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India Relods, Aims to Figure on Military Map

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Pradip R Sagar – The Sunday Standard 25 September 2016

NEW DELHI: At a time when Pakistan is engaging in war games with Russia for the first time, New Delhi has stepped up its military engagement with major military powers of the world. After joining hands to procure Rafale fighter jets from France, the Indian Army is carrying out drills with the US and Russian militaries simultaneously.

The US military contingent represented by a Company of 5th Infantry Battalion, 20 Infantry Regiment, two Stryker Brigade Combat Team, seven Infantry Division, is already carrying out a military exercise titled “Yudh Abhyas” on the hills of Uttarakhand. The two-week long joint drill to hone tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism in a UN peacekeeping scenario involving combined deployment at the brigade level, according to Indian army.

State-of-the-art equipment for surveillance and tracking, specialist weapons for close quarter battle with terrorists, explosive and IED detectors, as well as the latest communication equipment is being fielded by both sides.

As the Indo-US military exercise is yet to be finished, an Indian army delegation has landed in Vladivostok in Russia to participate in joint military war games. Over 250 soldiers from Kumaon regiments are being trained in Russia in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain military operations in the eight edition of India-Russia Join military exercise ‘Indra-2016’.

Engaging with the two world powers coincided with the Indian Air Force inking deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, to give much needed superiority air power over Pakistan.

“Engaging with three world powers simultaneously shows New Delhi’s influence in the world map. World’s top militaries wanted to join hand with India, as it is a growing super-power in contingent,” said a military official.the-sunday-standard-25-sept-16

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Modi government plans to launch team to probe defence scams

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By Pradip R Sagar Published: 18th September 2016 – The New Indian Express

CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha
CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha

NEW DELHI: With an extremely poor track record of probing defence bribery scandals, the country may have a special team to investigate such cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is contemplating a proposal to constitute the team.

The proposal came up for discussion at a meeting in the Cabinet Secretariat recently where key officials suggested an independent team, which can be tasked to investigate only the high-profile scams that have hit the corridors of the defence ministry. Investigators can be drawn from the CBI to coordinate with the ED, to follow the money trail involved.

The government is planning to launch a special team only to investigate defence scandals. This comes in the backdrop of allegations of Brazilian aviation major Embraer hiring a UK-based agent and paying commissions to swing the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircraft inked with India during the UPA rule in 2008. The Defence Ministry has forwarded the matter to the CBI, which has filed a preliminary inquiry and initiated a probe.
From 1986 Bofors, HDW submarine, Tatra to AgustaWestland, Indian investigators have miserably failed on prosecution as majority of the scams hit dead-end and closure was filed by investigating agencies. Government believes that such scams not only bring bad image to the country, but also causes embarrassment globally. The only roadblock, however, will be sparing officials from the CBI, the federal agency which is already short-staffed. In a recent affidavit in the SC, the CBI informed that it has 50 per cent of its staff on deputation and has a vacancy of 754, against its sanctioned strength of 4,544. Of these, 283 vacancies are at the levels of inspector, 195 of constable and head constable, 65 at deputy and additional superintendent of police, 41 at SP and senior SP level and 12 are of Deputy Inspector General.

“Repeated failure of investigating agencies especially in probing defence scams is surely a cause of worry for the government, as it creates a lot of hype. Forming an independent team of selective officials to handle bribery allegations in defence deals will be an option, as most of these probes require overseas intervention,” said a high-ranked official. It ultimately turns out to be diplomatic loss of face for the government after naming foreign companies and middlemen during the course of investigation.

Like in the recent case of AgustaWestland choppers, despite so much of noise in Parliament, CBI has failed to arrest anyone.the-sunday-standard-18-september-16

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सेना ने पीएम को कहां से दिए 100 करोड़

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आरटीआई से भी नहीं मिला जवाब, सैन्य कर्मियों के वेतन में नहीं हुई कटौती

अरुणेश पठानिया – Amar Ujala

देहरादून। सेना दिवस पर प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष के लिए सेना ने 100 करोड़ रुपये का चैक दिया। लेकिन ये पैसे कहां से आए यह करीब दो माह बाद भी स्पष्ट नहीं हुआ। बताया गया था कि राहत कोष में जवानों और अधिकारियों के वेतन से पैसे दिए गए हैं। जबकि आरटीआई में खुलासा हुआ कि वेतन में कटौती ही नहीं हुई है। ऐसे में जब वेतन से कटौती ही नहीं हुई तो 100 करोड़ रुपये प्रधानमंत्री को कहां से सौंपे गए।

प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष में थलसेना अध्यक्ष जनरल दलबीर सिंह सुहाग ने 15 जनवरी (सेना दिवस) 2015 पर 100 करोड़ का चैक दिया था। राहत राशि सेना के जवानों और अधिकारियों के एक दिन के वेतन से एकत्रित कर जमा करवाई है। प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी को सौंपे चैक के लिए सैन्य कर्मियों के वेतन से हुई कटौती को लेकर सूचना के अधिकार में मांगी जानकारी पर सेना का जवाब मामले को उलझा रहा है। आरटीआई में सेना ने जवाब दिया है कि राहत कोष के लिए कोई धनराशि सैन्य कर्मियों के वेतन से नहीं काटी गई है। साथ ही जवाब में यह स्पष्ट किया गया है कि यह मामलाविचाराधीन है। विशेष बात यह है कि आरटीआई का आवेदन प्रधानमंत्री को चैक सौंपने के 9 दिन बाद सेना मुख्यालय को 24 जनवरी को भेजा गया। आरटीआई में जानकारी मांगी गई थी कि वेतन कटौती केलिए सैन्य कर्मियों की सहमति ली गई। अगर ली गई तो सभी ने रजामंदी दी है। यह भी पूछा गया कि कितने सैन्य कर्मियों ने रजामंदी नहीं दी। सीडीए को वेतन कटौती के लिए भेजी आफिस आर्डर की कापी भी आवेदक ने मांगी। सेना से आरटीआई में जो जवाब भेजा है उसपर तिथि 20 मार्च की अंकित है। आरटीआई में सेना की और से मिली जानकारी से स्पष्ट हो रहा है कि मार्च माह तक किसी सैन्य कर्मी के वेतन से कटौती नहीं हुई। जब वेतन काटने का मामला मार्च में भी विचाराधीन रहा तो सेना ने किस मद से प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष में 100 करोड़ रुपये दिए।

अब प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय को भेजी आरटीआईः सेना के आरटीआई जवाब को आवेदक प्रभु डंडरियाल ने अपनी वेबसाइट पर अपलोड कर दिया है। उन्होंने अब प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय को आरटीआई भेजी है जिसमें 15 जनवरी को आर्मी चीफ के प्रधानमंत्री को सौंपे 100 करोड़ के चैक का हवाला देकर चार बिंदुओ पर जानकार मांगी है।

-आर्मी चीफ के सौंपे चैक को प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष खाते में डाला गया। किस बैंक में किस तिथि को यह चैक जमा करवाया गया। अगर चैक से राशि निकली तो सेना के किस अकाउंट हेड से डली अगर चैक वापस सेना को लौटाया तो लौटाने के कवरिंग लैटर की कापी

पीआईबी ने जारी की थी खबर

15 जनवरी को सेना दिवस पर थल सेना अध्यक्ष के प्रधानमंत्री को चैक सौंपने के समारोह की प्रेस विज्ञप्ति फोटो पीआईबी से जारी किया गया था। इस समारोह में रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर परिकर भी मौजूद थे। प्रेस विज्ञप्ति में लिखा था कि सैन्य कर्मियों का एक दिन का वेतन काटकर सेना ने प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष के लिए 100 करोड़ जुटाए हैं।

सैन्य कर्मियों के एक दिन के वेतन में कटौती कर राशि एकत्रित करने की बात आई थी सामनेamar ujala 16 may 2015

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किसी जवान ने नहीं दिए पैसे तो पीएम राहत कोष में 100 करोड़ का चेक कहां से

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Published: Thu, 14 May 2015 06:39 PM (IST) | Updated: Thu, 14 May 2015 06:40 PM (IST) http://naidunia.jagran.com/
नई दिल्ली। प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष में सेना के दान का एक विचित्र मामला सामने आया है। सेना ने कहा है कि उसके किसी भी जवान के वेतन से प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष में कोई चंदा नहीं दिया गया है। सेना का यह बयान ऐसे समय आया है जब सेना प्रमुख दलबीर सिंह सुहाग ने करीब चाह माह पहले प्रधानमंत्री को राहत कोष के लिए सैनिकों की ओर से 100 करोड़ रुपये का चेक सौंपा था।

देहरादून निवासी प्रभु डांड्रियाल ने इसके बारे में सूचना के अधिकार (आरटीआई) कानून के तहत याचिका दायर की थी। इसके जवाब में सेना के मुख्य जन सूचना अधिकारी (सीपीआईओ) लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल राजीव गुलेरिया के जवाब से यह वास्तविकता सामने आई है। गुलेरिया के अनुसार, “संबंधित शाखा ने सूचित किया है कि किसी भी सैन्यकर्मी के वेतन से अब तक कोई राशि प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष में नहीं दी गई है। इस मुद्दे पर अभी विचार किया जा रहा है।”

प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय की वेबसाइट पर 67 वें सेना दिवस के कार्यक्रम की तस्वीर है। इसमें सेना प्रमुख सुहाग प्रधानमंत्री को एक चेक सौंपते नजर आते हैं। इसके साथ लिखा है, भारतीय सेना के सभी स्तर के कर्मियों का एक दिन का वेतन रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर पर्रिकर की उपस्थिति में प्रधानमंत्री को सौंपते सुहाग। डांड्रियाल ने अब प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय को आरटीआई याचिका देकर कर यह जानना चाहा है कि उस 100 करोड़ रुपये के चेक का क्या हुआ, जिसके बारे में कहा जा रहा है कि सेना प्रमुख ने प्रधानमंत्री को दिया है।

डांड्रियाल का कहना है कि जब 20 मार्च तक वेतन से कोई राशि नहीं ली गई तो सेना प्रमुख ने किस तरह 100 करोड़ रुपये प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष में जमा किए? यही कारण है कि मैंने एक अन्य आरटीआई याचिका के जरिये प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय से स्पष्टीकरण की मांग की है।

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Donation Without Consent Leaves Army Offices Fuming Against Chief

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015 – Ex-serviceman welfare – Blog                                   Chiefhttp://ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.in/2015/01/donation-without-consent-leaves-army.html

NEW DELHI: Forced charity can pinch. Indian army, the world’s second largest, experienced this pinch when they recently came to know of the cutting of a day’s salary. They later found that Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag didn’t consider it necessary to issue a note informing army’s officials before deducting their salaries and presenting the collected amount of `100 Crore for the Prime Minister’s relief fund.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on behalf of  the 1.3 million strong Indian Army on Thursday donated a cheque of over `100 crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund after forgoing their one-day salary at the traditional ‘At Home’ at the Army House on the occasion of 76th Army Day. However, the prime minister was not even aware of it.

The Indian army played a major role in the relief and rescue operation in last year’s flood in Jammu and Kashmir by rescuing over 2 lakh stranded people in an operation which lasted for two weeks. The issue has now raised a controversy on the social media, as army officials are claiming that they were not informed about their salary cut and it was not made ‘voluntary’. Caught unaware of the chief’s arbitrary decision, some of the top army officials are even planning to file RTIs to the army headquarters to find out under whose orders the salary cut is being done.

Sources told the Sunday Standard that instructions were issued from the office of the Adjutant General who handles service matter of army, to the Controller of Defiance Account to do the salary cut of one day of every army personnel.  With this order, one day salary of the month January will be deducted to the relief fund.  When contacted for the Army’s version, sources said that army regularly contributes for natural calamity and will continue to do so. “Army followed procedures and rules and this is not the first time, we are doing it,” army sources said. This time, donation was for the Jammu and Kashmir flood relief fund. But, the army officials were surprised with the timing of the donation. It was after six months of the disaster.

“It Can Happen Only In India….!!!! On the occasion of Army Day our Chief Of Army Staff presents a Cheque worth ` 100 Crores to the Prime Minister as PM Releif Fund. The money has been generated by cutting One Day Salary of everybody working in the Indian Army. What an Irony .… Our war widows struggle for their day to day living… Our jawans are not able to afford good education for their Children… and here we become so large hearted to donate money to the politicians… Did the COAS take our permission before doing this…??? When did he start having rights on our hard earned Money…??? Has any Civilian / Politician ever donated his salary for us..? It is time we raise our voice and stop this nonsense before it becomes precedence. Why should we pay for their future Goals,” an official said on WhatsApp.

And he is not the only one, annoyed with it. “Our jawans, who battle under hostile weather conditions with poorly equipped weapons and armory, and his family, survives on the salary. If you are deducting his salary, it has to be voluntary. One cannot do it arbitrarily,” another official said. Even three months back, the Indian air force had also made donation of ` 8.43 crore to the PM Relief fund through donation of a day’s salary of its over 1.7 lakh officers and med deployed across the country. The IAF headquarters had taken consent of its officials before going for the salary cut.

(Source – Jottings blog)

http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Donation-Without-Consent-Leaves-Army-Offices-Fuming-Against-Chief/2015/01/18/article2623931.ece

Posted by GaviniVN at 7:33 PM

14 comments:

Anonymous January 20, 2015 at 9:54 PM

Our present COAS certainly will get some cubernational appointment on retirement. One should not ask any one for donation. It is up to the individual concerned. If someone wants he can donate directly to the PM Relief Fund or whatsoever.

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Anonymous January 20, 2015 at 10:12 PM

This happens only in india

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pka1971 January 20, 2015 at 11:26 PM

HE HAS GIVEN BRIBE OF 100 CR TO BECOME GOVERNOR

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pka1971 January 20, 2015 at 11:27 PM

HE HAS PAID BRIBE FROM OUR POCKETS OF RS 100 CR TO BECOME GOVERNOR

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pka1971January 20, 2015 at 11:27 PM

100 CR BRIBE TO BECOME AMBASSADER

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Ashok January 21, 2015 at 10:32 AM

Really how so cheap they are?

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Sudesan January 21, 2015 at 1:29 PM

The chief of Army has no power to order forceful donation to any one. So he has committed a crime under Army Act. Had the same thing done by any body other than chief the fellow would have faced action under Army Act. Very shame full act he has done for which who can take action against him. Govt has to think over it proceed suitably so that such kind of action is not under taken by any Chief of the Army in future.

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Anonymous January 21, 2015 at 7:55 PM

There is no power vested on him to deduct somebody’s hard earned salary like this. He should have remembered the widows of soldiers on that day. Had Fd Marshal Manekshaw would have passed orders like this or Fd Marshal Cariappa for that matter? There is a requirement of taking disciplinary action against this COAS AND THE AMOUNT SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE PERSONNELS’ SALARY FROM WHOSE SALARY IT WAS DEDUCTED.

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Manikandan KJ anuary 21, 2015 at 11:09 PM

It is very simple. Volunteers are always detailed in Defense Forces.

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Anonymous January 22, 2015 at 6:17 AM

new version of apple polishing ( CHAMACHAGIRI)

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Anonymous January 22, 2015 at 8:26 AM

Defence forces doesn’t get fat pays to part with, that should be a voluntarily done not by detailing as someone pointed out in the previous comments. Detailing in defence language is nothing but compulsory

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AnonymousJanuary 22, 2015 at 3:13 PM

we the all esm will donate the one year pension in PM relief fund if the orop shoulkd be implemented wef 01Jan 2006.

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Anonymous January 22, 2015 at 8:03 PM

Dear Veterans of our armed forces,

If the chiefs of three forces insist the prime minster,who is very good orator in HIndi,he orop will be immediately implemented.But they will not! Why?After retirement they too want good posts in govt,like governors etc.Who authorised the COA to cut the salary for making donations to PM,?Did the PM aske him personally?Let him donate his one year salary to him if he is so much worried about this nation.Even president of India does not have power to cut the salary and need not to mentiion about COAS? WHO IS HE?

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Mani Kandan January 23, 2015 at 10:23 PM

Do u expect the three chiefs to talk in one voice? That is not correct Sir. That is mutiny Sir. No Sir. They r highly disciplined officers. They don’t talk. They roar like a lion to men placed below them. But to political masters, they give a smart salute and say ‘yes Sir, yes Sir’ Talking in one voice? How to do that sir? After all we have three mouths!

Reply

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Did Indian Army Really Contribute Rs 100 Crore To PM Relief Fund For Kashmir Floods?

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Posted on Friday, May 15th, 2015 by Online Editor – Only Kashmir
New Delhi, May 15 (Only Kashmir): Four months after Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag handed over an Rs 100-crore cheque to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army has denied information of any such donation.
Army General Suhag had presented the Rs 100-crore cheque, which was claimed to be raised by the soldiers and officers of 1.18 million strong army after donating their day’s salary, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Army Day reception on January 15.
However, an RTI reply from Army headquarters, has confirmed that “no such amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the PM’s Relief Fund.”
Three days after the reception day function, it was reported about the army soldiers and officers, fuming over being not asked in advance by the higher officials before deducting their salaries and presenting the collected amount to the relief fund.
Apparently, media reports like these prompted Dehradun-based activist Prabhu Dandriyal to file an RTI on March 20, seeking what happened to the Rs 100 crore cheque donated to the PM’s Relief Fund by army.

Denying any such contribution for the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir, the RTI reply from Public Information Officer, Lt. Col. Rajiv Guleria on Tuesday, May 12, has added that the matter is undInterestingly, press releases with photographs of Suhag handing over the cheque of raised amount to Modi in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, continue to be hosted on the websites of Prime Minister and Press Information Bureau.

Filing his RTI petition now to the Prime Minister’s Office, Dandriyal has sought to know how the Rs 100 crore cheque was utilized.

“When by March 20, no amount of contribution was taken from the salaries, then how did the army chief submit the fund of Rs 100 crore to PM relief fund. This is why I have sought clarification from the PMO by filing another RTI,” Dandriyal said.

The RTI revelation has come in the backdrop of severe financial crises ailing Jammu and Kashmir. Reeling from the post-floods devastation, the summer capital city of Srinagar has witnessed protests, almost on daily basis, from daily wagers and government employees demanding pending salaries and arrears.

After the September 2014 floods, the J&K state government had forwarded a Rs 44,000 crore rehabilitation proposal to the central government, which has not been entertained by the centre till now.

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Not a Penny from Army in PM’s Flood Relief Fund Yet as General Idea to Dock Pay Backfires

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By Pradip R Sagar Published: 15th May 2015 06:00 AM The New Indian Express
Indain ExpressNEW DELHI: Drawing flak for its decision to cut a day’s salary of all its staff for donations to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, the Army headquarters is now in the process of collecting consent letters for the same from each of its personnel.

Express was the first to report on January 18, 2015 that several of the officers were upset with the decision of Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag in ordering a day’s pay cut to contribute Rs 100 crore to the PM’s Relief Fund to help the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Subsequently, some of the officers even wrote to the Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA), not giving approval for any deduction from their salaries. Realizing the discontent among its officers, the Army headquarters approached the office of the Controller of Defence Accounts, which eventually advised them that a consent letter was required from every Army person for deduction of salary.

“It has been intimated by the agency concerned that no amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The matter is under consideration,” Army Central Public Information Officer Lt Col Rajiv Guleria said in reply to an RTI query filed by activist Prabhu Dandriyal, based on the Express report.

“We are in the process of collecting consent letters from everyone. It is purely on a voluntary basis and the amount will be deposited in the PM Relief Fund soon,” said a senior officer of South Block. Interestingly, the photos of the 67th Army Day event posted on the website of the PMO show Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag presenting a cheque titled ‘one day’s pay of all ranks of Indian Army’, to Narendra Modi, in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

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Army’s contribution of Rs 100 crore yet to reach PM’s relief fund

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By TNN | 15 May, 2015, 11.21AM IST – the Economic Times

NEW DELHI: During the Army Day reception on January 15, General Dalbir Singh Suhag had presented a cheque of over Rs 100 crore to Narendra Modi for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund with much fanfare. It was announced the amount had been raised by officers and soldiers of the 1.18-million strong Army by donating a day’s salary each to help the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Four months later, no such money has reached the intended fund. Responding to an RTI query filed by Dehradun-based activist Prabhu Dandriyal, the Army headquarters has said: “It has been intimated by concerned agency that no such amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the PM’s Relief Fund. The matter is under consideration.”

On being asked about this embarrassing turn of events, the Army on Thursday said the process to collect the money on “a volunteer basis” was still underway. But Dandriyal smells a rat since many officers had earlier protested against Gen Suhag’s order for a day’s pay-cut without prior consent.

“The norm in the government is that all such contributions are made voluntarily. The Army chief’s order made it compulsory. How was the cheque presented to the PM on January 15 when no contribution had been taken from the salaries? My information is that the Army has sought time till July 10 now,” said Dandriyal.

The activist, in fact, has also filed an RTI in the PMO seeking to know what happened to the Rs 100 crore cheque donated to the PM’s Relief Fund. “The PMO website has photographs showing the cheque titled `One day’s pay of all ranks of the Indian Army’ being presented to the PM by General Suhag on January 15,” he said.

PMO

‘No sign’ of Army cheque donated to PMO

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SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT – NEW DELHI, May 15, 2015- The Hindu
Months after Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh presented a cheque of over Rs.100 crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, the Army says it has no information of any such donation.

On January 15 this year, Gen. Singh presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi the cheque “raised by officers and soldiers of the Army donating a day’s salary each” on the 67th Army Day. The photo of Gen. Singh presenting the cheque is on the website of the Press Information Bureau, as is an accompanying press release.

After reading media reports about several Army men expressing unhappiness about the Gen. Singh’s decision to hand over the cheque without first taking their consent for the deduction, Dehradun-based activist Prabhu Dandriyal filed an RTI petition with the Army on March 20.

Mr. Dandriyal told The Hindu that he sought information on the whether the cheque has been deposited in the fund, details of the bank, the account head of the Army from where the money had been debited, and if the cheque was not deposited, then whether it had been returned to the Army.

On May 12, a response from Lt. Col. Rajiv Guleria, the Public Information Officer said: “…no amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the Prime Minister Relief Fund. The matter is under consideration.”

Mr. Dandriyal has now sent an RTI query to the PMO. An Army spokesperson refused to comment on Thursday.