By IANS
New Delhi : A simmering Indian Army row over the shifting of a three-star general who heads the crucial Northern Command that guards Jammu and Kashmir ended Monday with the defence ministry saying the transfer stands.
Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag would replace Lt. Gen. O.P. Nandrajog, who retires Feb 29, as the general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) of the Central Command, a defence ministry statement said.
Lt. Gen. P.C. Bhardwaj, presently GOC 14 Corps, has been promoted as army commander and posted as GOC-in-C Northern Command, the statement added.
Panag had protested the transfer and had even sought and been granted a meeting with Defence Minister A.K. Antony earlier this year to explain his side of the picture.
Going by Monday’s announcement, it is clear that Antony decided to go by precedent and accepted the Indian Army chief’s recommendations on transfers.
In other appointments, Lt. Gen. V.K. Singh, presently GOC 2 Corps, has been promoted as army commander and posted as GOC-in-C Eastern Command. He replaces Lt. Gen. K.S. Jamwal who also retires Feb 29.
Singh is in line to succeed the Indian Army chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, when he retires in 2010.
“All the army commanders will assume their new assignments from March 1,” the defence ministry statement said.
Maj. Gen. J.P. Singh, presently deputy commandant of the Armoured Corps School and Centre has been promoted to three-star rank and posted as GOC of 2 Corps.
Maj. Gen. V.K. Ahluwalia, presently additional director general of military training is to be the GOC of 14 Corps on promotion to three-star rank.