Core values will be focus, says incoming Army Chief

Lt Gen Bikram Singh, who will assume charge as the 25th Army Chief on Thursday, has said that he is against deployment of the army in internal security situations as prolonged use "impacts adversely" its "conventional war-fighting capabilities". He said it should be called in only as an "instrument of last resort".

In an interview to Sainik Samachar brought out by the Defence Ministry, Singh reminded troops to uphold "cherished core values" and said that the army should be seen as a "potent, responsive and accountable instrument of national power".

He identified work culture and core values of the army as key areas that he will focus on after taking over the top position. He refrained from any controversial remarks in his first public comments on the eve of taking charge from Gen V K Singh.

In the interview, Lt Gen Singh said he will ensure operational preparedness of the army and address "hollowness" when it comes to the slow pace of modernisation.

"(My priority is to) strengthen the army's work culture and the core values, namely, duty, honour, loyalty, integrity, respect and selfless service," he said, adding that he will ensure commanders "create a climate during their tenures" that is based on professional ethos and core values.

While he refused to comment on contentious issues like Siachen and Kashmir, Singh said he was of the view that the army should get deployed in internal security situations only as an "instrument of last resort".

"It needs to be remembered that our prolonged employment in such situations (internal security) impacts adversely on our conventional war-fighting capabilities and is, therefore, best avoided," Singh said.

He said the army is "fully prepared" to counter any threat to the nation, be it external or internal. "Let us uphold our cherished core values so that we can continue to remain one of the most potent, responsive and accountable instruments of national power," he said.

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