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| Privilege Committee grants one more chance to Ex Army chief to present his view point | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Jan 9: Much on the expected lines, the former Army chief General VK Singh didn't appear before the Privilege Committee of Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Council for his controversial statement that ministers in the state were being paid money by army from its secret funds time to time since 1947. A formal summon would be issued against him to appear before the panel on January 22. In case he fails to turn up on the fresh date fixed by the panel, the House can issue non bailabale warrants against the former Army Chief.
The Privilege Committee comprising Jugal Kishore Sharma as Chairman and members Devender Singh Rana, Ghulam Nabi Monga and Ali Mohammad Dar, however, took a lenient view of the retired General's absence and granted one more opportunity to him to present his view point in defense.
The Committee has re-summoned the ex-Army chief to appear in person on January 22 at 2:30 pm. The fresh summons will be served through the Director General of Police (DGP) Haryana since General Singh resides in Gurgaon, Haryana who would be directed to secure his presence on the said date.
"General VK Singh did not appear before the Committee today…. The Committee, under the chairmanship of Jugal Kishore Sharma, has decided to issue fresh summons to Singh to appear before the Committee on 22nd of this month…. The summons will be served upon General Singh through DGP of Haryana, with copies to Speaker Haryana Assembly and other officers of the state," member of the Privilege Committee, Devender Singh Rana, told reporters after the meeting concluded.
"Should he (Gen Singh) fail to appear before the Committee on January 22 as per the summons issued today, the law is very clear…Necessary action under law which is available with us will be taken against him ," Rana added.
When asked that whether the former army chief has sent any response in his defense, Rana said, "The Committee has not received any reply from VK Singh till now."
Elaborating further on the future course of action in case Gen Singh fail to turn up again on January 22nd, the other member of the Committee Ghulam Nabi Monga while talking to Early Times said that we have two options in such a scenario.
"The Committee can either through non-bailable warrant ensure his (Gen Singh) appearance or we can proceed ex-party and submit the report to the Chairman of the Legislative Council, who will then put it before the House to initiate any action," Monga said.
Earlier, amid an air of uncertainty and confusion over Gen Singh's arrival, the Privileges Committee including its chairman and members reached the meeting hall of the Legislative Council complex well before the scheduled time of 11:30 am.
Just before the Committee started its proceedings, as a customary practice one of the Watch & Ward Staff member of J&K Legislative Council standing at the main entrance of the Legislative Council complex calling Gen Singh's name said, "Retired General VK Singh Haazir Ho."
Pertinent to mention here that in December 2012, the Privileges Committee of the Upper House of Jammu and Kashmir's Legislature had asked Singh to appear before it in the Legislative Council Complex in winter capital Jammu on January 9.
Gen Singh had stirred a hornet's nest in September 2012 when he told a news channel that ministers and legislators in Jammu and Kashmir had been beneficiaries of army's secret funds. During the previous session of Legislature two members in LC moved privilege notice against him following which the House set up Privileges panel under the chairmanship of Jugal Kishore Sharma. |
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