Govt planning to stop Bhagwat’s pension

NEW DELHI, March 29 (PTI) — The government is examining the possibility of initiating action against the dismissed Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, and withdrawing his pension for "post dismissal behaviour", highly placed sources said today.

This follows what is seen by the government as a campaign by Admiral Bhagwat involving matters of national security and friendly relations with neighbouring countries.

The sources said the former Naval Chief, who draws a monthly pension of over Rs 15,000, could face action for making "wild and baseless allegations", but it was not clear what action was being contemplated.

Asked about such a possibility, the former Naval Chief said in Mumbai: "I think they do not know what the law is and do not know what is rule of law. They are becoming so used to operating outside the rule of law".

He said he was getting his pension as the government "wisely" came to the conclusion that there was no ground whatsoever for withholding it. "Therefore, my pension has been credited with effect from March 1", he added.

Admiral Bhagwat, who was sacked in December on charges of defying civilian authority and endangering national security, had been locked in a verbal and legal battle with the government ever since his unceremonious dismissal.

He had levelled allegations of corruption in arms deals and accused Defence Minister George Fernandes of harbouring LTTE militants and helping in gun-running by Myanmarese rebels.

The Ministry sources see the allegations as part of his tactics to divert attention from the "real reasons" that led to his sacking.

They maintained that the dismissed Navy Chief had defied constitutional authority several times, prompting the government to take action against him.