The Hindu : National : Independent probe into Kargil war sought

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Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

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National

Independent probe into Kargil war sought

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 8. Brig. (retd.) Surinder Singh, who was dismissed from service after the Kargil war, today wrote to the President and the Prime Minister seeking an independent probe into the Kargil war alleging that the terms and references of the committee formulated for the purpose were only to ``bail out'' senior officials.

An independent probe by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court assisted by a retired senior Army officer should be ordered into the Kargil war, Brig. Singh wrote in his letter to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and others.

Releasing the copies of the letter to the media here, Brig. Singh accompanied by Maj. Manish Bhatnagar, also dismissed from service, told reporters ``Kargil crisis was due to political failure to comprehend the consequences of the nuclear test in Pokhran and its implications on Kashmir''.

Criticising the Kargil Review Committee, headed by K. Subrahmaninan, he alleged that it "suppressed" facts on the first intrusion by Pakistan.

He claimed the then Army Chief Gen. V.P. Malik, and then Director-General Military Operations N.C. Vij (present chief) were by him at the appropriate time. Mr. Singh alleged that the NDA Government was keen to make political capital out of the Kargil war.

PTI

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