I am a nationalist, haven't even thought of joining BJP: VK Singh

Former army chief General VK Singh on Saturday denied having any close links with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and said he is a nationalist whose main mission has been to awaken the people and create awareness to ensure that there is a corrupt-free system in the country.

“If being a nationalist, if thinking about the nation always portrays you as BJP, then I think people need to get their heads examined. I have got good relations with all parties. It’s not just BJP. I go anywhere with anybody whom I feel is going to do well for this country,” he told ANI in an exclusive interview.

“I haven’t even thought of joining the BJP, because, so far, my mission has been to awaken people, to create an awareness that we need to get good people into politics, we need to put out all the corrupt people and we need to change the system,” he added.

The BJP has alleged that V.K. Singh is being targeted as he shared the dais at a rally in Rewari with its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday said the Defence Ministry’s decision to order a probe against General V.K. Singh in connection with a media-based report that he had allegedly ordered a technical unit of the army to destabilize the Jammu and Kashmir Government when he was in office was completely unjustified.

“General V.K. Singh is being hounded because he was seen by the side of Narendra Modi. We caution the government to look into this, as this will result in a complete trust deficit in army and demoralize the army,” she said, while questioning the timing.

Media reports has claimed that General (Retd.) Singh set up a special unit in the army which tried to destabilize the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

The report claims that a secret Board of Officers inquiry has recommended that the CBI look into the matter.

Confirming the findings of an army inquiry panel into the dubious workings of a secret intelligence unit set up in 2010 by General (Retd.) Singh, the government on Friday said it had taken steps to prevent such ‘undesirable activities’, but was yet to decide about ordering a CBI inquiry.

Media report also claims that the unit set up by General (Retd.) Singh called the Technical Services Division (TSD), a part of Military Intelligence, tried to block General Bikram Singh’s promotion.

The reports said that the Board of Officers’ recommendation has been examined by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Defence.