New army chief to focus on ‘core values’ to battle graft (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - A day after taking charge of the Indian Army, General V.K. Singh Thursday said he will focus on promoting “core values” to curb corruption and improve the troops’ “internal health”.

“Till the time our internal health is not up to the mark, we won’t be able to take good care of external challenges,” Gen Singh told reporters here after inspecting a guard of honour on his first day in office.

“Internal health is very important. And for any organisation to do well, it must ensure that the internal health is good. That’s why our core values, our ethos and our traditions will receive due attention,” Singh said.

Gen Singh, 59, Wednesday became the 26th chief of the 1.13-million-strong Indian Army.

Asked about the threat perception from China, he said: “We are fully prepared (for any challenge). Preparedness is (an) ongoing process … We are making our training methodology more practical.”

The general spoke about “core values” in the army when he was asked about cases of corruption in the force.

It is our selflessness and professionalism I am looking at. These ensure that our character building becomes that much better. And I want to emphasize on these core values, he told Times Now television channel.

Tradition, our strong system that already exists … should be strengthened so that we don’t have things which affect the image of the army. I want to ensure the image of army gets priority.

Gen Singh had recommended, in his previous appointment as head of the Eastern Command, in what has come to be known as the Sukna land scam case.

He recommended that two lieutenant generals, Avdesh Prakash and P.K. Rath, be court martialled for their role in the illegal transfer of land at Sukna cantonment in West Bengal to a private developer.

Outgoing army chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, had agreed to punish Rath but reduced the quantum of punishment on Prakash. The decision was reversed after Defence Minister A.K. Antony apparently put his foot down.

A third generation army officer, Gen Singh will serve till he turns 62.

On the operational preparedness and challenges of the Indian army, Gen Singh said: There are plenty of them (challenges). Any army is continuously preparing to meet challenges. Not that we are not prepared today. But we can always become that much operationally better. And that is what we want to concentrate (on).

Equipment is one part, training is second part, working out on a transformation for next 20 years is another part. We are looking at all these things as part of a package.

“Something will start now, something will carry on probably for a longer period of time .

On the army’s immediate needs, he spoke about a shortage of artillery guns. “That affects us.”

He added: “In addition, there are other things in terms of surveillance, capability for betterment of our SATA (surveillance and target acquisition) resources…

“We want to ensure that (infantry) becomes better. It is better prepared, better equipped and functions in all kinds of environment.