Former Army Chief General V K Singh, who had taken on the government over several issues during his tumultuous 26-month tenure, will not be part of a two-day meet of retired chiefs beginning here on Thursday.
The biannual meet, which will debate the security preparedness and ideas for betterment of the 11.3 lakh-strong force, is being hosted by present Army Chief General Bikram Singh with whom General V K Singh has had an uncomfortable relationship.
“General V K Singh has expressed regrets to the invite to attend the meet citing his other commitments,” a senior officer in the Army Headquarters said. “Seven former chiefs including Generals J J Singh, Deepak Kapoor, NC Vij, S Padmanabhan and V P Malik have agreed to be present. Two other former chiefs too will not be able to make it,” the officers said.
Since his retirement in May, V K Singh has been busy with agitations, siding with popular anti-graft movements.
The first former chiefs’ meet was hosted by N C Vij, who was the Army Chief from December 2002 to January 2005.