'Govt should run like an Army unit'

New Delhi (PTI): Former Army chief Gen VK Singh has said the country needed a system where the government is run like a military unit, for which the nation is above any caste or religion. Alleging that various political parties divided people on the basis of caste and religion for their political gains, he said, "Poverty and corruption are rampant in the country and no effective steps had been taken to eradicate them...the country needs a system where the government was run like an Army unit for which the nation is of prime importance and caste or religion comes later." Singh was addressing a public meeting of 'Jantantra Yatra', led by anti-corruption crusader and social activist Anna Hazare here on Friday. Hazare, however could not preside over the meeting due to ill-health. Gen Singh has been touring with Hazare in Punjab and Haryana as part of the Yatra since March 31, which entered Karsindhu village of Jind district on Friday. Gen Singh appealed to the people to attend Jan-Sansad (public-rally) which will be held in New Delhi in September this year, and unitedly fight against corrupt people and anti-national forces. Earlier, addressing series of rallies on way to Jind, Anna Hazare had said the 'Jantantra Morcha' is not seeking change of power at the centre, but is struggling for a change in the existing political system for choosing better leaders.