General VK Singh and the His Age Controversy, The Chief in a Poor light

The present Chief of the General staff of the Indian army General VK Singh  is slated for retirement in 2012. This retirement is as per his original recorded date of birth in his service documents, which is 1950.  But the  VK Singh desires an extension of one year  year as he feels that his date of birth was wrongly recorded as 1950 in place of 1951.

 The government of India has rightly rejected his contention and the chief must now retire in 2012. But like a man clinging to a last hope  he is repeatedly petitioning the government as well applying subtle pressure to reverse the decision , so as to his getting one more year in office.

This makes sad reading as an extension to VK Singh will upset the entire chain of promotions and appointments of the senior generals  for the next 2 years. The chie,f intent on his personal agenda is unaware what effect his antics are having on mass of the soldiers in the Indian Army. Is he so callous as not be aware that the common rifleman sees this in an entirely different light. Here is their own chief wanting to stay on in office for another year and for this he can do anything.Is he not satisfied with a tenure of 3 years as Army Chief ? Are the loaves of office so tempting for him to forgo a record of a 100 years of the Army as a professional force?
Granted that Singh may be right on his contention of his date of birth, but propriety demands that he demit office on the required date. It is not understood how he is lobbying and putting pressure on the government to extend his tenure.  This leaves a sour taste in the mouth and one wonders how come such men of straw are promoted as generals.
There is a need for the government to act and it must retire VK Singh forthwith. This will set an example to all senior brass not to pursue a personal agenda. But who will send VK Singh home ?

R