The confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops happened in North Sikkim. Matter resolved after local Command-level officers intervened.
File photo of Indian Army and China’s Peoples’ Liberation Army soldiers in September| ANI
New Delhi: At least 12 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in stone pelting and fist fight along the Line of Actual Control in North Sikkim Saturday after a patrol party of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel was stopped.
Army sources said the intense stand-off was later resolved with the intervention of officers at the local Command level.
Incidentally, this is the same area where an Army helicopter carrying unidentified passengers was forced to make a hard landing.
The confrontation happened near the Naku La sector, a pass at a height of more than 5,000 metres.
A patrol party of the PLA came across Indian soldiers in an area they consider Chinese territory. This led to the face-off and more troops were called in, sources said.
They added that the soldiers exchanged blows with each other besides pelting stones in which some of them were injured.
“There was aggressive behaviour and minor injuries on both sides. Both sets of soldiers disengaged after local level interaction and dialogue. The issue was solved through established protocols for such issues,” a source in the Army Headquarters here said.
‘Face-offs occur as boundaries are not resolved’
Army sources said the incident happened after a very long time and pointed out that the temporary and short duration face-offs occur as boundaries are not resolved.
In August 2017, Indian and Chinese soldiers had pelted each other with stones and exchanged blows near Pangong Lake in Ladakh.
Since ‘Operation Juniper‘ — when Indian troops moved into Doklam, a small territory in Bhutan, to stop the Chinese army from constructing a road that threatens India’s strategic interests — India has increased focus on its northern and eastern boundaries than being purely Pakistan centric.
Army Chief Gen M.M. Naravane had said the force was “re-balancing” its deployment and strategy along the western, northern and northeastern borders to deal with any kind of threat that might emerge — be it from Pakistan or China.
Tough to ‘weaponise’ coronavirus, but can’t rule out attacks: Armed Forces Medical Chief
Lt Gen. Anup Banerji says until a vaccine or treatment for coronavirus is found, the armed forces will stay vigilant.
File image of an Army personnel wearing a mask to protect against Covid-19, at Guwahati railway station | ANI
New Delhi: The possibility of adversaries weaponising or using the coronavirus against the Indian armed forces is remote, but they remain susceptible to such attacks until a vaccine or preventative medical therapy is found, Lt Gen. Anup Banerji, Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) told ThePrint.
The DG is the head of the AFMS and is responsible for the overall medical policy of the armed forces.
The senior military officer further said that the virus is not a “lucrative” biological agent, and although highly contagious, has “very low mortality” in the young and those with no co-morbidities.
“In fact, most of those infected remain asymptomatic,” he said.
“However, in the absence of an effective vaccine or a proven chemoprophylaxis, we will remain susceptible to such attacks,” the officer added.
Chemoprophylaxis refers to the use of medicine to treat diseases.
Lt Gen. Banerji’s comments come days after the Army’s 15th Corps Commander, Lt Gen. B.S. Raju, had told the BBC that the Army has received intelligence inputs that Pakistan is pushing a lot of coronavirus cases into Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Lt Gen. Raju had said that India is “conscious that Pakistan is taking risk of putting gullible people training as terrorists into small, enclosed spaces in their launch pads”, and these people coming from across the Line of Control could be carriers of the virus.
On India’s current policies to prevent such threats, senior Army officers explained that while the pandemic has brought the aspect of such bio-threats into prominence lately, the Army has always considered chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) warfare as a critical part of its operational planning.
“Accordingly, a comprehensive policy is in place for defence against CBRN attacks, from which is derived our CBRN equipment policy,” a senior officer, who has specifically dealt with the subject, told ThePrint.
The Army has in place the Faculty of CBRN Protection (FCBRNP), nodal training institute that deals with defensive CBRN warfare, and is responsible for inculcating basic and advanced training.
On the status of availability of adequate protective gear on the ground to deal with such attacks, the officer said the Army is adequately prepared to ensure “both individual and collective protection for its troops during a bio-threat in operations or a bio-emergency at home in peace”.
“Exhaustive protocols are in place to ensure adequate protection for troops in sync with the guidelines being issued by the Government of India, without adversely affecting our security apparatus,” the officer added, and said that events which require mass movement of personnel such as training courses, exercises, conferences, postings, move of units etc., have been suspended to conform to the lockdown.
Given the speculation of how Covid-19 could be used as a bio-weapon since it is highly virulent, a second senior Army officer said that a doctrinal change is needed under which population protection and survivability of soldiers needs to be incorporated.
“It needs to be implemented to ensure that the necessary equipment is available to frontline troops,” the second officer said.
However, the first officer quoted said the detailed curriculum available focuses on all aspects of CBRN warfare and exposes combatants to the nuances of ‘On Job Training’ on the equipment held in the inventory.
“Experience from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is being suitably factored into the training philosophy. Since a virulent pathogen does not differentiate between a civilian or military personnel, no major doctrinal change as such is warranted,” the officer said.
The Navy has the Nuclear Biological Chemical Damage control (NBCD) school where all personnel compulsorily undergo basic, refresher and specialised training from ab initio, i.e., from entry to senior levels.
Naval sources said every operational unit is trained and equipped to meet contingencies of nuclear radiation, chemical attack and biological attack in addition to fighting fires and flooding on ships, and personnel are sensitised to these various forms of warfare and counteracting the same.
“Modern ships are designed to pass through contaminated areas that are mainly radioactive but could also include airborne attacks with chemical or biological weapons,” said a senior Naval officer said.
“The entire ship is closed down to an external environment and made airtight. The ventilation and filtration systems are recycled internally for habitation and continuation of operations,” the officer added.
“Personnel are cleansed through cleansing stations before entering the citadel spaces. A citadel is a group of interconnected compartments which are maintained sterile from the environment for personnel to operate from. There are other systems too that endeavour to protect an entire ship passing through contamination zones,” the officer said.
Apart from the Navy and Army, the Indian Air Force also has a dedicated institute on nuclear, biological, chemical protection, and has placed quick response teams with manpower trained for CBRN across the IAF bases in the country.
IAF’s Sukhois on sorties in Ladakh amid tensions with China but no jets ‘scrambled’
IAF’s Su 30 MKI jets have been on sorties in Ladakh but they weren’t rushed to Line of Actual Control after 2 Chinese choppers were spotted last week.
A Sukhoi 30 jet on display during Aero India 2007 in Bengaluru | Abhijit Bhatlekar/Bloomberg News
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is carrying out regular sorties of its frontline fighter jet Su 30 MKI in the Ladakh region amid new border tensions with China but no aircraft was rushed last week after two Chinese choppers were spotted close to the Line of Actual Control, sources said Tuesday.
News agency ANI, quoting government sources, reported Tuesday that the Chinese military helicopters were flying very close to the Line of Actual Control last week and “after their movement was picked up, the Indian Air Force fighter jets flew patrols in the area”.
The report said IAF was “forced to rush” fighter jets.
While there was no official word from the IAF Tuesday, defence sources said that it was an overstatement to say jets were scrambled since fighters regularly fly in the region.
“Helicopters are allowed to fly till the border on both sides. There has been no violation of Indian air space. And never have jets been scrambled in the past for helicopters in the northern sector,” said an IAF officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
He also said that no fighters were scrambled but training flights have been going on.
“If you are asking whether the jets were scrambled, then no. If you are asking if Sukhois were flying on May 5 and 6, I would say regular training flights are taking place, including today,” he added.
The reports come amid new tensions between India and China after soldiers from both sides clashed on the border last week, leaving many injured in fist fights and stone pelting. While the two sides have officially disengaged on 6 May, both have rushed additional troops to the Pangong Tso lake area.
The IAF maintains two main bases in Ladakh — Leh and Thoise air bases. Fighter jets are not deployed at the Thoise air base while at Leh, detachments from various squadrons are operational on rotation throughout the year.
However, sources said that no Su 30 MKI was based in Leh on 5 and 6 May but they were flying from another location.
Sources said that two Chinese choppers were indeed spotted flying in their area just like the Indian helicopters do in that region.
According to the ANI report, the Chinese choppers did not cross the LAC into Indian territory in that particular area.
While there have been tensions at the LAC in the past, which have resulted in physical clashes between the two countries’ soldiers, this is the first time in years the IAF has come into the picture.
ThePrint had earlier reported that though the countries had officially disengaged, additional forces were brought in to ensure no more violence takes place in the area, just as it had been done in Doklam in August 2017.
While disengagement happened in Doklam, both sides have continued with their build-up a few metres away from their face-off location.
ndia-China border tensions flare up again as soldiers get into scuffles in Ladakh, Sikkim
Indian and Chinese soldiers jointly celebrate the New Year 2019 at Bumla along the Indo-China border, Arunachal Pradesh | PTI photo
New Delhi: The border tensions between India and China have flared up once again in the last one week with several troops from both sides left injured following fist fights and stone-pelting in the Ladakh and North Sikkim regions. While the situation in Sikkim is said to have been “resolved”, official “disengagement” has taken place in Ladakh, even though additional troops have been pressed in.
Army sources told ThePrint that the incident in Ladakh happened on the evening of 5 May, near the northern banks of the 134-km Pangong Tso lake. A similar clash took place in the region in September 2019 too.
Two-thirds of the lake, which extends from Tibet to Ladakh, is controlled by China.
The sources said the Chinese objected to the presence of Indians in the disputed area, and an argument quickly took the shape of a brawl with the Indians standing their ground. The soldiers indulged in a “fist fight and stone pelting”, which led to half a dozen injuries on the Indian side, including that of a young officer, the sources said, adding there were several injuries on the Chinese side too.
Situation is ‘under control’ now
The official “disengagement” in Ladakh happened on 6 May after formation commanders spoke to each other. However, the sources said, the matter has been noted for the next formal discussions between higher military authorities on both sides. They added that the situation is under control now.
Though the disengagement has happened, additional forces have been brought in to ensure no more violence takes place. Since ‘Operation Juniper’ — when Indian troops moved into Doklam, a small territory in Bhutan, to stop the Chinese army from constructing a road that threatens India’s strategic interests — India has increased focus on its northern and eastern boundaries than being purely Pakistan centric.
Army Chief Gen M.M. Naravane had said the force was “re-balancing” its deployment and strategy along the western, northern and northeastern borders to deal with any kind of threat that might emerge — be it from Pakistan or China. While disengagement happened in Doklam, both sides have continued with their build-up a few metres away from their face-off location.
The area was witness to a similar incident in September last year. The incident had rung alarm bells in the defence circles in New Delhi as it came just a month ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled visit to India for an informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. To prevent the situation from spiralling into a major confrontation, the Army activated the established bilateral mechanism for defusing such situations.
Meanwhile, at least 12 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in stone pelting and fist fight along the Line of Actual Control in North Sikkim Saturday after a patrol party of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel was stopped.
Army sources said the intense stand-off was later resolved with the intervention of officers at the local Command level. The confrontation happened near the Naku La sector, a pass at a height of more than 5,000 metres.
A patrol party of the PLA came across Indian soldiers in an area they consider Chinese territory. This led to the face-off and more troops were called in, sources said.
They added that the soldiers exchanged blows with each other besides pelting stones in which some of them were injured.
“There was aggressive behaviour and minor injuries on both sides. Both sets of soldiers disengaged after local level interaction and dialogue. The issue was solved through established protocols for such issues,” a source in the Army Headquarters here said.
Govts will need to support armed forces with PPEs, ventilators if Covid situation worsens
Lt Gen. Anup Banerji says the armed forces have enough PPEs and ventilators for the 10,000 beds prepared for civilians, but could need more if the Covid-19 crisis spirals.
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as state health departments will need to support the armed forces with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and ventilators as their availability is finite, Lt Gen. Anup Banerji, director general of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has told ThePrint.
The armed forces currently have an adequate number of PPEs and ventilators for around 10,000 beds they have provided in aid to civil authorities in over 50 hospitals. However, if the situation worsens, they might need government support.
“For PPE, ventilators etc., the armed forces need to be supported by the health ministry and the various state health departments, since the availability of these items is finite, and have been currently catered for only the 10,000 beds earmarked for civilians,” Banerji said.
Lt Gen. Banerji’s comments come in the backdrop of multiple Covid-19 positive cases reported within the military. Just a week ago, 24 in-patients at the Army’s Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital in Delhi had tested positive. Last month, 26 sailors at the INS Angre, a stone frigate (naval establishment on land) under the Western Naval Command in Mumbai, tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
This is despite the armed forces following strict measures inside their bases, because if even a single person contracts Covid-19, the spread is likely to be at a faster rate, not just affecting the community, but also operational preparedness.
Asked about the cases in the military, Lt Gen. Banerji said: “We need to accept the fact that the pandemic has affected the entire country, cutting across all segments of society, with more than 47 per cent of the districts in either red or orange zones. The armed forces cannot be considered in isolation from the rest of the country.”
He added that if the Covid-19 pandemic spirals out of control, the fact that the armed forces will not be immune to it will first need to be accepted.
“We need to be geared up first to attend to our own serving personnel, their dependents and the huge ex-servicemen clientele who are especially liable to develop complications,” the officer said.
Training personnel to tackle Covid-19
Banerji said the medical and paramedical personnel have been trained in handling Covid-19 cases according to established protocols.
“We have now trained even non-medical personnel (BFNAs) in every command to act as frontline responders for Covid-19 cases,” he said.
Speaking about the efforts of the armed forces on containing the spread of the pandemic, the officer further said that infections, often in clusters, will continue to take place due to the highly contagious nature of the virus.
“The success of our plans will depend on our ability to control and prevent their further spread. Healthcare facilities are especially at higher risk since patients with non Covid illness will come to hospitals from hotspots,” he said.
Lt Gen. Banerji added that since a majority of such patients are asymptomatic, they will continue to pose a threat to healthcare workers and other admitted patients.
“Although we have put measures in place to prevent such incidents, we need to balance between denial of treatment to patients with conditions other than Covid and the threat to healthcare workers,” he said.
The Rajapaksa brothers do not wish the pandemic to rob them of the fruits of the stunning presidential election victory last November. The economy is likely to contract. Any inordinate delay in holding the election will worsen the economy. Going to the people for a general election during a pandemic is a risky proposition, especially when the National Election Commission cannot guarantee free & fair polls.
Maj Gen Ashok K Mehta (retd)
Military commentator
Sri Lanka may be heading for another constitutional crisis. It is the only country confronting the pandemic without a Parliament but with an unelected caretaker cabinet. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is keen to hold early elections, dissolved Parliament on March 2 even as the National Election Commission (NEC) ordered elections for April 25 after the Health Minister had claimed that by April 19, the situation would be normal. With the Covid-19 situation deteriorating sharply, the NEC postponed the elections, first to May 28 and then to June 20. A new Parliament has to be installed by September 2 as the term of the eighth Parliament will end on September 1. The spread of Covid-19 has followed an upward trajectory — the first 100 cases in 57 days; the next 100 cases in 18 days, next 100 cases in eight days with the next 100 cases in four days and another 100 cases in just two days. Sri Lanka has reported over 860 cases of Covid-19 so far, including nine deaths.
A new Parliament should be in place within three months of the House abrogation. The election has been fixed for June 20 and it is likely that the date could be extended. In the interim the President will run the country without Parliament, and an unelected caretaker government. Further, the vote-on-account for the current budget ended on April 30. Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that spending from the Consolidated Fund of Sri Lanka will be unconstitutional, with Gota rejecting his stand.
Given this extraordinary situation, exacerbated by the growing pandemic, Gota has two options: first to rescind presidential proclamation of March 2 to restore Parliament elected on August 27, 2015, to serve its full term till September 1; second, under Article 70 (7) of the constitution, temporarily summon Parliament due to the emergency Covid-19 situation. If Parliament is kept alive till 1 September, elections can be held comfortably and likely in Covid-19 free environment on December 1. If Parliament does not convene by June 2, the old gazette notification and presidential order dissolving Parliament becomes null and void.
June 20 is Gota’s 71st birthday. The NEC has said it was not aware of it. The former Army Colonel in the President has floated more than one balloon in the air. In a recent TV interview given to the family confidant and presidential advisor Lalith Weeratunga, on question of reviving old Parliament, Gota said: “I will not restore Parliament… I will not summon old Parliament… I have no legal right.” On the question of yet another postponement of election beyond June 20 — he has previously affirmed that the NEC can fix any date it considers appropriate — Gota in typically military style said: “I will take solo action.” He elaborated: “It is clear who has the ultimate responsibility to uphold the constitution. I will fulfil promises made to the people.” Gota’s historic election victory of 6.9 million votes was the first ever with majority Sinhalese votes. For now he is keen to hold an election on June 20 and not reconvene dissolved Parliament notwithstanding the constitutional crisis that may confront the country.
No one has forgotten the 2018 constitutional crisis when former President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament and appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa Prime Minister. The Supreme Court finally restored Parliament which was revoked for a second time on March 2 according to Article 19 of the amended constitution. The Rajapaksa brothers do not wish the pandemic to rob them of the fruits of the stunning presidential election victory last November. The economy is likely to contract, facing a 3 per cent recession. Any inordinate delay in holding the election will worsen the economy. Going to the people for a general election during a pandemic is a risky proposition, especially when the NEC cannot guarantee a free and fair election, especially on the question of turnout.
Before fixing the date (June 20), the NEC consulted some of the Opposition parties. Even June 20 is subject to revision, it said. The Opposition complained that the government is ‘electioneering’ in the guise of a pandemic response. The Presidential Task Force on Essential Services is led by Gota’s younger brother and head of Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP) national organisation Basil Rajapaksa. The Army, security forces and national intelligence are key elements of the National Operational Centre for Prevention of the Covid-19 outbreak, led by CDS and Army Commander, Lt Gen Shavindra Silva. The national curfew/lockdown is army-promulgated but with military personnel especially 4,000 naval soldiers quarantined at Welisara Naval Base, the public may have lost confidence in the military. The Army has employed the Root and Bolt system which identifies a Covid-infected person and all possible contact-links of the infected using military intelligence. The country’s medical and health staff, along with the military, are portrayed as the new corona warriors. The apparent advantage by the SLPP has not been missed by the Opposition. Presidential loser Sajith Premadasa has told NEC that elections be held only after health officials certify that the conditions are safe for the purpose.
Surprisingly, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recently summoned all 225 lawmakers of the old Parliament which many parties skipped, floating another balloon against the Colombo skyline soon after the President ruled out restoring Parliament. This time, Gota criticised Opposition parties for not wishing to hold elections at a crucial time when government is striving to safeguard public health, social security and welfare. He is confident he will ride over the alleged constitutional crisis and the pandemic and hold elections in June, bagging a two-thirds majority to remove Article 19 of the constitution. Already a PIL has been filed by Premadasa against holding elections on June 20. Who knows which party will approach the Supreme Court after June 2 for restoring the missing Parliament.
A suspected patient being taken to hospital in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Nine new cases have surfaced in the city. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 12
With 37 fresh cases today, the state count of Covid-19 patients has reached 1,914. A 39-year-old man in Amritsar succumbed to the deadly virus. According to a media bulletin, Ludhiana district topped the chart with 16 cases, followed by Jalandhar 9, Fatehgarh Sahib 8, and one case each at Fazilka, Patiala, Amritsar and Kapurthala.
In Ludhiana, Delhi-based battalion of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) was quarantined at Meritorious School after 16 personnel tested positive. Fourteen personnel had tested positive on Monday night, while two had tested positive on Saturday. Of the total 79 personnel in the battalion, 16 have tested positive and 63 are in quarantine. All had come from Delhi to Ludhiana to ensure smooth flow of trains as migrants in a huge number are being sent home.
Nine new patients, including a five-month-old child, were reported from Jalandhar. Eight of the patients belong to New Gobind Nagar and are contacts of a Covid positive woman while one is from Rasta Mohalla. The tally in Jalandhar has reached 197 now. In Kapurthala, one case was reported. The patient had arrived from UP on Monday night.
With 296 positive cases so far, Amritsar district reported another death. The patient, Mithun Swami (39), a a resident of the Bagh Ramanand area, was on ventilator support for the last two days at Government Medical College, Amritsar. Meanwhile, at least 25 positive cases were also discharged after complete recovery.
As per the Health Department, so far samples of 43,999 suspected cases were sent for testing. Of these, 39,060 samples were found negative and reports of 3,025 is awaited.
Retirement age of jawans to increase, says Gen Rawat
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 12
The retirement age of jawans in the Army, airmen in the IAF and sailors in the Navy is set to increase.
“We are soon bringing a policy to extend the service profile of the men (forces nomenclature for troops) and have an increased minimum retirement age, said Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in an exclusive interaction with The Tribune on Tuesday evening.
The move could benefit almost 15 lakh men of the three armed forces.
When asked if he was looking to cut manpower costs as mounting salaries and pensions were taking away a large chunk of the budget, General Rawat said: “I am looking at manpower costs. Why should a jawan serve for just 15 or 17 years, why cannot he serve for 30 years? We are losing trained manpower.”
He allayed fears that this would change the age profile of the fighting force, saying the frontline combatant could be young. “We have an Army Medical Corps, why can’t the nursing assistant serve till 50 years of age?” Citing the example of EME, he said those at base workshops remain there even in war, so why can’t they serve till 50. And at any given time the forces should not have more than a defined number who are above 40 years of age.
Speaking on the impact of Covid, he said the transformation and restructuring that everyone had been discussing was the need of the hour. “There is transformation required in the armed forces and Covid means it will be done now,” General Rawat said. On being asked if the target for having joint commands within three years would be met, General Rawat said: “I don’t visualise this going beyond three years. We will have a structure and implementation will start in three years”.
“For now we are moving ahead with joint Air Defence Command, the IAF chief has given a presentation on the matter and in six months we expect to have things in place. This command will have its own doctrine and amalgamate all training and logistic support.
The next would be the maritime command followed by the joint commands. The Army is doing a study on joint commands and the Navy on maritime commands. “The office of the CDS has given guidelines and studies will be completed by the year-end,” General Rawat said.
RESCIND THE ORDERS ON OPENING OF ROADS IN CANTONMENTS AND PRESERVE THE FIGHTING FORCES By Lt Gen PG Kamath (Veteran)
I am not fond of Britain for enslaving my country for over two centuries. Though, I know the present-day Britishers probably have no role in exploits of their forebearers; still, something torments me that all is not right with my attitude towards Britain. It may not matter to them at all; but yet my heart and soul are reluctant to accept them as a friend of India. Probably; it is due to my own prejudices or possibly I have read more about our struggle for independence and the dubious role played by them. Keeping J&K issue alive in the UN, years after our independence, the way Gilgit, Skardu and Baltistan were given to Pakistan stealthily and a naïve Nehru looked like a wet cat that has just been deprived of a fat rat by its master (Mountbatten) are just two of the innumerable issues. I also cannot pardon Britain for blotched -up, mangled mutilation of my country where nearly a million were butchered and 14 million were displaced. I should not blame them fully as Nehru was a naïve strategic pawn whom they exploited and played around with by dangling the charm of Edwina. This lovestruck widower was nuzzling up to her and drooling to her wishes and continuously sacrificed the interest of our nation.
Whatever be my reservations towards Britain; one thing I cannot fault them is their strategic vision and their ability to build an empire on the foundation of the British Indian Army. The British built and sustained one of the finest war machines in history that got victories in Africa, Mesopotamia, China, Persia, Tibet, Europe, South East Asia, Middle East, Palestine, and enabled them to earn the country the sobriquet: The Sun never sets in the British Empire. Even in the First World War, they built India Army to 1.4 million and contributed to the victory of Allies. Again, in the Second World War the British Indian Army was built to 2.5 million men and the war against the Axis was won.
Now, what did independent India do with the finest war machine they inherited? It was bungled at the inept hands of Nehru and Krishna Menon. They discredited, starved, truncated, demobilised and decimated it and reduced it to a pale shadow of its former self. They killed its pride and reduced its pay and kept it out of decision-making orbit. Not a single weapon was added from independence till our defeat in 1962. The only equipment that was bought was Jeeps from Britain when Krishan Menon was the High Commissioner of the country. He had flouted all the rules and regulations to strike the deal. The deal was not honoured and only 155 jeeps landed in India as Menon had paid most of the money upfront. Nehru did not allow any investigations in the deal. Next, we see that Menon was brought in as the Defence Minister of the country. This trend of buying defence equipment closely followed by money scam became the trademark policy of Congress for several decades to follow. Every defence purchase had in tow a scam lining the pockets of bureaucrats and politicians. There was always a symbiotic relationship between the manufacturer, the middlemen, bureaucrats and politicians. This nexus operated so smoothly in later years of the Congress rule as its foundation was laid by great visionaries like Nehru and Krishna Menon.
To cut it short the Armed Forces have been put under Defence Ministers in India, with no knowledge in strategic affairs. Not once has India articulated its ‘National Security Doctrine’ identifying our Political Aim, Military Objectives, Force Levels of our Adversaries and their objectives in two and half front war and how we are going to use all our instruments of national power to capture our strategic objectives, which in turn will make us achieve our political aim. Naïve and ignorant and insolent persons like Krishna Menon, St Anthony and Seetharaman have been offloaded on the Armed Forces, where each of them has tried their best to demoralise them as if they were in league with our adversaries. Krishna Menon ensured the defeat of our nation. Antony starved our forces of weapons and equipment and ensuring that the MMRCA aircraft deal languished and caught dust in his cupboard. Volumes will not suffice to write on their misdeeds; hence let me talk about the more recent assault on the Armed Forces by Sitharaman.
Let me give a bit of background: USS Theodor Roosevelt in ‘Sea Control Operations’ in Western Pacific, USS Ronal Reagan based in Yokosuka in Japan, USS Carl Vinson and USS Nimitz both based in Bremerton, Washington have been rendered non-operational as the sailors are infected with Chinese Virus. Each of the four aircraft carriers has over 5000 crew, 80 combat aircraft, over 10 helicopters besides an array of nuclear and conventional missiles and guns capable of engaging targets in the air, space, underwater and on land and sea surface. About two decades back, I had the good fortune to be conducted on one such carrier and it takes hours just to have an introductory visit to the gigantic combat platform. The Captain of USS Theodore Roosevelt was sacked and Secretary Navy had to resign. (Incidentally, the Secretary Navy is a political appointment of the rank of a junior minister) Hence, four out of eleven aircraft carriers (37 per cent) have been rendered unfit for war without firing a single bullet. Similarly, the only French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle has also been rendered non-operational due to Chinese Virus infecting the sailors. Just, visualise the prowess of ‘Biological Warfare!
What does it tell us? The British had always isolated the Armed Forces from Civilian Areas and gave them cantonments where they did not come in contact with locals other than those who are under cantonment administration. It is not to keep them exclusive but in times of such epidemics and pandemics, the ‘fighting forces are preserved’ to meet any external threats to the nation. Strategically speaking when the entire country is involved in controlling the pandemic it is the opportune time for our adversaries to browbeat us and capture disputed territories. Look at China; after unleashing their Virus across the world, is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and also against Taiwan with aggressive air and naval intrusions. As late as on 10 Apr 2020, Chinese H6 Bombers and J11 Fighters exercised over waters of Taiwan, South West of the island nation. China has established two administrative districts in South China, both at Xisha (Paracel) and Nanshan (Spratly). Both the archipelagos are disputed and claimed by Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan and Malaysia besides China. On 21 Apr 2020, a Chinese Research Vessel ‘Haiyang Dizhi 8’ intimidated Malaysian Petronas exploration Ship in the South China Sea.
Imagine a scenario if the forces manning the Chinese Borders are afflicted with the Chinese Virus. Thereafter, the Chinese Armed Forces come and intrude into our territory like in 2017 when they had occupied Dokalam Plateau of Bhutan. We also remember the standoff in Sikkim between the PLA and Indian Army. Our forces on the borders need to be reinforced from troops stationed in Cantonments. They would have to be flown to deal with the Chinese intrusions. Hence, it is of vital importance that the troops in Cantonments have to be preserved form any affliction of the Pandemic. They are the national reserve to stabilise situations all across our frontiers. Each of the formations in peace locations has an operational role to be performed in war. These forces are tasked for both defensive and offensive operations. The exclusivity of cantonments cannot be overemphasized to preserve the strength of the Armed Forces from Pandemic and other terrorists’ actions that could adversely affect the fighting capabilities of our forces.
It is for this reason that the Britishers had isolated Cantonments to locate troops in peace tenure where they train for future wars. These are under a separate administration and are usually the lungs of the cities. The forces at a moment’s notice are ready to fly to borders to augment forces anywhere across our frontiers. However, Sitharaman will not comprehend the problem. Her imperiousness had made her blind to reason. She opened up 99 roads in 62 cantonments; citing the Armed Forces did not follow the required procedures in restricting roads to civil traffic. Please see a number of articles and open letters which I had written including one also to the President of India that it was not a rational decision. Now; Sitharaman; will be solely responsible for the COVID cases in peace stations of the Indian Armed Forces. You have opened the roads indiscriminately and have played around with the security of the nation thus helping our adversaries. Already 80 services COVID patients are in R&R Hospital in Delhi. If the Chinese wage a ‘Biological Warfare’ against India; the first thing it would want us is to open up the cantonments to spread the ‘Sino Virus’ among fighting troops and incapacitate the country’s fighting potential. This ‘sine qua non’ of the People’s Liberation Army’s operational plan has been fulfilled by Sitharaman two years before the war.
Posterity can only tell whether the Chinese had really launched the Third World War with Covid-19 as its biological weapon? Without firing a single bullet, it has ensured that all its adversaries are reeling under economic depression with millions dying and billions losing their livelihood. All are in the act of begging China for generic medicine, PPE, ventilators and testing kits for survival. Look; how China has turned the tables against all her adversaries?
Notwithstanding the raw deal given I have no doubts that we will pull through. The Army Chief has rightly assessed the situation that the preservation of his fighting troops is his first priority. The Army Chief has launched Operation “Namaste” to isolate his 1.3 million army and preserve his fighting force in view of the pandemic. He also said that their safety is his first responsibility; indeed, the words of a true operational commander; which he really is. He also said “It is my priority to protect my force. We all will have to stay away from the disease. We will be able to serve the nation when we are away from the disease”. The Chief also assured the families of the soldiers defending Indian borders with China and Pakistan that the Army is taking care of its personnel serving the country in difficult times. The Army HQ has issued several advisories to its formations to insulate the troops from the disease. He also stressed that in a combat formation the social distancing is not possible and hence in the national interest the combat troops have to be preserved to keep them fighting fit. He also said that it is the duty of the Army to help the government and civil administration.
The Indian Armed forces cannot be a silent spectator of the travails of our nation. They have allocated 8500 doctors and 50000 paramedical staff at the disposal of the country. Over 14 Quarantine centres across the country have been kept ready to take on additional load if required. The Indian Airforce has evacuated Indians stranded across the globe and brought them to the country and also took care of them in quarantine centres. All Military Hospitals have been geared up to take on COVID afflicted patients. From 7 May, both Indian Navy and Airforce would be deploying their assets and assist to bring back nearly a million Indians from the Gulf, the US and Europe. The Indian Armed Forces take pride in ‘mission accomplishment’. It has been fulfilling its mission, in spite of Ministry of Defence and a few of the inept RMs of the past. At last, we have an RM who is a senior cabinet minister and has his focus in the right place. May I request him to rescind the orders on ‘Opening of Cantonment Roads’ by his predecessor and restore statuesque ante as on 01 Jan 2018. Let us put our country first always and every time!
The Finance Ministry on Monday clarified that there was no proposal on cutting salaries of central government employees.Reacting to news reports, the Ministry in a tweet said: “There is no proposal under consideration of Govt for any cut whatsoever in the existing salary of any category of central government employees.”“The reports in some section of media are false and have no basis whatsoever,” the Ministry added. Last month, the government had put on hold payment of increased Dearness Allowance to its 50 lakh employees and 61 lakh pensioners till June 30, 2021, as it looks to curtail expenditure to meet the spending requirement to fight coronavirus pandemic.The Finance Ministry’s Department of Expenditure in an office memorandum had earlier said no arrears of DA will be paid from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. PT
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Nine new patients, including a five-month-old child, were reported from Jalandhar. Eight of the patients belong to New Gobind Nagar and are contacts of a Covid positive woman while one is from Rasta Mohalla. The tally in Jalandhar has reached 197 now. In Kapurthala, one case was reported. The patient had arrived from UP on Monday night.
