Army Chief now says could have avoided age row

I think it was something that could have been avoided, Gen Singh said.

After a long battle going up to the Supreme Court,Army Chief V K Singh today said the controversy over his date of birth could have been avoided by everybody.

I think it was something that could have been avoided, Gen Singh,who is retiring this month end,told reporters here when asked how he looked back at his age controversy. Asked if he meant the controversy could have been avoided by him too,he clarified,by everybody.

While a controversy had also arisen over his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh highlighting shortcomings in defence preparedness,the Army Chief today said the force was operationally prepared to meet any contingency.

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On corruption in defence deals,Singh said it was important to ensure probity and transparency and that their focus was on cutting out the middlemen. The defence forces,he said,should not be saddled with sub-standard equipment.

This required wide-ranging changes in the entire system,of which the Army was only a minuscule part,he added.

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