VK Singh: Former army chief proves his mettle in political battlefield

New Delhi: Once a fauji always a fauji" -- the well known adage has been proved true by former army chief VK Singh who has been retained in the new Union Council of Ministers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh led from the front in the challenging 2015 'Operation Rahat' in war-torn Yemen when 4,800 Indians and 1,972 people from other countries were evacuated.

 

In July 1016, VK Singh again led the exercise for evacuation of Indians from violence-hit South Sudan under 'Operation Sankat Mochan'.

VK Singh represented India at several bilateral and multilateral events as well as special assignments in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean region and Europe.

 

68-year-old Gen VK Singh Singh retired as Army chief in 2012 after a long-drawn battle with the government over his age issue and joined the BJP ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha election, which he successfully contested from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. He has retained the seat in this general election.

 

VK Singh has been an asset to the BJP, which is riding high on the twin planks of nationalism and national security.

VK Singh briefly served as Minister for Development of North Eastern Region General (DONER) with independent charge in the first Modi government. Singh had the experience of serving in the Northeast in different capacities as an Army officer too. He was also the GoC-in-C of the Eastern Command looking after the Easter and entire Northeaster region./PTI