Chandigarh, 21st February, 2016:- With the ongoing protest in Haryana over Jat Reservation the Chandigarh Administration has come forward to help the people who are stuck in Chandigarh and are facing difficulties.  The Disaster Management Department of Chandigarh Administration through the toll free number 1077 is working actively and helping people with all their queries.
The details of the Dharamshala’s that are presently helping the people stuck in Chandigarh along with Chandigarh Administration are:
Sr. No
Name of Dharamshala
Contact Details
1.
Maharastra Bhawan
07696091201
2.
Punjab Jat Bhawan
0172 -2654932 , 0172- 2641127
3.
Sood  Dharamshala
0172 – 2700223
4.
Satya Narayan Mandir
988935707
5.
Gurudwara,  Sector – 22
8427001352, 9815393071
6.
Muni Mandir, Sector – 23
0172- 2616891
7.
Gurudwara,  Sector – 23
9815088018
8.
CITCO Guest house, Sector 17
0172- 4644485
9.
Harijan Dharamshala, Khuda Lahora
9316658559
10.
Khuda Jassu,
9872024674, 9316658559
11.
Geeta Bhawan , Sector 52
9888718088, 9417001474
12.
Raen Basera, Sector-17 Bus stand
2783988
13.
Hans Raj Saraye, PGI
9356338159
14.
Channan Ram Dharamshala, Sector-15
2549385
15.
Nehru Saraye, PGI
2756109
16.
Gurudwara Saraye, PGI
2744276
17.
Rotary Club, PGI
2756168
18.
Himachal Saraye, Sector -24
9418087534
19.
Saini Bhawan Sector- 24
9872756078
20.
Musafir Auditorium Sector- 24
2710472
21.
Kisan Bhawan Sector- 35
5039153
22.
Jat Bhwan Sector- 27
2654932
23.
Gujjar Bhawna Sector- 28
9316135930
The Civil Defense and the Red Cross Society, Chandigarh are ensuring that no difficulties are faced by the people and are helping them by providing tea, food at various locations like Bus stand, Railway stations
Real Humanism

Jat fire burns down 20 buses, police post in Bhiwani district

At Tosham, SHO Ravinder Kumar, who confir med the arson at the bus stand, said police had sought extra force to deal with the situation. Superintendent of police (SP) Pratiksha Godara said: “We have been making appeals for peace since Day One of the protest. Bhiwani is under curfew. We are bringing more areas under it and indentifying those behind the Mudhal incident.”

In Sirsa, Jats demanding reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota in gover nment jobs blocked National Highway-10 to Fatehabad and the link roads to various villages. The protesters also blocked traffic near Panniwala Mota, Mahosinghana, and other Jat-dominated villages in the Nathusari Chopta area. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Jagdish Kajla led a force to the spot and tried to pacify them.

BARWALA, KAITHAL UNDER CURFEW

Barwala is the latest Hisar town to go under curfew, as deputy commissioner Chander Shakher Khare declared on Sunday. Hisar and Hansi in the district already are under 8pmto-6am curfew. Kaithal became ninth town to come under curfew.

BUSES OFF ROAD

The spreading Jat fire in Haryana has forced Haryana Roadways to suspend operations in all villages adjoining Sirsa for safety. Depot general manager Lekh Raj said: “The district was peaceful but now trouble has started here, too.”

Meanwhile, the army conducted a flag march in tense areas of the Sirsa district. Deputy Commissioner Sharandee p Kaur ordered closure of all government and private school, colleges and the CDLU university on Monday. Meanwhile Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gur meet Ram Rahim Singh said reservation must be given on the basis of financial condition and not on the basis of cast. He appealed people to maintain peace..

PEACE EFFORTS

The professors of Sirsa’s Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU) organised a prayer for peace in Haryana. A press release about it was signed by Manoj Siwach, Ashok Bhatia, SK Gehlawat, Shaileder Hooda, Vijay Saini, Sandeep Kumar, Rohtash Kumar, Rajender, Surender, SK Vij, Anil, Mukesh, Sushil, Vikas, Manoj, Hareram and Bajrang.

The Haryana government has also formed a peace committee in every district. It will have representation of all communities and try to restore peace in their area by making appeals to people.

Policemen remained ‘reluctant’ as protesters went on rampage

OFT-PEDALLING BY STATE GOVERNMENT AND HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF JATS IN FORCE LED TO INACTION

CHANDIGARH: The role and performance of the Haryana Police in tackling the Jat quota agitation has left lot to be desired. The cops in the field had virtually packed up and were mute witness to the ongoing arson and violence. So much so that a number of police stations like the ones in Meham and Pillukhera in Jind were also damaged by the Jat protesters.

Realising that the situation was getting out of control, the Khattar government requisitioned army on Friday evening, having earlier sought companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre. In fact, Union cabinet secretary PK Sinha reportedly told Haryana DGP Yashpal Singal during a video conferencing on Saturday to look sharp and try to regain the lost confidence.

WHY POLICE FAILED TO SWING INTO ACTION?

There are two apparent reasons for the police inaction. One the state government is learnt to have soft-pedalled the issue by asking cops to exercise utmost restraint as a charge on the protesters would spiral the situation into a major conflict, leading to loss of lives. An IPS officer, who is on the chopping block for allegedly not acting when the marauding protesters were on a rampage, is learnt to have told his colleagues that he was asked to desist from using force on them.

Secondly, the Haryana police has a sizeable number of Jats as middle-rung cops as well as in the ranks. This led to reluctance in the ranks to act against their own community. Sources said that in Gannaur of Sonepat district, a posse of cops refused to lathicharge a group of protesters, disobeying orders of the civil administration.

‘RELUCTANCE MAY BE, BUT NO INACTION’

Responding to a question as to whether Jat personnel in the police force were abetting violence or showing reluctance to act against miscreants, additional chief secretary, home, Pranab Kishore Das said such apprehensions were in the notice of the state government.

“But a stern message has been conveyed to the police personnel – both higher and in the ranks- that reluctance to act or assisting abettors will invite in strict punitive action,’’ he said. Das admitted that there could have been instances where cops showed hesitation in moving out in the field from police lines, but as of now every cop is in the field and deployed.

Director general of police Yashpal Singal, however, said that it would be incorrect to say that the police did not act. “The police conducted lathicharge at many places as well as fired tear gas shells. In fact, so many tear gas shells were fired in Rohtak town that we ran out of stock,’’ he said.

‘CHEESED OFF COMMUNITY’

Talking to HT, a former DGPrank officer said that during the last two decades, Jats had been major beneficiaries in the police recruitments. “Most of the station house officers (SHOs) are Jats. A large number of nongazetted officials– sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables are Jats,’’ he said. The retired IPS officer said that Jats having relished power for so long were now cheesed off due to the emergence of a non-Jat chief minister. “The quota issue is a mere façade. What they want is a Jat chief Minister so that they can have a free run,’’ he said.

Delhi-Chandigarh air tickets for ` 99,000

NEW DELHI: Air fares on the Chandigarh-Delhi route have shot through the roof with a one-way ticket for Monday selling for over ` 99,000.

The fares for a one- way, 45-minute, Chandigarh-Delhi flight is priced almost the double of a Delhi-London return flight that costs around ` 46,000. A Delhi-New York return ticket costs around ` 63,000.

A one-way ticket on travel portal makemytrip was being sold ` 99,128. Airline sources said flights out of Chandigarh were fully booked as people were desperate to get out of the city.

“These are the last few seats available and being sold for a premium,” said an airline official. Sources said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation was keeping tabs on the situation. “We have requested special permission for the DGCA to operate flights to Chandigarh on Sunday when the airport is closed and also requested for permission for additional flights in the late evening. We will also be flying the bigger Boeing 737 jets to Chandigarh to accommodate additional passengers,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson.

On the third day of the agitation, all he mail, express and passengers trains on the route of Ambala-Panipat and Delhi remained cancelled and all the buses of the Haryana roadways including the Volvo buses remained off road.

Jat agitation fire reaches Delhi, dries up taps

SPILLOVER Protests held at Nangloi, Madhuban Chowk, Narela and Najafgarh among other places, traffic diversions, several roads leading to Haryana blocked, reports of damage to public property

NEW DELHI: The ongoing Jat quota agitation in the neighbouring Haryana reached Delhi on Sunday with protests by community members in several city localities affecting traffic.

Members of the community, who are demanding reservation in government jobs, held protests at many places, including Nangloi, Madhuban Chowk, Narela and Najafgarh.

The protests led to diversion of traffic with several roads leading to neighbouring Haryana having been blocked by the protesters, a senior police officer said.

There also were reports of damage to public property by the protesters, who blocked major state border entry points, including Sindhu border, Nangloi-Bahadurgarh Road, Karnal road, Tikri, Jharoda and Madhuban Chowk in southwest and outer Delhi, creating major traffic snarls which affected many areas in the city.

“Several companies of Delhi Police have been deployed in Najafgarh and adjoining areas and we are trying to bring the situation under control,” said a police officer.

“All the major roads are severely affected with Madhuban Chowk having been blocked by the demonstrators. The situation is under control so far,” additional DCP (Outer) Pankaj Kumar Singh said.

Traffic police issued an advisory during the day saying that Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-8) has been blocked near Dharuhera, district Rewari. However, later in the evening traffic police said that the Highway was open. The advisory also said that NH-I and NH-10 are not likely to be open for next 48 hours.

Jats in Haryana have been agitating for the past few days to press their demand for quotas in jobs and educational institutions.

The protests have disrupted normal life in several districts in Haryana, including Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Sonepat and Hisar.

With the canal and its water supply machinery, which has been damaged, not being in control of the authorities, Delhi’s water woes are likely to aggravate in the coming days.

Punjabis, Sainis face wrath of protesters

Protesters block the Chandigarh-Shimla highway in Panchkula. AFP

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, February 21

Members of Punjabi and Saini communities have largely been in the line of Jat agitators during the ongoing violence on reservation issue.No particular reasons can be assigned for the agitators’ wrath against Punjabis, but members of Saini community presumably invited Jats’ anger due to alleged irresponsible statements of BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini.Notably, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is a Punjabi and a section of Punjabis see this as a reason behind attack on their houses and business establishments.In Rohtak, members of Punjabi, Saini and some other non-Jat communities alleged that the youths agitating to press for the grant of reservation to Jats specifically targeted their showrooms, hotels/restaurants, schools, shops and other commercial establishments.They maintained barring a few exceptions, the establishments of the Jats located nearby were spared. However, some residents maintained while the Jat youths ransacked and burnt shops, a majority of loot was carried out by the youths of Balmiki and other non-Jat communities.Groups of youths belonging to Saini, Balmiki and Punjabi communities also held meetings and planned retaliation, as a result of which tension prevailed in the town today.In Jhajjar too, people of Punjabi and Saini communities are mainly being targeted by Jat protesters in the city as the business establishments torched by the protesters yesterday were being run by Punjabis and Sainis. Five out of six shops near main bus stand that were set ablaze belong to Punjabis.

Bhiwani MP’s house vandalised in Tosham

A commercial building gutted near the residence of ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Delhi Road in Rohtak on Sunday. Manoj Dhaka

Sat Singh

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, February 21

A group of non-Jat supporters vandalised Bhiwani-Mahendragarh MP Dharambir Singh’s house in Tosham today and torched nearly 20 vehicles, including Haryana Roadways bus, parked in a bus depot.Despite the deployment of Army and a heavy police force, arsonists torched police posts at Achina, Kharak, Adampur Dhadi, Mundhal villages of the district on Saturday night.Groups of Jats and non-Jats seemed to have a free run on Saturday night after they set ablaze the Dadri railway station, an ambulance in the Community Health Centre, an ATM kiosk in Loharu town and streetlights.Army personnel who were on their way from Jaipur (Rajasthan) to reach Bhiwani were obstructed at Badhwana village and could not go beyond Charkhi Dadri.The presence of Army personnel assured people ofPeople heaved a sigh of relief after the Army were seen manned at main chowks in Bhiwani and Dadri town but Jat protesters continued to keep their blockade in district at every 5 km. To restore normalcy, several social organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), carried out a peace march here, urging people to maintain social harmony. Local mediapersons held a meeting and also took out a peace march.RSS leaders told the media they would move to villages and appeal to protesters to withdraw their agitation in the interest of society.RTI activist Capt Pawan Kumar Anchal blamed the state government for failing to control the agitation. He said people had been living under fear.Clash, arson in Hansi leave eight hurtHisar: Fresh violence occurred in Eight persons were injured in a clash between Jats and members of other communities in Hansi town today. A portion of a cooperative bank, several showrooms and vehicles were set ablaze in and around the town. Jats protesters from Sisay and other villages proceeded towards Sainipur and Hansi town. While another mob from Hansi also came in confrontation, both resorted to stone pelting. The Army and the police had to open fire in the air and lob teargas shells to disperse the mob.

Khaps appeal for calm

Two prominent khaps — Sheoran and Sangwan — on Sunday resolved to continue their peaceful agitation for reservation. They, however, criticised violent incidents in other parts of the state. Meetings were held in several villages for continuing with peaceful agitations.

Tribune News Service,Jammu, February 15

The Corps of Signals today celebrated its 106th anniversary at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur.In his message, Northern Army Chief Lt Gen DS Hooda urged the Signallers to continue to excel in their respective roles and further hone their skills to face challenges of future warfare and live up to their motto of “Teevra Chaukas”.Signallers of the Northern Command have kept the flag of the corps flying high by ensuring reliable, seamless, responsive real time and secure communications for all operational facets.

Tributes being paid to two slain soldiers at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar on Sunday. The soldiers were killed on Saturday during an encounter with militants in Kupwara district. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Srinagar, February 14

The Army today said infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) into Kashmir was down to a “trickle” when compared to earlier years, as the Valley was seeing a decrease in the number of militants with less than 100 ultras in terrorist launch pads.“There has been no increase in the presence of terrorists. Their numbers are decreasing,” General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Satish Dua, said here.The Army Commander was addressing the media after paying floral tributes to two jawans who were killed in an encounter with militants in Kupwara.The General Officer Commanding said the terrain on the Line of Control was such that infiltration does take place, but the Army had been able to limit the numbers.“I will not deny that (infiltration is taking place). In 2015, there were more than 600 inputs of infiltration. However, because of the counter-infiltration grid and our alertness on the LoC, we have been able to limit their numbers. You all know, 10-15 years ago, the kind of infiltration that used to take place. Today, that is down to a trickle,” he said.He said the number of militants waiting in the launch pads across the Line of Control had also come down. “The numbers that are waiting across in the launch pads used to be higher during summers. Presently, the numbers have come down. They are little under 100,” he said.He said there were higher numbers of inputs about infiltration attempts in Kupwara, but the success of the counter-infiltration grid was that militant groups were not allowed to move into the hinterland.“Since about the last three months, we had many intelligence inputs about infiltration taking place and several operations were conducted in the area of Kupwara.“The militant groups have not been able to move to the hinterland because of an effective and robust counter-infiltration grid. That is the reason that you are seeing that these killings are taking place in the area of Kupwara,” he said.“Due to the treacherous terrain in that area, terrorists who manage to cross over are trapped in the reception areas just behind the LoC,” he said.He said the Pathankot incident did not necessitate any changes for the Army in the Valley as they constantly kept improving their measures.“Our measures on the LoC and in the depth of it were already very strong and have been like that for years. We constantly keep improving them. The Pathankot incident did not have to bring about or necessitate any changes for us. We are constantly improving it and we have a robust grid on the LoC,” he said. —PTI

‘e-war’ by terror outfits sets alarm bells in J&K

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria,Tribune News Service,Jammu, February 14

Terror outfits such as the ISIS and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) have set alarm bells ringing across the militancy-infested state by targeting Kashmir in the ‘e-war’ being waged in the cyber world.The Army strongly wants to have a counter system in place to tackle such terror outfits and at the same time “plug” local Kashmiri militants and their sympathisers in the virtual world.“Firstly, the situation in the Valley, especially south Kashmir, is a matter of concern to us. We should not go into the statistics of how many (ultras) have been killed and how many injured. There is much more on the ground than statistics,” said a top source in the Army.The second half of last year had seen a spurt in militant attacks and activities, especially in south Kashmir, which emerged as the new hub of militants.“Local youth took up guns and that is a disturbing trend. And, the websites of ISIS and the JuD have come up as effective tools for them to radicalise youth and pursue their subversive agenda,” a defence source said.“To counter their nefarious plans, we should also have a system in place on the lines of the US which has the National Counter Terrorism Center for the purpose, said the defence source.“The Army has already discussed the issue threadbare and the government has also accepted that social sites were being misused by terror outfits to radicalise Indian youth. However, the Home Ministry has to take a call,” he added.“The new breed of militants in Kashmir led by Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani has used social media like WhatsApp and Facebook to attract Kashmiri youth to militancy and they were successful in their plan. Terror outfits are also spewing venom on social sites. So, unbridled freedom to such terror outfits and insurgents should cease. The sooner it happens, the better it will be,” he said.

South Kashmir emerges as militant hub

• The second half of last year had seen a spurt in militant attacks and activities especially in south Kashmir, which emerged as the new hub of militants.
• Defence sources said the new breed of militants in Kashmir led by Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani has used social media like WhatsApp and Facebook to attract Kashmiri youth to militancy and they were successful in their plan

Students affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protest outside the office of the vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi on Wednesday to vent their ire over a programme describing the execution of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as ”judicial killing”. PTI photo

New Delhi, February 12

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on Friday on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy for organising an event in the institute protesting the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

“Kanhaiya Kumar has been arrested in connection with the case,” a senior police official said.

Two policemen in plain clothes came to the JNU campus on Friday to pick up Kumar for questioning.

He was arrested later, sources said.

Police had booked some unidentified people after BJP MP Maheish Girri and ABVP complained.

‘It’s a witch-hunt’    

JNU students’ union condemned Kumar’s arrest and claimed it was a “witch-hunt”.

“The police is mindlessly patrolling the campus and the students are being witch-hunted and demonised for doing nothing. What is the proof that Kanhaiya was there among those raising anti-India slogans? Has he been spotted in any picture or video? Why are all JNU students being given ‘anti-national’ certificates,” JNUSU vice president Shehla Rashid Shora said.

Students gathered outside vice-chancellor’s office to demand he intervene.

“Why is the administration not protecting students against this selective targeting by ABVP? Why police have been given such a free hand to rashly pick students from campus? Why were the cops not uniformed? If there has to be an inquiry, why no protocols are being followed,” said a member of the All India Students Association (AISA).

‘Anti-national activities’

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said earlier in the day that he had told the Delhi Police to take the “strongest” action against those involved in the case and said activities will not be tolerated.

“If anyone raises anti-India slogans, tries to raise questions on country’s unity and integrity, they will not be spared. Stringent action will be taken against them,” he told reporters here.

Some students have been accused of raising anti-India slogans at an event held on the JNU campus on Tuesday against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013.

The administration had cancelled permission for the event after ABVP members objected it for being “anti-national”.

The JNU administration has already begun a disciplinary enquiry over the event and said it would await its report before acting.

Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani denounced the protests.

“I only want to say that today is the day of worship of Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati blesses every family that whatever they speak is for progress and strengthening the nation. Let mother India be praised. Nation will never tolerate insult to mother India,” she told reporters when asked to comment on the incident at JNU earlier in the day.

In her speech at an event organised by an RSS-linked body working in the field of education earlier in the day, Irani hinted at the protests saying that when she heard ‘Vande Mataram’ and “prayers to the mother” being recited, she ‘felt satisfied that there are teachers who teach children to pray for the nation and not anti-India slogans”.

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said: “During that day’s sloganeering, some objectionable things were said. Those were transgression of the Indian Penal Code, for which we registered an FIR,” he said. — PTI

The army has raised an alarm after an officer,Captain Shikhar Deep, who was travelling to Delhi from Katihar on Mahananda Express, went missing on February 6.

The army has raised an alarm after an officer went missing from train while on his way to Delhi.

Captain Shikhar Deep, who was travelling to Delhi from Katihar on Mahananda Express, went missing on February 6.

“The officer did not reach his destination and went missing during transit. Any information with regard to where about of the officer may please be conveyed to Lt Col Anant Kumar, Mob No 9128724351,” said a press note released by the army.

Captain Shikhar Deep’s family had arrived at Old Delhi railway station to receive him on February 7 but he was not on the train.

His father, Lieutenant Colonel Anant Kumar, who is posted in Ranchi, has claimed that Captain Deep’s disappearance could be linked to some terrorist organisation. A case of suspected abduction has been filed by the railway police.

According to the police, his luggage was found intact in the coach he was travelling in, but the officer was nowhere to be found and his mobile was also switched off. The officer’s father said Rs 20,000 was also missing from his son’s wallet.

The ticket examiner and the man who provided bedsheet in the coach, said he was last seen at Kanpur during the journey.

Meanwhile, the army officer’s friends have started a campaign on the social media asking people to share any available information about his whereabouts.

Actor Akshay Kumar takes a selfie with army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag and others on board the INS Sumitra New Delhi, Feb. 6: A series of changes introduced by the military in formal public ceremonies have confused veterans who worry that the new elements detract from the gravitas and solemnity of the events. The latest is the inaugural of the international fleet review (IFR) where the Indian Navy saluted President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, at sea off Visakhapatnam today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and the chiefs of the army, navy and the air force, Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag, Adm. Robin Dhowan and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, respectively, were also on board the INS Sumitra, that was designated the “Presidential Yacht”. Who else was there? Actor Akshay Kumar and his son. On board the ship, from which the President reviewed a fleet of 92 ships that included 24 foreign warships from 21 countries, Akshay clicked a “selfie” with Gen. Suhag, the army chief. Prime Minister Modi playfully pulled the ears of Akshay’s son. The actor proudly posted the picture on photo-sharing social website Instagram. Last evening, at the INS Satavahana, a land station of the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam, actor Kangana Ranaut shared the dais with Adm. Dhowan, the chief of naval staff, and the chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Adm. Satish Soni. Akshay and Kangana have been designated “brand ambassadors” for IFR 2016. At the event, organised mainly for visiting foreign naval personnel, Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe gyrated to Bollywood music. “Next time, it will be bar girls,” a former soldier, Arun Govil, wrote sarcastically on Facebook in a comment on a post that questioned the “Bollywoodisation” of the military. An international fleet review is being held in India after 15 years. The navy believes that the occasion demands that visiting sailors be treated as honoured guests and be given a glimpse of what Indian culture has to offer. Not only did Davar perform, the guests were also shown performances of classical dances like Kuchipudi, said navy sources. The evening was a time to relax after the labours of the day and before the next day’s demanding routine. Today’s events showcase the Indian Navy’s capabilities, said navy sources. They included, apart from the steam past, a display by Marine Commandos, water skiing and overflights by fighter planes and helicopters. “As the Presidential Yacht passed between the review anchor columns, each ship dressed in full regalia, saluted the President. Each ship was manned by her ship’s company, dressed in white ceremonial uniform. In a moment that stood still in time, white caps were doffed in unison in a grand salutation,” a navy statement said describing the review. This was the 11th fleet review for the President by the Indian Navy – only the second that is “international”. An international fleet review is an assembly of warships without belligerent intention, says the official brochure for IFR 2016. A picture posted on Instagram by Akshay Kumar shows Narendra Modi playfully pulling the ear of the actor’s son on board the INS Sumitra during the international fleet review in waters off Visakhapatnam on Saturday In the first IFR in 2001, there were more foreign warships – 29, as compared to 24 this year. The representation from navies, 54, this time is significantly more. Most of the foreign navies sent delegations, not ships. Also, the Indian Navy is hosting the Chinese Navy, with two frigates, in such a ceremony for the first time. Pakistan was invited to the IFR but did not respond. The waters in which the IFR is being held are the same where the Pakistan submarine, PNS Ghazi, was destroyed in the 1971 war. There are conflicting accounts on how that happened. Some navy sources insist it was sunk by Indian Navy depth charges. Others say it hit the ground for not having mapped the coastline. It was not till some of its debris floated that the Indian Navy knew there was a Pakistani submarine lurking just outside Visakhapatnam. The navy’s current showcasing of India’s military might and Indian culture apart, military veterans are most indignant over the “Beating Retreat” ceremony on January 29. The ceremony owes its tradition to the end of a day’s battle rituals where the armies would return to camps picking their way through the dead and the wounded. In India, “Beating Retreat” usually signifies the end of the military ceremonies surrounding Republic Day. This year, “Beating Retreat” included for the first time “non-martial” instruments such as the sitar and the tabla, performed by uniformed soldiers who were in a static position. They were seated in rows on ramps. This is highly uncharacteristic for marching contingents that play martial music in honour of the dead, to build camaraderie and to enthuse soldiers for the hardships ahead. Former vice chief of army staff, Lt Gen. Vijay Oberoi, was so aghast that he wrote an open letter to the three service chiefs that was titled, “Sirs, I am disillusioned and devastated”. Lt Gen. Oberoi lost a leg in the 1965 war with Pakistan and rose to be vice-chief of the army in the years 2000-2001. He heads an association of the war wounded. He wrote that the “Beating Retreat” ceremony was reduced to a ” tamasha” of sorts. “I need not remind you worthies that traditions are the core of the Indian military and flouting them on account of pressures/requests from political and other bosses amount to letting down the troops whom you lead,” he wrote to the chiefs. He said that soldiers would do whatever their superiors wanted “but please do note that they will do so only if the orders are legitimate and legal and not to please your bosses or others”. If military musicians adept at playing symphonies had to play popular tunes, they should do so on an occasion that was not a military ceremony like “Beating Retreat”. The former vice-chief was also angry that a marching contingent of retired soldiers was not included in the Republic Day parade this year. This is a particularly sensitive issue for the Modi administration that this week notified “one rank one pension” but is still unable to convince former soldiers that it has kept an election promise. Lt Gen. Oberoi wrote to the service chiefs: “You may be fully committed to your bosses, but why have you become such ‘Ji Huzoors’ that you have now forgotten even your comrades in arms, who incidentally were at least partly responsible for assisting you to reach the present high appointments you hold!”

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