Former J-K governor rejects VK Singh's claims of Army funding ministers in Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha today dismissed Gen (retd.) V K Singh's charge that the army has funded political leaders in Kashmir and sought a credible, impartial inquiry into the claims made by him.

Gen Sinha, former vice-chief of army, accused Gen Singh of providing fodder to Pakistan which may have the issue on top on its agenda when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on September 29.

"There has never been any instance of the army funding of any NGO, funding any political leader. Army funds are used for entirely different purposes," he in an interview.

Gen Singh had earlier this week stated that army had funded certain leaders in J & K for "stability", drawing criticism from political leaders and others.

The former Jammu and Kashmir governor said the former army chief's remarks would do "tremendous harm" to the image of the army in Kashmir.

"It will have a disastrous effect not only in Kashmir but internationally and also on the image of the army," he said, adding it is the only apolitical army with a wonderful record which has never dabbled in politics.

On what likely impact Gen Singh's remarks would have on the politics of Kashmir, Gen Sinha said, "I think it will be disastrous. Already the leader of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said this shows how the people of Kashmir have been subjugated and held under occupation in the sham name of democracy."