Gen V K Singh clarifies stand on Twitter row

New Delhi: Amid controversies surrounding the MoS External Afffairs General V K Singh (Retired) for attending a reception at the Pakistan High Commission on his tweets with a series of hash tags #duty and #disgust on Tuesday evening clarified his position.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Singh said he was “fully committed” to the party and government, “especially my PM”.

Singh also denied reports that he had offered to quit following those tweets that were posted barely two hours after he attended the Pakistan National Day function and appeared to indicate his discomfort at having to represent the government at an event that was also attended by Hurriyat leaders.

Singh’s tweets on Monday brought the government and the party under attack from the Opposition led by the Congress, who sought his resignation over the issue.

On Tuesday evening, reading from a prepared statement, Singh said that he was “aware of the duties and responsibilities that came with the office”.

“I am also a soldier who has led the 13 lakh strong army of this country and by virtue of this I am privy to many things which others may not be. I am also a loyal member of the party and the present government and would not have joined otherwise. Therefore there should be no doubt how I stand on government policies,” he said.

Singh added that attending the Pakistan Day celebrations is “one such protocol” that every Minister of State of External Affairs “has followed in the past and will continue to do so in future”.

“There was nothing new in it, including attendance by separatists who have been there year after year,” he said, adding, “The only difference this time was of optics as a previous Chief of Army Staff was being seen there though people forgot he was MoS of present government.”

“After I came out, I saw the uncalled for media-lashing and questioning of my nationalistic credentials. Some even went as far as to claim that the attendance has lowered morale of the Army. As ex-COAS, I know my men better. Even though my party and government understand the issue, the media kept on hyperventilating,” he said, referring to TV channels that questioned his presence at the function.

On Monday, Singh had first posted these three tweets: “#DUTY A task or action that a person is bound to perform for moral or legal reasons, “#DUTY The force that binds one morally or legally to one’s obligations” and “#DUTY A job or service allocated.”

And then, there were two tweets tagged #DISGUST: “#DISGUST To sicken or fill with loathing” and “#DISGUST To offend the moral sense, principles, or taste of”.

On Tuesday, Singh said that he was left “perplexed and shocked” by the reaction to his tweets.

“Given that a controversy has erupted around this issue, I feel that it is important for me to clarify that my tweets were directed only towards those sections of the media that have questioned the intent of my government and also its stance on countering Pakistan-sponsored terror. I feel that it is also important for me to clarify that I am fully committed to my party and government, especially my PM,” he said.