Date:09/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/09/stories/2003010903461100.htm

National

Medal for Jaswant?

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 8. The Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, has been recommended for a medal, presumably for diplomatic fire-fighting, as External Affairs Minister during the Kargil conflict. ``The matter is only at the initiation stage and is under consideration of the Army headquarters,'' said official sources.

If the award is conferred, it will be the first time for a civilian to get a military honour for the brief but bloody battle for regaining the Kargil mountains on the Line of Control .

The armed forces had honoured the Kargil heroes with two types of medals. The gallantry awards were conferred for exceptional bravery in the face of enemy --- a battlefield honour--- and awards for meritorious service in operational planning. It is not known what type of award Mr. Singh, a former army officer who took premature retirement, might receive four years after the conflict.