Former army chief to share stage with Modi

Former army chief General VK Singh will share stage with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi at an ex-servicemen rally being organised by the BJP in Haryana. The move likely to trigger speculation about the controversial ex-chief’s political plans.

Former army chief General VK Singh will share stage with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi at an ex-servicemen rally being organised by the BJP in Haryana. The move likely to trigger speculation about the controversial ex-chief’s political plans.

In the past, he has appeared in public with INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and spiritual leader Baba Ramdev.

Modi will address the rally at Rewari on September 15.

“People should not read too much between the lines,” said BJP’s national spokesperson Captain Abhimanyu (retd), who is convening the rally.

He said the retired general had attended a rally organised by the INLD last year, but did not join that party.

The former chief has been trying to bring ex-servicemen under one umbrella. They are a potential vote bank — with over 20 lakh defence pensioners in the country, veterans’ groups claim they can influence two to three crore votes.