Gen VK Singh retreated from his hard positions saying there were rogue elements trying to project a schism between him and AK Antony.
In signs of truce, Army chief Gen VK Singh on Friday retreated from his hard positions saying there were "rogue elements" trying to project a "schism" between him and Defence Minister AK Antony and asserting that he was part of the government.
In de-escalation of tensions, Gen Singh issued a brief statement trying to clear the air saying that projection of schism between him and Antony was "untrue and needed to be guarded against".
The Army chief, who has been facing flak with some political leaders demanding his removal, said for the media to constantly project every issue as a battle between the government and the army chief is "misleading".
His attempt to further cool tempers apparently comes as a response to Antony expressing government's confidence in the service chiefs at a press conference on Thursday.
Antony and Gen Singh had yesterday condemned the leak of the leak of Army chief's letter to the Prime Minister as anti-national and high treason respectively. The Army Chief, who had lost his battle with the government over the age row, had recently raised the hackles of the government by giving an interview claiming he was offered Rs14 crores in bribes to swing a sub-standard deal.
The leak of the letter to the Prime Minister raised tensions between the two sides.
"For the media to constantly project every issue as a battle between the government and the Army is misleading. Army, by extension the COAS, are also a part of the government.
"There are rogue elements who are actively trying to project as schism between the defence minister and the COAS. This is untrue and needs to be guarded against," he said.
Reacting to Gen Singh's remarks rogue elements, retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh attacked him saying the Army chief was insinuating that he was "causing schism" between him and Antony.
He said Gen Singh was frustated because he did not get a 10-month extension in service and was targeting him.
"There have been a string of leaks culminating in the public airing of letter to honourable Prime Minister of India," Gen Singh said.
He said "we are duty bound to serve our country and to protect the institutional integrity of the army at all costs even if we sometimes have to look within."
Gen Singh said "we have to identify within the confines of the system and of the law and expose these (rogue) elements."
He said freedom of speech and individual opinions need to be respected but frivolous and uninformed comments on these issue only muddy the waters.
Referring to the recent controversy over his statement on bribe, he said the timing pertaining to the bribe issue has drawn considerable attention.
"It is pointed out that after the matter was brought to the honourable Raksha Mantri's notice, certain steps had been taken institutionally to keep a wary eye on the retired officer who had offered the bribe.
"18 months later, the person resurfaced in the beginning of March this year and launched a smear campaign under the veil of anonymity alleging that the army was snooping on the Defence Minister of India.
"Once, the concerned individual has been identified by the army headquarters, his identity and antecedents were made public," he said.
Earlier in the day, on a couple of occasions when journalists sought comments from Gen Singh, he parried questions saying he had made a statement yesterday and he had nothing much to add.
"I think you people speculate too much," he said.
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