(Reopens DEL15)

"Had I wanted to become a governor or an ambassador, I could have stayed silent on the Tatra truck scam. Rs 26 lakh worth trucks were being sold to the Army for Rs 1 crore. Most of the bureaucrats, approaching retirement, agree to whatever they are asked to. I am not that sort of man," Singh said. He also said that he belongs to those group of men who are ready to stand up and fight injustice. "There are two types of people -- one who sit on bended knees and takes alms, and the other who stand straight with head held high, ready to fight injustice. I belong to the other group," he said. Asked about the report of a coup he had allegedly planned against the government in January last year, Singh said, "Today I can reveal that some bureaucrats and some army officers had planted this baseless news. "These two units were part of routine mobilisation, and if you remember, there were some developments in Maldives six-seven days later. These units were meant to go there." The retired general also added that Indian Army, "will never carry out a coup, it will only defend the nation". In reply to a question over the controversial Technical Support Division (TSD) raised by the Army, he said it was set up in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack to keep watch on developments across the border. "Like RAW, which never does research, TSD is neither technical, nor does it provide support, nor does it have snooping equipment. It was set up on operational directives of the Raksha Mantri to enhance Army's capability. The process of setting up the TSD began before my tenure," Singh said. Asked whether the TSD was used for snooping on ministers and bureaucrats, he replied, "I don't need to snoop on ministers and bureaucrats. I don't give bribes, nor receive bribes." On the issue of an Army Major entering his residence, Singh said the officer came in his absence and entered his studies. (More)