Modi makes ex-Army chief DoNER Minister
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 27 2014:
Former Chief of Indian Army General VK Singh, who was sworn-in as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in Modi's Government yesterday, has been entrusted with the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) leaving out the two Ministers from the Northeast, namely Sarbananda Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju.
Questions have been raised from several quarters as to why the Narendra Modi Government entrusts the 'controversial' former General of Indian Army with the responsibility of development of the Northeast, which is largely inflicted by insurgency.
V K Singh has somewhat of chequered past with one episode being a long unsuccessful battle with the UPA government over his age issue.
A newcomer to politics, Singh has been in the eye of the storm over one issue or the other in recent times.
Soon after he took over as the Army chief, he started an anti-corruption tirade in the Army which saw several Lt Gens including former Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash facing court martial for his role in the Sukna land scam.
The majority of his tenure as Army chief was overshadowed by his battle with the Government over his age issue as he claimed it to be May 10, 1951 whereas the Government said it was May 10, 1950 .
The issue saw Singh become the first service chief in the country to drag the Government to court and later, the Supreme Court decided in favour of the Government.