Monthly Archives: August 2018

The US has designated India as a major defence partner. ANI

Washington, August 27

Defence Secretary Ashton Carter would host his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar at the Pentagon on Monday, weeks after India was designated as a major defence partner by the US.The Pentagon on Friay said Carter would host an enhanced honour cordon to welcome Parrikar to the US Defence Department headquarters. Following the arrival ceremony there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.After the ceremony there will be a bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press conference at the Pentagon, a statement said.

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“This will be Carter’s sixth meeting with Parrikar, and comes just weeks after India was designated a major defence partner of the United States during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June visit to Washington,” the Pentagon said.Carter had met Parrikar during a visit to India in April.The India-US Defence partnership has been the most ambitious one over the past several years, a senior State Department official told a group of South Asian reporters on Friday.“During the Prime Minister’s last visit we were able to announce that the logistic agreements have been finalised, so we look forward to being able to sign that in the near future whether or not if that is going to be part of minister’s visit or not,” the official said.“We are certainly welcoming and hopeful for continuing to move forward on that and continuing to move forward on the fact that we have designated India as a major defence partner and continue to progress in that direction,” the official added. PTI

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti delivered some home truths about the prevailing volatile situation in Kashmir at a joint press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar on Thursday. Candidly, she said the boys engaged in stone-throwing protests were not on a toffee-or-milk-buying spree. They had attacked Army camps with stones and petrol bombs, and that had consequences. The children and adolescents of impressionable age, already angry with the system, are being instigated by calls for jihad and martyrdom from loudspeakers at mosques. The overwhelming presence of security forces fuels their rage.  The instigators use the young as shields during attacks on Army camps. The larger reprehensible objective is to showcase Kashmir as a dispute for the resolution of which young Kashmiris are laying down their lives. It also helps them draw international attention. Anyone showing them the mirror is, therefore, viewed as an enemy.The most contentious was Mehbooba Mufti’s remark that only 5 per cent troublemakers had held as hostage the remaining 95 per cent Kashmiris who also wanted a solution but through a peaceful process. She should have known that the press conference being held in a high-voltage situation wouldn’t be a smooth affair. Her agenda of peaceful and political solution, she should have anticipated, would be an anathema to those engaged in a violent hate campaign ever since the PDP entered into an alliance with the BJP to form a government in March last year. Her outburst diverted the attention from Rajnath Singh’s positive announcements of withdrawal of pellet guns and a dialogue offer to all to the Chief Minister’s temperament trouble. Understandably, during a crisis a leader is under pressure. But she should not have allowed this to disturb her calm, especially when a delicate peace process was at stake. Had she followed her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s footsteps, she would have drawn the comparison between 2010 and 2016 with a cool head and disarming words. Mehbooba Mufti herself is an unrelenting advocate of dialogue and a political solution to the Kashmir crisis. Her angry utterances drowned the import of the larger message.

1.     PUNJAB GOVT ALLOCATES BARREN LAND TO WAR WIDOWS OF MARTYR  AS  WAR JAGGEER’S

2.      REJECTED POLITICIAN MAY FORM FOURTH FRONT :                              NAVJOT TO FULL FILL HIS AMBITION AS CM PUNJAB

3.     APP WORKERS FIST FIGHTING REPORTED 

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New Delhi, August 24

The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday told that the one-member judicial commission, set up to deal with grievances of ex-servicemen on One Rank One Pension (OROP), was not hearing issues raised by an individual but dealing only with contentions raised by organisations.The Centre refuted the claims before a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar saying the commission was hearing the grievances raised before it not only by organisations but by individuals also.The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions to Ministry of Defence and the commission, headed by Justice L Narasimha Reddy (retd), “to give an effective public hearing to those affected or aggrieved by implementation of OROP”.When the matter came up for hearing, petitioner S P Singh told the bench he had approached the commission with his grievances but was not heard and told that the panel was only hearing the contentions of organisations.The petitioner also claimed that armed forces officers were sitting with the panel despite the fact that it was a one-member judicial commission.The Central government’s standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia refuted the claims of the petitioner saying the commission was also hearing the grievances of individuals and the officers were present to assist the panel.He also said the petitioner was heard by the panel.The bench then asked the petitioner to file an affidavit stating that he was not given an opportunity by the commission to put forth his grievances and posted the matter for further hearing on September 28.The Centre had earlier told the court it has extended by six months the term of the one-member panel on OROP.The petitioner, who is an ex-serviceman, has said that as per a Ministry letter dated April 13, “Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners’ Associations can submit their suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified, to the MoD, through post or by email within 15 days i.e. by April 29, 2016”.The petitioner had contended that this information was not published in the newspapers and, therefore, people were not informed about it. He had said that the time given to forward the representations was “very short”.The Centre had told the court that date for forwarding suggestions and representations was later extended to May 15. — PTI

A US Air Force F16 prepares to take off at Yelahanka Airforce Station in Bangalore on February 18, 2015. — AFP file photo

New York, August 18

India and the US will discuss co-producing military aircraft, including the F-16s, during US Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James’ upcoming visit to New Delhi later this month that would look at ways to deepen bilateral partnerships and take it to the “next level”.

Indo-US cooperation in defence technology and trade initiatives will be the focus of her visit to India which is part of her maiden visit to four Asian countries that would also take her to Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.

She will also discuss the situation in the South China Sea besides the growing threat of terrorism.

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During her visit to India, she will meet Chief of Air Staff Marshal Arup Raha and Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar and will also discuss with her Indian counterparts proposals to co-produce aircraft in India in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ campaign.

“We will be looking to see how can we deepen our partnerships and how can we take it to the next level,” James said in response to a question at a press briefing here yesterday on what her focus will be during her visit to India.

She said she will discuss defence technology and follow up on the trade initiatives, which were launched during US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India in April.

James replied in the affirmative when asked if she will follow up on American defence major Lockheed Martin’s proposals to assemble F-16s in India as well as on discussions to collaborate in bolstering India’s fighter jets and the jet engine technology working group.

“I will be following up on all of those topics, discussing these counterpart to counterpart on a bilateral basis. I will be seeking the views of my counterparts, what their opinion is on the various proposals on the table and what more needs to happen to advance the ball on some of these proposals.

“I am also aware of the Prime Minister’s push for Make in India and the importance of creating new jobs in that sector.

One of the proposals would be to co-produce certain aircraft in India and that might be one example of something that will be useful from a military standpoint but also might play into the Make in India campaign,” she said.

The 57-year-old James, who is only the second woman to hold the post, said she would also follow up on the initiatives launched during Carter’s visit and the possible outcomes of it from the Air Force perspective.

She, however, noted that while some proposals will move forward, others may not if they are not the right fit.

Describing the Indian Air Force as a “very effective fighting unit”, she said it has been a participant over the years in “red-flag” exercise series, where the US gets together with coalition partners to train and inter-operate and “test ourselves in a high-end and very challenging difficult environment”.

James added that she also looks forward to congratulating India on the “magnificent execution” of the operation undertaken to evacuate Indian citizens from South Sudan. — PT

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Lalita Prakash, mother of deceased Ajay Gupta, at the Civil Hospital, Sector 6 Panchkula. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mhajan

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13

A 45-year-old man was crushed to death by a Honda City car being driven by a Command Hospital doctor near Bella Vista at Sectors 1/2/5/6 roundabout this morning. The victim, Ajay Gupta, was the son of the Director of Ashiana Public School, Sector 46, Chandigarh.The police said Dr Sunil, who had bought the car a few days ago, pressed the accelerator in a hurry instead of brakes. He was not found at the spot after the incident, but was arrested later.A case under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 5 police station. “We have now arrested Dr Sunil of the Command Hospital and a case has been registered against him,” said SHO Lalit Kumar.According to the police, the incident occurred at 7:45 am when the victim Ajay Gupta, who used to go cycling for several kilometers daily, was today heading towards Red Bishop hotel from near Sector 6 chowk, when Dr Sunil’s car hit him from the rear, dragging him for some distance before hitting a road berm. The car was coming from Sikhsa Sadan to the Bella Vista hotel chowk. Following this, passersby informed the police and he was shifted to the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, where he was declared brought dead.His mother Lalita Prakash rushed to the hospital after hearing the news while his father Lalit Prakash Gupta, who had gone to Delhi at 10 this morning, returned at 4 pm to the city. The police, after conducting the post-mortem examination, handed over the body to the family of the victim.A relative of Ajay said his family was about to hand over him the reins of the school. The victim runs an event management business in Delhi but his father wanted him to settle down in Chandigarh. His relatives said the victim was looking forward to his son’s birthday which falls on September 30, before the tragedy struck him.Had come to meet familyAjay’s mother Lalita Prakash is the director and founder of Ashiana Public School, Sector 46, Chandigarh. His parents reside in Sector 9, Chandigarh. His elder brother, Uday Gupta, lives in the US. Ajay was living with his wife and an 11-month-old son in Delhi. He had come to meet his family in Chandigarh a few days ago.

Students look at Army equipment and weapons at the Bathinda cantonment on Friday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 12

Chetak Corps organised an equipment and band display to commemorate the 70th Independence Day at Army Convoy Ground here today.The day-long event was inaugurated by Brigadier SI D’Cunha, Officiating Station Commander, Bathinda Military Station.A large number of people witnessed the event that showcased military might and capability of the Army.The youth were enthralled to see infantry weapons, tanks, artillery and other equipment.The pipe band display was highly appreciated, a press release said.The section depicting Army adventure activities drew the youth who were keen to learn about them. The event was marked by rain.Many students from local schools and colleges, civil dignitaries and people from all walks of life appreciated the efforts of the Army in organising the event and motivating the youth to choose Army as a career option.

New Delhi, August 12

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Armed Force Tribunal (AFT) to constitute a Special Bench to hear and decide the plea of Army doctors seeking raising of their age of superannuation, from 58 years to 65 in view of the public announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit directed the tribunal to expeditiously decide all the matters pending before it on the issue within three months.

“Since there are various similar matters pending before the Armed Force Tribunal (AFT), the chairman of AFT is directed to constitute a bench to decide these matters expeditiously within three months,” it said.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for the Centre, said that several similar matters are pending before the tribunal which has jurisdiction to decide the issue at hand.

The Bench granted liberty to the counsel Indrasen Singh and Sarvesh Singh, appearing for the army doctors, to withdraw the pleas and approach the tribunal.

The apex court had earlier issued notice to the Centre on a batch of pleas but refused to grant any interim stay on the superannuation of the army doctors.

The doctors, all of Colonel rank, including Amitabh Thapliyal, AK Hota, Yogesh Verma, have sought a direction to ministries of Defence, Health, Chief of Army Staff and Director-General Armed Forces Medical Services that the notification of May 13 be followed to enhance their age of superannuation to 65 years.

Their plea said that the notification, issued after the announcement made by the Prime Minister, is being followed in paramilitary forces like the CRPF, BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, NSG and Assam Rifles.

“Executive instructions have been issued by the Railway Ministry and other ministries/departments of the Central Government, thereby enhancing the age of superannuation of all medical doctors serving under the respective ministries/ departments to 65 years.

“However, no such executive instructions have so far been issued in respect of the medical officers serving under the Ministry of Defence, including the medical officers belonging to the Army Medical Corps/Army Dental Corps (AMC/ADC) of Indian Army,” the plea said. — PTI

THE OFFICER HAS COMMANDED A MECHANISED INFANTRY BATTALION, AN ARMOURED BRIGADE AND AN INFANTRY DIVISION

CHANDIGARH: Lieutenant General Surinder Singh, who is heading 33 Corps in Sukna, was named as the Western Command chief on Tuesday.

Lt Gen Surinder Singh was commissioned in the infantry in Brigade of The Guards Regiment in 1979. In a career spanning over three decades, the officer has held various prestigious appointments and has commanded a mechanised infantry battalion, an armoured brigade and an infantry division.

Lt Gen KJ Singh retired as Western Command chief on July 31.

There were two officers in the race for the Western Command chief — Lt Gen Surinder Singh and Lt Gen DR Soni, who is GOC of Bathinda-based 10 Corps. Lt Gen Soni has been appointed as the commander of Army Training Command (ARTRAC) at Shimla. The current ARTRAC commander, Lt Gen PM Hariz, has been appointed as Southern Command chief.

The outgoing Southern Command chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat is joining as vice chief of the army staff. The present vice chief Lt Gen MMS Rai is retiring on August 31.

THE TWO WERE MARTYRED IN A COUNTER-TERRORIST OPERATION AT J&K’S KUPWARA DISTRICT IN AUGUST 1991; NINE TERRORISTS WERE NEUTRALISED AND 22 APPREHENDED IN THE OPERATION

PANCHKULA: Floral tributes were paid on Monday to the Dogra Regiment 18th battalion’s Maj Sandeep Shankla and Sepoy Swarn Singh of who were martyred in a counter-terrorist operation at Zafarkhani village of J&K’s Kupwara district in August 1991.

SANT ARORA/HTMajor Sandeep Shankla’s parents (behind soldiers) during the wreath-laying ceremony in Panchkula on Monday.

Nine terrorists were neutralised, 22 were apprehended and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered in the operation.

Maj Shankla had sacrificed his life while trying to save one of his soldiers, energising his troops. An IMA pass out of 1986 batch, Major Shankla was posthumously awarded with Ashok Chakra. Sepoy Swaran Singh was awarded (posthumously) with Kirti Chakra while Capt BJS Sandhu was given Shaurya Chakra.

The battalion earned five Sena medals, two Chief of Staff commendation cards and one GOC-in-C commendation card.

Maj Gen IJS Hundal, paid homage and laid a wreath to honour brave martyrs on behalf of the Western Army Commander. Serving officers, JCOs and veterans of the unit, who had participated in this operation, were also present. Next of kin of the martyrs also took part in the ceremony and were felicitated.