‘ Keep army out of politics’

Even though BJP lodged a strong protest with the Election Commission over UPA government’s decision to appoint Lt. Gen. Suhaag Singh as the next Army chief, government insiders say that it was a very well thought out move by none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Government observers claim that Dr Singh was very keen that Armed Forces be kept absolutely insulated from what is happening on the political front in the country. Known for his impeccable personal integrity, he wanted to send out a message before leaving office that his government did not drag the security forces into any kind of politics, and that continuity was maintained despite all odds. It seems Dr Singh has set a good precedent that Armed Forces should be used for guarding the nation than as means to score political points.