V.K Singh calls Army units movement story 'absolutely stupid'

Kathmandu, Apr 5 (ANI): Army Chief General V.K. Singh on Thursday rubbished The Indian Express report concerning the movement of two key Army units towards the national capital New Delhi without notifying the government, saying it as "absolutely stupid".

"This is absolutely stupid," General Singh told the media.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Defence Minister A.K. Antony had earlier rubbished the report published by Indian Express.

Dr. Singh termed the report to be 'alarmist' and said such reports 'should not be taken at face value'.

Antony on his part termed the report to be "absolutely baseless".

"Absolutely baseless. Army has already explained this. It is usual, natural activities. Nothing unusual. We are absolutely confident of the patriotism of the armed forces. Don't question their patriotism. They will not do anything to undermine Indian democracy," he told the media in Visakhapatnam.

According to the Indian Express report, two army units moved towards New Delhi without notifying the government on January 16.

While the army described it as a routine fog-time exercise, the newspaper reported that the incident took place hours after Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh had moved the Supreme Court on his age controversy.

In the report, the Indian Express mentioned that central intelligence agencies reported an unexpected movement by a key military unit from the mechanised infantry based in Hisar, Haryana, on January 16.

Routine lookouts confirmed the movement of an entire unit of the Mechanised Infantry with Russian-made Armoured Fighting Vehicles carried on 48 tank transporters.

The report also said that a unit of the Agra-based 50 Para Brigade was also moved.

The Indian Express report stated that Defence Minister A.K. Antony was informed of the movement. An old contingency plan was put in motion-by issuing a terror alert that entailed police checking of vehicles and a slowing down of traffic. (ANI)