COVER STORY

Point-Counterpoint: Responses from NHQ

The Pioneer newspaper in Delhi carried reports on February 22 and 23 which made out charges of serious wrongdoing against the former Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. The origin of the story and its authenticity were always uncertain since no other news organisation had thought it appropriate to devote space to it. It has since transpired that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had referred the stories to Naval Headquarters (NHQ) for a response.

Frontline has in its possession the detailed 14-page response sent by NHQ on the request of the MoD. The contrast between the wild nature of the allegations and the sobriety of the responses from NHQ is seen as a telling comment on the nature of the war of innuendo under way between the MoD and Service headquarters.

Further insights into this alarming breakdown of civility come from the Defence Minister's evident misrepresentation on the floor of Parliament of information received from NHQ and his effort to make out a case against the former CNS for allegedly tampering with the annual confidential reports of senior naval personnel. Frontline reproduces in facsimile, in the public interest, key sections of NHQ's response to the MoD reference.