Army chief speaks out on Anna agitation: Nation in a ‘morass’

Stating that the nation was in a ‘morass’, Army Chief General VK Singh has said the support that the anti-corruption movement was getting was an indication of "power of democracy, power of people."

The country, he said, was passing through "an interesting and turbulent period."

"Interesting in terms of how we are witnessing the power of democracy, the power of the people.  Interesting in terms of how we are seeing our leadership cope with these things," Gen Singh said.

"A lot of things are happening, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to the most north-eastern part. There is a certain amount of unrest in the country, for various reasons -- some sponsored, some genuine (and) some that started as genuine and then turned into something else.

"The theme is only one -- how do we take the nation forward from the morass that we are in... It is not who is leading the movement but it is why it has come to this stage," he said.

The Army chief was speaking at an interaction with members of the entertainment industry organised by former MP Santosh Bhartiya in suburban Juhu on Thursday night.

Gen Singh further said, "If the youth are channelised, if they are given the type of value system, I think we can get out of this great daldal (morass) that we are in."

The situation that exists today seems disappointing making us wonder where we have come, he added.

The Army chief also equated corruption to a hydra-headed monster.

"Because we all are involved in its thriving. If we introspect, we will see that at one point or another, we are all involved in it," he said.