What is the similarity between Shahid Afridi and General VK Singh? Well, both claim to be under aged by virtue of flaw in documentation.
VK Singh came out all guns blazing in the media limelight when he declared that he was offered a bribe of 14 crore to approve the procurement of sub standard Tatra trucks by a retired army Colonel. His claims that the Defence Minister was aware of this bribe incident raised a fiasco in the Parliament. A K Anthony had a tough time to soothe the frayed nerves. VK Singh's statement that the Indian Army was ill equipped to defend the nation immediately prompted a strong patriotic reaction from Saif Ali Khan by way of announcing the sequel to Agent Vinod. The sequel aptly titled - Travel agent Vinod. It is rumoured that the RAW agent will be jet setting across 40 countries before he saves the country from Pakistan. At about the same time, Sunny Paaji was about to announce a slew of movies like Gadar 2, Border 2, Maa aur Papa Tumhe Salaam..... but ... I guess... better sense prevailed.
This article tries to piece such random incidents over the past years to understand whether there was a serious flaw and corruption in terms of some of the strategic procurements. Instead of asking the MoD officials, this reporter directly questioned the main culprits - the equipment themselves.
I first questioned one of the most controversial combat aircrafts that IAF has procured. - the Mirage aircrafts. Mirage has come in for severe criticism because of the series of accidents that have plagued the Indian Army since its deployment into services. This is what Mirage had to say in his defense.
MIRAGE
I have always proved myself to be more than adequately capable in terms of all the sorties and the aerial exercises that are needed from time to time. Now, my problem is that even the best of the best need to be in good shape and practise regularly to be fighting fit. The only sorties that I am being used for most of the year round is to ferry politicians across different cities during election rallies. How can you expect me to take on enemy bullets when all the year round I am taking across only ballots!!!
The next ring of my investigations took me to Sweden. I approached the famed member of the Howitzer clan - Bofors 155 mm Howitzer who shot into prominence involving prominent members of the polity. I had armed myself with all the newspaper clippings and snippets highlighting the fact that the guns had not been able to prove themselves when they were needed the most - during battles and skirmishes. With an air of preconceived notion of Guilty in mind, I start talking to the son of the original gun.
BOFORS 155
So much has been written about my father. So many years were spent in investigations and court cases that I am really fed of up this whole procurement through which we were brought to India. I will, for once and for all, settle this matter and present the complete story. The stories about kick backs to Rajeev Gandhi and his accounts in Swiss banks are all complete lies. The accounts were always in Sweden. Some uneducated opposition party leader did not know the difference between Switzerland and Sweden and made this mistake.We were thoroughly tested and all our tests were there for millions of Indians and some of the Indians also see those tests even today. This should clear all suspicions about our family's reputation of being functional. We were handed over to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan until the final payments were released by Bofors Saabe, for his use. If you see any of the Bachchan movies from 1984 to 1997 - all the ammunition are my uncles and aunts and cousins being filled with plastic pellets!!!!
Then you expect us to be battle ready in real life when all our lives in India we were used only on reel life!!!!
TATRA
After two of my friends have given their testimonies about how misrepresented are our facts in front of the general public, kindly hear my saga of helplessness and displacement as well. First and foremost - VK's comments about the lack of me being incapable to cover rough terrains for long hours is absolutely false. How else would I still be travelling from the Czech Republic to India each time I am congsigned?
That, the BEML manufactures me is another blatant lie. I am still being imported. It is such a long journey that even Rohington Mistry will be embarassed. BEML makes only one small change on each of my body once I am brought into their works. They get my driver panel moved from right side to the left. Now - my parent company Vectra designs Tatra as per the requirement from the Indian Army - Right Hand Side Driving. BEML then reverses this and then sends it across to the different army units. When Ravi Rishi asked BEML officials as to why were we being tampered with on being brought to India, the answer was, "if things get just too perfect, we will be out of jobs soon so some amount of imperfection needs to be introduced, else who would have been covering this piece of news today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
BOFORS 155
So much has been written about my father. So many years were spent in investigations and court cases that I am really fed of up this whole procurement through which we were brought to India. I will, for once and for all, settle this matter and present the complete story. The stories about kick backs to Rajeev Gandhi and his accounts in Swiss banks are all complete lies. The accounts were always in Sweden. Some uneducated opposition party leader did not know the difference between Switzerland and Sweden and made this mistake.We were thoroughly tested and all our tests were there for millions of Indians and some of the Indians also see those tests even today. This should clear all suspicions about our family's reputation of being functional. We were handed over to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan until the final payments were released by Bofors Saabe, for his use. If you see any of the Bachchan movies from 1984 to 1997 - all the ammunition are my uncles and aunts and cousins being filled with plastic pellets!!!!
Then you expect us to be battle ready in real life when all our lives in India we were used only on reel life!!!!
TATRA
After two of my friends have given their testimonies about how misrepresented are our facts in front of the general public, kindly hear my saga of helplessness and displacement as well. First and foremost - VK's comments about the lack of me being incapable to cover rough terrains for long hours is absolutely false. How else would I still be travelling from the Czech Republic to India each time I am congsigned?
That, the BEML manufactures me is another blatant lie. I am still being imported. It is such a long journey that even Rohington Mistry will be embarassed. BEML makes only one small change on each of my body once I am brought into their works. They get my driver panel moved from right side to the left. Now - my parent company Vectra designs Tatra as per the requirement from the Indian Army - Right Hand Side Driving. BEML then reverses this and then sends it across to the different army units. When Ravi Rishi asked BEML officials as to why were we being tampered with on being brought to India, the answer was, "if things get just too perfect, we will be out of jobs soon so some amount of imperfection needs to be introduced, else who would have been covering this piece of news today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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