New Delhi: Union Minister and former Army chief General VK Singh on Sunday lashed out at senior Congress leader Manish Tewari for his claims on troop movement report that appeared over three years ago.
Slamming Tewari, Singh said, "Manish Tewari doesn't have any work. I have written a book and would ask him to read it. Everything would be clarified then."
The remarks came after Tewari claimed the controversial report in The Indian Express that two key Army units had moved towards Delhi without notifying the government was true.
Tewari, who was a member of the Standing Committee on Defence under UPA II, said that after the report surfaced a Defence ministry briefing was held asking officials to maintain the government's stand.
"In so far that particular story you are referring to, that time I used to serve in the Standing Committee on Defence and it is unfortunate but the story was true. To the best of my knowledge, the story was correct," said Tewari.
The Congress is reportedly upset with Tewari's admission.
On April 4, 2012 The Indian Express had reported that on January 16, 2012, central intelligence agencies reported an unexpected (and non-notified) movement by a key military unit, from the mechanised infantry based in Hisar (Haryana) as a part of the 33rd Armoured Division in the direction of Delhi. A large element of the airborne 50 Para Brigade based at Agra was also observed moving towards Delhi around that time.
The movement of the troops was reported on the day former Army Chief and General VK Singh had approached the Supreme Court over the retirement age row.
Following the admission, former editor-in-chief of The Indian Express Shekhar Gupta said their stand remains vindicated. "The story was confirmed by then DGMO. Former UPA ministers including Manmohan Singh should speak on this issue. There should be a robust debate on this topic."
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