Retired general V.K. Singh had a reputation for being outspoken when he held the post of chief of the Indian Army from 2010 to 2012. V.K. Singh's reputation for making controversial statements continued after he joined the BJP in 2014 and later became a minister of state in the Narendra Modi government.
Singh, currently Union minister of state for transport and highways, caused more than a flutter when he spoke to the media in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday about the ongoing standoff with China.
V.K. Singh claimed transgressions were frequent across the Line of Actual Control as the border was not demarcated. Singh said China had transgressed many times with its perception of the Line of Actual Control. Singh was quoted by The Hindu as saying, "… none of you come to know how many times we have transgressed as per our perception. Chinese media does not cover it... Let me assure you, if China has transgressed 10 times, we must have done it at least 50 times."
V.K. Singh claimed in previous transgressions of the Line of Actual Control, Chinese troops would make camps on the Indian side and only go back partially after negotiations. "But, the present government has ensured that this does not happen," Singh was quoted as saying by The Hindu. Singh declared, "China is under pressure, since we are sitting at places (along the border), where it does not like... The Chinese do understand that if something goes wrong, India is in a position to hit back.”
Singh even claimed China's economy had been hit by India banning its apps and boycotting goods.
Not surprisingly, V.K. Singh's statements evoked adverse reactions. Former Indian Army officer and editor of Force magazine Pravin Sawhney tweeted Singh had "let down the Army" and "does not know warfare". Sawhney tweeted, "3 things on former COAS, Gen V.K. Singh: He is making case for Gov to accept 1,000 sq km occupation of our territory by PLA. He has let down the army he commanded. He does not know warfare - his move will strength China’s case for occupation war by 2024!"
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Saket Gokhale, a journalist-turned activist and Congress supporter, referred to V.K. Singh as a "stupid motormouth" and asked whether action would be taken against him. Gokhale tweeted, "This man has been a stupid motormouth while in the Army as well as after becoming a minister. Will @DrSJaishankar clarify whether this shocking statement of @Gen_VKSingh is true? Or will he be booked for making statements detrimental to India’s foreign relations?”
V.K. Singh's statements were also picked up by Chinese state media. Hu Xijin, editor in chief of China's Global Times, tweeted, "…V. K. Singh, an Indian Union Minister of State, also former Army General, accidentally told truth of China-India border situation. It’s India that breaks border status quo, China has to respond to it."
