NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha ‘was rocked by a newspaper interview given by the Army Chief, Gen S.F-Rodrigues. Agitated ‘members of Parliament demanded the Army Chief’s dismissal on the ground that he had committed a serious impropriety by making objectionable remarks on internal security and the country’s neighbors ‘Angry opposition members said ‘an Army Chief had never over‘ stepped his brief in such a shocking manner. Some even said it was curious the genera had made these irresponsible statements only after his recent US visit. Following a persistent demand for an immediate government statement on the issue, the Union minister for external affairs, Madhavsinh Solanki, the senior ‘most Cabinet minister present in the House, said the defence minister would make a statement on Monday after ascertaining the authenticity of remarks attributed to the general.

The issue was raised during zero hour by the Janata Dal leader, George Fernandes, who said he was astonished the government had not yet issued any denial of the interview. “”What is this country coming to? A serving general ‘makes observations that can only annoy country’s friends. Earlier, we were fearing subversion of economic sovereignty. Now we have point Indo-US naval exercises in the Indian ocean,” Fernandes said.

The Janata Dal leader read out an extract from the interview which quoted Gen Rodrigues as saying “Good governance is our business as well China, Pakistan and Russia are bandicoots. Fernandes then urged the government to take prompt action against the general, and said the late Jawaharlal Nehru had dismissed Gen Thimayya for ‘a minor indiscretion. “What Gen Rodrigues had done was mountain, ‘compared with that,” he added.

‘The minister of state for defence, Krishna Kumar, intervened and said there was no technical objection or bar on the chief of Army staff from speaking to the Press. However, it was to be seen if what had been attributed to the general was actually stated by him. “If any response to the issue raised in the Houses called for, it will be done in due course by my senior at ‘appropriate time.”

Fernandes said his party colleagues wanted to raise the issue but since another installment of the interview was due they decided to wait obviously, the government had intervened to prevent the publication of the second installment, he Janata Dal leader alleged. But this was not enough because the general had gone on to say that Pakistan was a “minor” irritant.

Shahbuddin (JD) said judging from Gen Rodrigues remarks; he looked to be a psychiatric case. ‘The more puzzling aspect of the unfortunate episode was that the Army chief had made intemperate utterances after his visit to the: Pentagon, Shahbuddin added.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> March 27, 1992