PAC meet on canteen scam ends inconclusively

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meet on the canteen scam ends inconclusively. The army and the air force have divergent views from that of CAG and the PAC. PAC would hold further meetings to reconcile this. It's the first instance of its kin, serving chiefs have been asked to appear before PAC in connection with Canteen scam. Army Chief General V K Singh, air chief V K Naik and naval vice chief D K Dewan met the PAC headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and with other MPs. The hearing is in connection with the alleged irregularities in the canteen stores supplies. The PAC meet was called after the CAG report pointed out irregularities in the supply chain management of rations by CSD. General VK Singh, Army Chief, said, "I am happy to be at meeting. We made a presention on the issues raised by MPs on rations issued to soldiers." What the CAG report says: 'The existing procedure for provisioning of dry rations failed to assess the requirement realistically. The failure was mainly due to systemic deficiencies due to which different quantities were worked out at different echelons applying different parameters. The risk of existence of cartels affecting the quantity and quality of rations was too serious to be ignored' Sources said that the Army has accepted suggestions made by the PAC MLAs. It is also said by sources that the Army will change the operating procedures involving buying of rations and that it will implement changes in the next few months.