Caught in the middle of a raging row over attempt to bribe in a military deal, Antony sought to shift the blame on Army Chief Gen VK Singh for not taking any action.
Caught in the middle of a raging row over attempt to bribe in a military deal, Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday sought to shift the blame on Army Chief Gen VK Singh for not not taking any action but faced some close questioning in the Rajya Sabha over the issue.
A day after media reported the army chief's claim that a retired official offered him a bribe of Rs14 crore for swinging a deal for purchase of trucks, Antony took the floor to confirm that Gen Singh had told him about retired Lt Gen Tejender Singh's bribe offer.
"This happened moere than one year ago. That is my memory. Exact date they (army officials) know because no one can meet the army chief without any appointment," he said adding he was "shocked" and told Gen Singh to take action.
"But he told me I do not not want to pursue it. I don't know why he did not not want to pursue it at that time," he said.
Antony promised action against anybody, howsoever powerful he may be, who would be found found guilty.
However, the minister faced some tough questions from the BJP members including Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley and a CPI(M) member TK Rangarajan as to why he did not not follow it up with action.
The members said they did not not question Antony's integrity but wondered why neither Antony nor the army chief took any action on the development that took place more than a year ago.
"I acted on my judgement. If I am wrong, you may punish me. I think I have done my best," he said.
When asked about his inaction, Antony said it has been his policy to take action even on anonymous complaints but in this case there was nothing in writing.
He admitted he "could have acted" when Gen Singh told him about the bribe offer but added as a minister "I cannot act just on a complaint... I did not not get any written complaint."
Antony said when he read about the allegations in a newspaper yesterday, he immediately told the Defence Secretary to take action without waiting for any formal complaint.
Since then CBI inquiry has been ordered for a comprehensive probe. "CBI will inquire into everything," he said.
Taking the minister on his statement, Jaitley said there seemed to be lack of statecraft on the part of the government on many issues and this was one such.
"Is this an issue on which both of them should have put blinkers on their eyes and not not inquired into the matter at all," Jaitley said about the army chief orally bringing the issue to the notice of the defence minister.
He said the Opposition was with the minister if he wanted to "cleanse" the system but there should be a judicious balance with respect to procurements as the country "could not not be left unprepared".
As opposition members insisted that defence preparedness should not not suffer due to "over-obsession" with probity, Antony said it was a "serious challenge" to tighten the system as well as to ensure that procurement is not not affected.
The minister said he was discussing the matter including expediting procurement with chiefs of the defence services and officials of the ministry.
Noting that all major countries like US, Russia, Israel, UK, Germany, France and South Korea selling arms are eyeing the Indian market, the minister said a series of complaints are lodged by the ones which fail to bag the contracts.
"My problem is that I cannot ignore any complaint. That is why it delays procurement," he said but added "in spite of these, procurement is not bad. Last year it was 100 per cent."
BJP member SS Ahluwalia wanted know the terms of reference of the CBI inquiry the minister has ordered.
His party colleague Balbir Punj asked Antony why he did nothing after the army chief's complaint to him even when he claimed that he had taken action even on anonymous complaints.
Rangarajan asked the minister why he did not not pursue the matter himself after the army chief had brought the matter to his notice. "Why he (Antony) took the statement of the General so casually," he asked.
Antony, who at the outset said, "I will say truth, nothing but the truth" ended the impromptu debate saying, "I am telling you the truth that has happened."
Antony said he preferred .....(Ed here pick up the opening of fifth para of PAR 19 slugged "RS-Antony 3).
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