Tribune News Service
Solan, May 26
In a bid to inspire students from elite public schools to join the armed forces in view of their declining interest towards this profession, Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC in C), Western Command, today addressed the students of The Lawrence School at Sanawar and motivated them to choose a career in the armed forces.Delivering a talk on “Leadership – A Way of Life” in the school, he reminisced his days as a trainee at the National Defence Academy where he came across officers from this school and always looked with awe at Sanawar. He inspired the students to opt for a career in the armed forces, which helped in bringing out the cutting edge leadership in an individual.He said,“It is the leadership packaged into a concept called management, which has evolved as an important tool of running corporate sectors in today’s world.”Delving into the essence of the Indian Army, he described it as a secular and apolitical entity, which was living and fighting for the name of the battalion (naam), owing allegiance (namak) to the nation while upholding its honour (flag or Nishaan).He said, “The officers laying down their lives are far more in the Indian Army than other armies, as we are trained to lead from the front.” As future leaders, administrators and business tycoons of the country, he urged the students to employ the soldiers who superannuate at a young age for their sense of loyalty and discipline.He said, “You cannot fool the world, your character should be strong and only then will you be followed by the people. He advised the students to be proactive and realise their aims. He said they should inculcate various qualities like a strong will-power, physical and moral courage, quick decision making, human-relation skills, tolerance for ambiguity, wisdom and vision, equanimity, team-building and apt management skills.He compared the Army to a mobile with dual SIMs of one’s family and regiment, where regiment takes precedence over the family owing to a sense of camaraderie. He concluded his address by saying that “if you want to thank a soldier, be the kind of Indian worth fighting for”.Headmaster Vinay Pandey gave a memento to the GOC in C as a token of appreciation and gratitude.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit cannot be a negotiating event; it is a symbolic one to strengthen the politico-diplomatic relationship.
Informal observers always mention the inevitability of a strong India-Iran relationship due to historic civilisational linkages. However, it takes an effort to tango if a mutual relationship has to be progressed.
The natural relationship has had many constraints and restraints. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi proceeds for one of his very important foreign visits to Tehran, it is worth reviewing why this relationship has never been a low hanging fruit. It also needs new focus and energy of clear intent to make it happen.
Iran’s Ambassador in India Gholamreza Ansari, shortly after the lifting of sanctions, spoke at a seminar, words which are likely to be quoted extensively for some years. ‘In my three years as the Ambassador of Iran,’ he said, ‘I have often been advised to be patient on big India-Iran projects. Does India want to wait for centuries before capturing the right opportunities?’ What was preventing the capturing of the right opportunities is important to know.
When the world was emerging from the Cold War era and a new order was just starting to take shape, Iran was 10 to 12 years into the post Revolution period. Its relationship with the international community and within the Islamic world was under severe strain. The India-Iran relationship was based more on the flow of India’s energy needs and the emotional linkages of the Indian Shia community.
Iran somehow perceived India closer to Saddam Hussain’s Iraq. The development of closer economic ties with the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and the flow of Indian labour and managerial talent into them also had its effect in creating a stronger relationship with the Arab nations.
The flow of oil from Iran never touched the proportions of the potential there was because after the Islamic Revolution and during the Iran-Iraq War, Iran frequently failed to meet India’s volume of requirements.
On India’s part there was definitely a degree of hesitation to take the relationship to the levels of true potential because after 1991 the end of the Cold War signaled the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The strategic necessity for building a relationship with the United States always haunted India’s desire to move closer to Iran.
The US had a deep hurt from the events of 1979 and the hostage crisis. That hurt has continued to play a role in the way that the US handled all affairs related to Iran. Especially after Iran embarked on the nuclear path the US ensured the full implementation of its own and United Nations sanctions which effectively blocked the feasibility of normal relationships between Iran and other nations.
The other nemesis of Iran has been Israel. Iran’s animosity arose out of its desire to be seen as the one leading the pack to wreak revenge on Israel on behalf of the Palestinians. After the 1979 Revolution it began a hate campaign against Israel which makes it today, 36 years later still the chief campaigner.
In the interim, India and Israel developed a strong enduring relationship on the basis of shared strategic interests. India’s dependence on Israel as a key supplier of military technology and hardware therefore forced it not to push for a warmer than normal relationship with Iran; relations remained essentially transactional.
However, the above is history and now new opportunities beckon.
The July 14, 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, normally called the Iran Nuclear Agreement, has lifted sanctions on Iran in return for comprehensive external control on its nuclear programme. It has opened up a stream of nations to seek business in a country which has largely been isolated from the international business world.
During the sanctions period India continued low key commerce with Iran and purchased oil at lower volumes due to major problems in the payment procedure. That low passion, very cautious relationship of the last 36 years is awaiting transformation and that is what the Iranian ambassador so appropriately mentioned in his speech.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit cannot be a negotiating event; it is a symbolic one to strengthen the politico-diplomatic relationship. However, it will be the culmination of some processes which have been going on in the background.
Everyone’s eyes are on Chah Bahar port which lies in the Sistan Baluchistan area of southern Iran; we should know the geo-strategic and geo-economic reasons for this. Yet, as a starter it is good to be aware that this area has had a running low key insurgency for many years and the Islamic Republican Guard is deployed to counter it.
The prime minister’s visit is being seen as a big ticket event on Chah Bahar because once embedded here the Indian commercial set-up can finally start looking towards Central Asia, 24 years after the first opportunities arose. Denied access to both Afghanistan and Central Asia by Pakistan these developments are also being closely watched by Islamabad.
A Transport and Transit Corridors (Chabahar) Agreement was finalised during the second meeting of experts in Delhi on April 11, 2016 and includes Afghanistan within its ambit. This will be a major strategic breakthrough and is to be inked during the visit.
Once materialised it is bound to enhance the Iran-India-Afghanistan relationship and help the latter in its fledgling trade ventures.
However, the fact that the infrastructure connecting Chah Bahar inwards and onto the intended areas is either nonexistent or in a poor state will mean that the real worth of the Agreement will take time to materialize.
There is a need for refurbishment and fresh construction of railway infrastructure and provision of rolling stock which is already underway. This will need stamina, staying power and much convincing for Iran’s continued involvement even in the face of other viable and functional ports at Bandar Abbas and Bandar Khomeini.
Energy will compete with connectivity as the next big issue.
With funds in its hands after the de-freezing of its $100 billion in the US Iran should be looking towards participating in big ticket projects which will enhance the quantum of supply of natural gas to India.
The Iran Pakistan India $7.5 billion pipeline is as good as dead due to Pakistan’s obstinacy. However, there are other projects on the drawing board such as an Iran Oman India undersea pipeline. The Farzad 2 gas fields are likely to be taken up by some Indian companies with a $5 billion to $10 billion investment.
Here again it is a question of competing technology from the US and other developed countries to exploit Iran’s known reserves. Indian companies will have to give robust competition.
How will Pakistan and China see these developments in the light of the $46 billion investment that China is making in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor? The idea of isolating India and having an exclusive connect in the region for China is likely to fly in the face if the projects being contemplated fully fructify.
Perhaps more public sector support to India’s private players may be needed. China will attempt to do everything to prevent this happening and through the proxy of Pakistan which has restive borders in the Chah Bahar region.
Lastly, an issue for the sidelines of the PM’s visit which must be something India should constantly seek for its viability is the Iran-Israel relationship. There really are no potential mediators. Animosity and antagonism do not last forever. They too are contextual.
Perhaps, with contexts changing and the common adversary of all being ISIS (Daesh), Iran and Israel have no reason to be adversaries. The Hezbollah question will remain. However, even Israel should be happy to rid itself of the burden of constantly defending itself.
Perhaps the time for the idea has come and India can play the most positive role in this regard.
Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) is currently associated with the Delhi Policy Group and the Vivekananda International Foundation.
Chandigarh, May 16
To encourage the regional industry to harness the opportunity in the manufacture and supply of equipment to the defence sector, a roundtable was organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry where senior members of the armed forces and representatives of the industry interacted with each other to chalk out a viable course of action today.Over 200 participants, including defence experts, industrialists and top government officials, attended the event that was held in association with the Western Command and the No.3 Base Repair Depot. Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, said in the era of competition, the focus should be on raising the benchmark. Stressing that micro, small and medium enterprises needed to produce quality equipment, he added that there was a dire need to take the Chinese model head-on. Karan Avtar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab, gave an insight into the state government’s policy on investment promotion, especially fiscal incentives and one-stop clearance for projects, to encourage investors in the MSME sector.Maj RS Bedi (retd), co-chairman of PHDCCI’s, defence and HLS committee, said the aim of the roundtable series was to explain the procurement procedures and related rules and regulations to the industry, specifically the MSMEs.Rajiv Chib, director, aerospace and defence, PWC, said the “make in India” was an important focus of defence procurement procedure (DPP) issued by the Defence Ministry. Pointing out that as many as 28 offsets contract, valued at $ 6 billion dollars had been signed so far, he added that the MSMEs should be given preference over non-MSMES in the selection of development agencies in case they met the eligibility criteria at any stage. An exhibition of items indigenised by the armed forces was also put up.— TNS
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, May 14
Taking a serious view of concealment of facts in a case of promotion of a Brigadier, the Regional Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal has imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the Central government, Chief of Army Staff and the military secretary.The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justice Devi Prasad Singh (judicial member) and Air Marshal Anil Chopra (administrative member) yesterday.A fine of Rs 5 lakh has also been imposed on the original applicant, NK Mehta, for concealment of facts. It has asked the respondents and the applicant to deposit the amount to the Tribunal within two months, which shall be remitted to the Army Centre Welfare Fund.The order adds that after due inquiry, fine should be recovered from the salary or pension of the people who are held accountable for the entire episode.Brig Mehta had filed an application challenging the result of the selection process for the rank of Major General held on October 13-14, 2011, which had recommended the name of Major General RS Rathore.The result was then declassified and declared on June 20, 2012, which was challenged by the applicant.The Tribunal’s order observed that the applicant was not entitled to any relief as he had concealed facts in connivance with the respondents, owing to which the probity of system and standard of selection process could not be maintained.
London: Hundreds of people have been told to leave homes and businesses in the English city of Bath after a 225-kg unexploded World War II shell was found under a school playground. Police evacuated residents for 300 metres around the device, found during construction work at the disused Royal High School. Britain was heavily bombed by Germany’s Luftwaffe during the war, and undetonated explosives are sometimes found during construction work. AP
Islamabad, May 13
Pakistan Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz has conceded that relations with the US have been under stress for the past three months because of conditions Washington had attached to the funding of F-16 fighter jets’ sale.The confession was made by the adviser on Thursday while concluding a debate in the Senate on an adjournment motion on the US decision to withdraw proposed subsidy on the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, Dawn online has reported.The adviser said that Pakistan-US relations had come to a standstill in 2011 because of unfortunate incidents, including WikiLeaks and the Abbottabad operation where former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed.Since 2013, he said Pakistan’s relations with the US had witnessed an “upward trajectory”.”In the past three months, however, this upward trajectory in relations has witnessed a downward slide, as reflected in a decision of the US Congress to block partial funding for eight F-16 aircraft,” he said.Aziz said that the US action might have been caused by concerns raised by Washington on the nuclear issue which had been categorically rejected by Pakistan.The adviser, however, assured the Senate that in view of the importance of the issue, Pakistan is making all-out efforts to finalise the F-16 deal with the US Administration.However, senators have termed the US a friend which could not be trusted anymore.They also criticised the US for expanding its relations with India.
Lt Gen NK Mehta, (AOC) demoted to Brig on charges of FRAUD and MALICE by AFT Lucknow in their order on 17th Feb in the review application. However his demotion was stayed by Supreme Court subject to the outcome of the OA. His OA now stands dismissed. Judgement pronounced by AFT Lucknow-OA 255/2012 – brig (Lt gen) NK Mehta, AOC, versus UOI and Ors on 13/5/2016.
Salient points of judgement-
1. Lt Gen NK Mehta to be demoted to Brig with immediate effect.
2. Cost- RS 5 lakh to be paid by NK Mehta for committing fraud in active connivance with MOD.
3. Cost- Rs 50 lakh on UOI, COAS, MS( to be recovered from the salary/pension of the persons accountable for the entire episode). Amt to be deposited within two months to the registrar of the tribunal, which shall be remitted to the Army Central Welfare Fund ( ACWF) for the welfare of army pers.
4. Enquiry to be ordered by government to fix responsibility in accordance with law for unfair practices in the army or MOD as the case may be.
5. Promotion to Lt Gen of NK Mehta was totally wrong .
6. Policies on promotion were totally violated as per convenience to facilitate NK Mehta to become Maj Gen and further Lt Gen.
Judgement link:
http://aftlko.up.nic.in/AFR/O.A.%20No.%20255%20of%202012%20Brig%20NK%20Mehta.pdf
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 19
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has decreed that a top Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) officer who was recently elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General was not even fit to be promoted from Brigadier to Major General and has recalled its promotion order.Taking up a review petition filed by another AOC officer, Maj Gen RS Rathore, the Tribunal’s Bench, comprising Justice DP Singh and Air Marshal Anil Chopra, has held that the promotion of Lt Gen NK Mehta from the rank of Brigadier to Major General on the basis of a previous AFT order was not tenable due to concealment of facts from the court. The AFT’s order can be challenged in the next higher judicial forum. Both officers are of December 1979 seniority and were considered as Brigadiers for promotion to the rank of Major General in 2011. While Rathore was approved for the next rank, Mehta’s result was withheld due to a pending Disciplinary and Vigilance ban on him in an earlier case, which was later revoked. Mehta approached the AFT in 2012 seeking promotion to Major General. Rathore averred that several important facts were hidden by Mehta and he had not even been impleaded as a party to the case even though they were the only contenders for a single vacancy.“Since from material on record, there appears to be concealment of facts, the respondent, prima facie, seems to be not eligible for promotion even to the rank of Major General, we direct the respondents (MoD and Army) to maintain status quo ante forthwith,” the Bench ordered, while imposing costs of Rs 25,000.It held that since the impugned order seems to be an outcome of fraud (concealment of material facts), it is liable to be recalled in view of the settled proposition of law and may not stand even for a moment, causing miscarriage of justice, and once the impugned order goes, in view of the law settled by the Supreme Court all the subsequent orders, decision or action shall stand vitiated. The process of law, in this case, seems to have been abused for extraneous reasons, the Bench ruled.“While parting with the case, we feel that corruption has crept in every system of the country and pray to Almighty to impart justice and help the country to recognise merit of the persons serving the nation instead of extraneous considerations,” the Bench remarked, while observing that no person, how so high may be, should be permitted to enjoy office acquired by commission of fraud even for a day.
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 13
Taking a critical view of the Army’s promotion process, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) today ordered that an officer promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General be demoted to Brigadier, two rungs below the current rank, with immediate effect for misrepresenting facts before the selection board.Lt Gen NK Mehta from the Army Ordnance Corps had been elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General a few months ago. In February, during the course of the proceedings, the tribunal had made similar ruling on the officer’s demotion. The Supreme Court had then stayed the orders.The tribunal has also imposed a cost of Rs 50 lakh on the Union of India and Rs 5 lakh on the officer, which shall be remitted to the Army Central Welfare Fund for the welfare of troops. The AFT’s order can be challenged in the next higher judicial forum.The tribunal’s Bench, comprising Justice DP Singh and Air Marshal Anil Chopra, has held that the promotion of Lt Gen Mehta from the rank of Brigadier to Major General on the basis of a previous AFT order was not tenable due to concealment of facts from the court. The tribunal has also faulted the Ministry of Defence for its acts of omission and commission in the selection process.Directing that a copy of the order be sent to the offices of the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Defence Secretary within three days for appropriate action, the tribunal also ruled that it would be open to the government to hold an inquiry and proceed in accordance with law against the persons who were responsible for the unfair practice in the Ministry of Defence or in the Army.“The controversy involved in case is indicative, prima facie to some extent, of the administrative failure in the mechanism provided for promotional avenues for higher ranks in the Army on account of omission and commission on the part of the administrative machinery, which may be actuated by extraneous reasons, considerations or alike grounds and requires immediate remedial measures,” the tribunal observed.Suggesting that the MoD should further tone up its working so that unauthorised officers should not have access to the ministerial staff or other officials in the MoD, all decisions taken by the Selection Board may be screened by a committee of experts in law, the tribunal remarked that the Judge Advocate General’s Branch must be activated and engraved with knowledge of law to avoid such travesty of justice otherwise it would be opening a gallery to sleeper cells of foreign Intelligence.
