Singh assumes charge of his office, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said. Singh retired as Army chief last year.
Singh, who also served as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, joined the SAD on Saturday evening in the presence of party president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
An Indian Air Force advanced landing ground at Vijaynagar, country's easternmost tip in Arunachal Pradesh, was re-opened on Friday by Governor General (Retd) J J Singh in presence of Air Marshal S Varthaman, air officer commanding-in-chief, eastern air command, Lieutenant General Rameshwar Roy, director general Assam Rifles, Air Vice Marshal KS Gill among other senior officials from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Rifles and the IAF.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who replaced Jarbom Gamlin on November 1, on Wednesday named his full team of eleven ministers by expanding his 15-day-old ministry.
Dissident leader Nabam Tuki was on Tuesday chosen as the new Congress Legislature Party leader in Arunachal Pradesh, signaling the end of the political drama that culminated in the resignation of Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin. The decision to choose Tuki was taken by the Congress high command. The swearing-in of Tuki, who led the revolt against Gamlin's leadership for his alleged 'authoritarian rule', as the new chief minister is likely to take place later in the day.
The high voter turnout of 81 percent in the just-concluded assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh has not only proved the people's "patriotic" spirit but also silenced all critics," Governor General (retired) J J Singh said on Sunday.
The issues, including training and regular exchange of personnel, were discussed during talks between visiting South African Army Chief Lieutenant General Solly Zacharia Shoke and his Indian counterpart General J J Singh.
New airbases, troops, infrastructure, development initiatives are all part of a longer strategy
Singh's visit was the first trip to Israel by an Indian Army chief since 1998, when Gen V P Malik had travelled to that country.
"These elements profess no ideology or respect for civil norms and no quarter should be shown to them as they represent the face of gun-and-violence culture," it says.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and state Finance Minister Kalikh Pul accompanied the prime minister in an army helicopter, which took off from the Rajbhawan helipad on Friday morning.
This, Singh said, would bring about the necessary integration of country's security and foreign policy for a complete synergy in future conflicts.
Army chief says more terrorists are surrendering of late
He will replace the present incumbent General Joginder Jaswant Singh, who retires on September 30.
"There is always some support available to militants to infiltrate across the border," Singh told reporters at a defence ministry function in Delhi.
According to defence ministry figures, infiltration attempts in Kashmir jumped to 83 during April, marking a four-fold increase.
Singh was warmly welcomed by his Chinese counterpart General Liang Guanglie at the headquarters of the Central Military Commission, the top military organ of China.
The army is fully prepared to defend its borders along China and would ensure that a situation like that of 1962 is not repeated in the event of any military engagement with that country, Chief of Army Staff Gen J J Singh said on Friday.
the fighting spirit of Maratha warrior King Shivaji has always been a source of inspiration for armymen, says the Army chief
"The minister has taken a serious view of such reports and wants Army Headquarters to probe these charges in depth," defence ministry officials said.
"It traces out the causes, which lead to insurgencies and concepts of how to tackle them," he said, adding that the doctrine was unclassified and would be put soon on army website.
As Antony talked to army officers and journalists accompanying him, several camera flashes went off on the Pakistani side.
"I am going to propose the holding of such manoeuvres," Singh, also chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces, said on the eve of his departure for Beijing on a week-long visit as the head of a tri-service delegation.
Defence Minister A K Anthony and Chief of the Army Staff General J J Singh along with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan were present at the meeting.
Besides Dr Singh, the meeting was attended by Defence Minister A K Antony, Army Chief J J Singh, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and others.
The order will be supplied over a two-year period and SDS is currently negotiating with Indian authorities on a date for the start of delivery.
Though the official war history of 1962 as well as 1965 and 1971 wars is ready, the defence ministry as well as the government are yet to declassify the records.
Giving his assessment of the situation in Kashmir, General Singh complimented the army for bringing down the level of violence in the state.
General Singh said the army was ready for any exigency anywhere in the country.
They continue to wait for new homes that are yet to be readied by the authorities.
"Army has submitted its views to the government on the issue. I am sure the government will keep them in mind," Army Chief General J J Singh told reporters in New Delhi when asked whether it was ready for demilitarisation of the glacier.
Such a system would transform the army into a Network Centric force.\n\n
The government is doing it in a fair and transparent manner, he said.
Antony has asked Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt to furnish the report by Friday.
Antony, speaking on the sidelines of a defence ministry function in New Delhi on Wednesday, said complete peace and tranquility prevailed on the Himalayan borders.
Gen Singh said, "In this new threat paradigm, the Army will increasingly need to focus on deterring or preventing, preparing for and mitigating the consequences of threats to the nation."
Elaborating on the 'Iron Fist in Velvet Glove' policy adopted by the army in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it had led the security forces to reap rich dividends.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances