Army chief row: DRDO chief calls for 'cautious approach'

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Against the backdrop of a continuing row between the government and army chief Gen. V.K. Singh, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V.K. Saraswat Saturday asked both the defence ministry and the army to adopt a 'cautious approach' while handling any differences.

'If there are differences of any type, they should adopt the most cautious approach,' Saraswat told a press conference at a defence exposition in progress at Pragati Maindan here.

'The harmony within the ministry of defence with respect to our functioning and image is very important,' he said.

He was responding to a query as to what advice he would give Defence Minister A.K. Antony, being his scientific adviser, on the controversy relating to army chief's letter to the prime minister on the gaps in defence preparedness and on his recent interviews about bribe offer to approve an order of Tatra trucks.

Saraswat noted that he only advised the defence minister on technical matters and that he did not give any advice on such controversies.

'As a citizen of this country, I can only say both of them are great people, they have done great service to the nation,' he added.