Gurgaon, Sep 24 (ANI): Clarifying his \u2018J&K ministers paid\u2019 remark, former army chief General V.K. Singh on Tuesday said the money paid to Jammu and Kashmir politicians wasn\u2019t bribe, but to win the people\u2019s hearts.
\n\u201cI would also state very categorically that all that I talked of when I said money was given to politicians or to NGOs was never for their political purpose, for their individual purpose, for lining their pockets, for bribes to them,\u201d General Singh told media here.
\n\u201cIt was meant solely and wholly for certain stability events which were organised by the intelligence units under the overall umbrella of \u2018Sadbhavana\u2019 to win the hearts and minds of people and to get people away from separatists propaganda, to get people away from separatists activities so they can ensure that they contribute towards the development of the state and support the government,\u201d he added.
\nUnion Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde earlier today said the former chief should name the ministers to whom money had been given from a secret defence fund for social schemes.
\n\u201cHe should name the ministers to whom money has been given. We can probe if details are given,\u201d he said.Reacting to accusations that he had funded a Jammu and Kashmir politician to topple Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government, he said those who levelled these allegations were anti-nationals.<\/p>\n\n