Questioning the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the controversy surrounding Union Minister V K Singh, Congress today demanded quick action from the government on the issue and slammed the former General for his remarks against the Army chief-designate.
"The Prime Minister must interfere. We expected him to answer on it in Parliament. But the PM has chosen to say nothing on the subject. The Prime Minister has kept mum...What action will now be taken against the minister, who is questioning the correctness and authenticity of the affidavit filed by his own government?
"It is Constitutional, moral and legal responsibility of the PM to take action against the minister," party spokesperson Randip Surjewala told reporters at the AICC briefing.
Talking to reporters outside Parliament, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily said the remarks of Singh, against the Army chief-designate were unbecoming of a minister and a former General, and Prime Minister should "censure" him.
At the AICC briefing, Surjewala rued that Singh as the Army Chief was "engaged in controversies" in past now after becoming a minister he is raising doubts about his own government.
"Knowing that the statements of Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley are contradictory on an important and sensitive issue like Army, the Prime Minister of the country should proceed to clarify as also to initiate action.
"...If the Defence minister is wrong, action should be taken against him and if V K Singh is wrong then he should face it," the Congress spokesperson said posing over half a dozen questions to the government on the issue.
Alleging that BJP and its minister are resorting to politicising a great neutral and secular institution like Indian Army by making highly "contentious, irresponsible and contradictory" statements, Surjewala said Singh's way of questioning the position of the next Army Chief through tweets and remarks "reeks of personal vendetta".
