Gul Panag calls army chief ’spineless’ on Twitter

NEW DELHI - Bollywood actress Gul Panag tweeted against Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor calling him spineless and asked for a probe into why he recommended mild action against his top aide in a land scam in Sukhna cantonment in West Bengal.

It is a first. Ministry of Defence had to step in as COAS (chief of army staff) continued his stand of trying to protect the said generals. Now WHY was he protecting them?… I would protect someone if 1. I had something to fear from disclosure 2. I am an accomplice 3. I am spineless. COAS is sadly all three, Panag said in a series of postings on networking site Twitter Thursday.

Panag’s father Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag retired as a top army commander.

In a first of its kind instance, Defence Minister A.K. Antony has advised Kapoor to take disciplinary action against one of his top aides Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash which may even lead to the latter’s court martial.

Earlier, a court of inquiry had indicted Prakash and Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath in the land scam. While the army chief recommended court martial of Rath, he merely sought an explanation from Prakash.

COAS (Chief of Army Staff) saving his buddy’s neck as he is in all likelihood equally dirty, the actress said in her tweet.

I’d like to ask our government to enquire into 1. COAS ‘reasons’ for being ’soft’ on said generals 2. Look into COAS assets, she added Friday.

Panag is the daughter of Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag who retired as the chief of army’s Central Command.

The top army commander was removed as the chief of the Northern Army Command in 2008 as soon as he convened inquiry into the irregularities in the purchase of tents made under the tenure of Kapoor.

In reply to her father’s stand on the issue, she said: Why involve him? He is retired, What influence can he have? Internally all are aware but powerless to do anything.