In an unusual departure from norm, National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh is openly lobbying for his candidate for the job of Army chief. His argument: The candidate is Sikh and ‘‘it is the first time in 50 years that a Sikh officer has a chance to be the Army Chief.’’ This officer is Lt Gen J J Singh, currently Army Commander of the Shimla-based Training Command. To clear the way for his appointment as Army chief, Tarlochan Singh has asked Defence Minister George Fernandes to defer the appointment of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff by at least one year. Tarlochan Singh has approached Fernandes amid speculation that Army Chief N C Vij will soon be appointed CDS—the three services have agreed, in principle, that the first CDS be from the Army. If this happens, the next in line to take over would be the seniormost Army commander, Lt Gen S S Mehta, GOC-in-C, Western Command. Mehta, who is scheduled to retire on January 31 next year, will then get a three-year term thereby effectively shutting J J Singh out. ‘‘That’s why we are opposing the appointment of the CDS. If it’s not deferred by a year, J J Singh’s chances will be harmed since he will retire as Commander.’’ When contacted, the Defence Ministry spokesman declined to comment. The Indian Express tried to contact J J Singh, who was in Delhi on Wednesday evening but his staff officer said: ‘‘Lt Gen Singh is in an important meeting and he cannot be disturbed.’’ On Thursday morning, his staff said Gen Singh had left for an ‘‘undisclosed destination.’’Incidentally, Fernandes, during the Combined Commanders Conference last month, is said to have assured the three services that the appointment of the CDS was his ‘‘personal responsibility’’ and that he would do ‘‘something about it’’ in the next three months.
