Pawar wonders why Army Chief's bribe allegation came so late

Commenting on Army chief General VK Singh's allegation that he was offered a bribe, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday asked why the incident was not brought to government's notice earlier if it had taken place over a year and half ago.

Commenting on Army chief General VK Singh's allegation that he was offered a bribe, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday asked why the incident was not brought to government's notice earlier if it had taken place over a year and half ago.

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"But now, even though it has been brought to the government's notice so late, the Defence Ministry has ordered a CBI inquiry into the issue," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

General Singh had claimed an equipment lobbyist had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear a procurement of 'substandard' vehicles.

On the media report about the movement of two Army units towards New Delhi in January, Pawar said "I had been the defence minister of the country. I know the Indian army...Our armed forces can only think of marching on the enemy."

Asked about the CAG report indicting leading Maharashtra politicians for allegedly 'grabbing' land at cheaper rates for educational institutions, Pawar said if such land remain unused for a long time or are being misused, government can take action against them.