In Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar termed it a “routine exercise not unique to West Bengal”. PTI photo
New Delhi, December 2The row over Army taking over road toll plazas in West Bengal on Friday echoed in Parliament with TMC seeing “sinister” designs behind the move and the government vehemently denying the charge, saying it was a routine exercise conducted in full knowledge of the local authorities.The issue was raised in both Houses of Parliament with main opposition Congress also seeking clarification on the army deployment at 19 toll plazas in West Bengal.In Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar termed it a “routine exercise not unique to West Bengal” saying that similar operations to collect information on heavy vehicle movement that could be used during national emergencies had last month being conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.(Also read: Army rebuts Mamata’s charges, says exercise done with police coordination)Along with West Bengal, a similar exercise was carried out in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghlaya and Mizoram, he said, while responding to TMC and Congress MPs.
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He said that originally the exercise was planned for November 28-30 but was shifted to December 1 and 2 at the request of Kolkata Police as those dates clashed with the protests against demonetisation.“It is shocking that a chief minister is saying this. The Army’s deployment was part of routine exercise which has been going on for several years. Even last year it was held on November 19 to 21,” Parrikar said.The Minister said Army’s Eastern Command had been carrying out the exercise in West Bengal, Assam and other North-Eastern states and a similar exercise had already been carried out in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.“Officials concerned were informed in West Bengal. The original date was fixed for November 28 to 30 but due to Bharat Bandh the local police had advised the army to shift it to December 1 and 2,” he said.“Due to traffic congestion, the exercise is being done with the help of local police.”TMC leaders in both Houses alleged that neither the state government nor local administration, including police, were taken into confidence on the exercise nor their permission sought.Congress and BSP, too, wanted to know from the government how such an unprecedented move to carry out an army exercise without taking the state government into confidence was done.“It was very unfortunate that army has been dragged into an unnecessary controversy,” Parrikar said. “It was political frustration rather than projection of correct situation.”
Senior BJP Minister said important Bills were listed for passage next week and asked opposition parties to allow Parliament to function smoothly.
‘Released letters’
The Indian Army responded to the charges saying they written to the state government informing it about the exercise.
“It is happening in nine states now across 80 locations,” he said.
“We have our specific targets for data collection. After doing the work for 36 hours our work was done and we had left the toll plaza near Nabanna,” he said.
Maj Gen Yadav said the army had conducted a similar exercise in Eastern Command November 2015.
The Maj Gen said that a recce was conducted with two inspectors of the Kolkata Police at toll plaza on November 27 last.
“The issues raised by the police were addressed and wee telephonically informed to the police,” he said.
The exercise will continue as planned earlier and will end tonight, he said.
A defence spokesperson said on Thursday that the army usually conducted a biennial exercise throughout the country with the aim of getting statistical data about the load carriers that could be made available to the army in case of a contingency.
“There is nothing alarming about this and it is carried out as per government orders”, Wing Commander SS Birdi had said.
The exercise gives an estimate about the number of vehicles passing through a certain area that could be tapped during operations, he had said. PTI/ TNS