Aonce in decade expectation among the central government employees concerning revision of salaries and allowances has come as a shock especially to the armed forces of the country. The government’s consistency to short shift the nation’s last bastion, though, is well established, the partisan treatment meted out smacks of a bid to ultimately finish the martial legacy of the nation. I term this conscious bilk as an abysmal lack of constructive vision. Let’s analyse the bag of goodies that the 7th Pay Commission has doled out to the services.

SEPARATE PAY MATRIX FOR CIVILIANS AND DEFENCE

By outlining separate pay matrices for civilians and soldiers, the pay commission has announced the discrimination that hithertofore was a veiled conjecture. The evident mismatch of increments between the civil and military due to the respective ages of retirement and consequent pension benefits have shocked the fraternity. To elaborate, a sepoy getting recruited at the same time as his civilian counterpart will serve till the age of 37 as compared to a cool 60 years of the latter and thus stock as many more increments thereby drawing a fatter pension cheque. A poor soldier thus gets a raw deal both during service and after.

ONE RANK ONE PENSION

The struggle and consequent acceptance of one rank one pension (OROP), though, diluted did not go down well with the babus is a well known fact. They have ensured a similar status for themselves. We do not grudge them that albeit the clause of the OROP regarding non- admissibility to premature retirees henceforth, shockingly does not apply to these privileged beings.

ALLOWANCES

The issue of allowances as enunciated by the commission, though, still not okayed by the government is a typical ‘airhead’ action. Can you imagine a soldier serving at Siachen getting one third of allowance of a babu serving at Guwahati. The chairman of the commission during a media interaction has rubbed salt to the wounds by stating that an attractive allowance will motivate the IAS to willingly serve in difficult areas. Well done sir!

As witnessed during Jat agitation in Haryana, these fellows don’t bat an eye lid to requisition armed forces in case of crisis and themselves melt in the oblivion. They are even swifter in passing the buck in disturbed areas. We only hope a better sense prevails before the government notifies rates of allowances.

SMOKE SCREEN FOR DECEPTION

In order to cloud the big picture, the pay commission recommended doing away with entitled rations for officers. To undo the legitimate award after 30 years of its grant, shocked the armed forces as they could not fathom the wacky idea. Well, absurd that it was, obviously could not see the light of the day. But, the deft members of the commission succeed in diverting our attention from the main issue of salary and allowances.

Coming back to my earlier point of lack of constructive vision by the government, the popular caption in an advertisement by armed forces headquarters to attract suitable young people to its fold has consistently been, “Do you have it in you?” a motivating call to the youth of the nation to undertake the challenging profession of arms. During the HT youth forum held a few months ago, a discussion on the youth of today relegating military as their career choice was an eye opener. A discerning youth is aware of the eroding status of a fauji. Reduced salaries, allowances, erosion in status and an apathetic attitude of ‘powers that be’ is sure to sound a death knell to the dreams of youngsters to don uniform.

Kolkata, August 4

A Hawk advanced jet trainer on Thursday crashed soon after take-off from Air Force Station, Kalaikunda, in West Midnapore due to a “technical snag” but both the pilots ejected safely.

IAF sources said the aircraft developed a technical problem at about 1100 hours, minutes after taking off from Kalaikunda air station in West Bengal, where another Hawk had crashed in June last year.

The crash occurred within the boundary of the air station, 138 km from here, and the two pilots ejected safely, they said.

“A Court of Inquiry has been instituted into the crash,” an IAF source said.

Last year in June, another Hawk had crashed after taking off from Kalaikunda station as it developed a technical problem. Budding fighter pilots undergo their stage-III training for a year on Hawk. — PTI

PLA plane ‘conducted reconnaissance’ in middle sector in UP, HP, U’khand

PLA soldiers practising during a drill at a military base in China. At least 20 to 25 Chinese troops had entered the demilitarised area in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand earlier this month. — Reuters file photo

New Delhi, July 31

Ahead of its transgression in Barahoti area of Uttarakhand, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had conducted a reconnaissance mission using aircraft armed with the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which provides broad-area imaging at high resolutions.According to official sources, the TupolovTu 153M aircraft carried out two to three sorties earlier this year in the middle sector falling in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Officials said at least three sorties of the plane, designed by Chinese companies on the basis of technology from the erstwhile USSR, were carried out in the last three months.The aircraft flies at an altitude of above 40,000 feet and can go up to 60,000 feet to avoid detection by radars and can click pictures and other cyber and communication signatures at that height. It has an SAR which can provide high-resolution pictures even in inclement weather or in night time.At least 20 to 25 Chinese troops had entered the demilitarised area in Barahoti pastures in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand earlier this month, besides flying its helicopters in the Indian air space for over five minutes.Sources said an Indian civilian team was sent back by PLA troops, who claimed it to be their land and recognised it as ‘Wu-Je’. A Chinese helicopter of the Zhiba series hovered over the ground for nearly five minutes. It was apprehended that it could have carried out aerial photography.Barahoti is one of the three border posts where ITBP jawans are not allowed to take weapons as per the unilateral decision of the then government in June 2000. — PTI

1.Brig Inder Mohan Singh exposes Gen Satbir motives IN Punjab.

2. Dafadar Harjinder Singh Khaira  who contributed in organising Rallies for Satbir in Punjab gets annoyed with Fauji Janta Party. write on Whats app.

3.  Satbir Contradicts his own Clarification with his actions.

4.  Capt Chanan Singh sidhu Flares up at Satbir for meeting Capt Amrinder  Singh without him.

5. *Squadron Leader  Gulzar Mathauda congratulates  Satbir for  getting Rajiya Sabhs Seat and one crore from BJP .

 

6. First Election Committee of FJP dissolved by Satbir and Nominates himself as Chief patron of 21 Member New Committee nominated by him from Delhi office and maximum are gunners ( Artillery)  as usual.

7.  Gp Capt VK Gandhi writes to Kadiyan and in turn Kadiyan exposes old email of Gandhi to Pathak for elections of officers in IESM working committee.

click on link below to open Blog with prelction Punjab political Parties News.

http://voiceofesmpunjab.blogspot.in/

Pellet guns were frequently used during the recent violence. Tribune photo

Srinagar, August 19

Srinagar, August 19

The CRPF has informed the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that if pellet guns are banned as a crowd control measure, its personnel would be forced to fire bullets in extreme situations, which could cause more fatalities.“In case, this (pellet gun) is withdrawn from the options available with the CRPF, CRPF personnel would have no recourse in extreme situations but to open fire with rifles, which may cause more fatalities,” the CRPF said in an affidavit submitted to the High Court.The paramilitary force submitted the affidavit in response to a PIL filed before the court, seeking ban on use of pellet guns as a means for crowd control mechanism in the Valley, which has been rocked by violent protests since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The force said pellet guns were introduced in 2010 and were an accepted weapon of riot control. It said that following the standard operating procedures while dealing with a dynamic law-and-order problem is difficult in case of moving, bending and running target. Also read: 

• Lecturer’s killing: Army says such acts won’t be tolerated
• Militants attack BSF camp, injure three personnel
•  CRPF man suspended for firing at ambulance driver in Kashmir

The SOP regarding use of firearms for crowd control in extreme situations requires that the weapon be aimed below the waist.“But the situation prevailing on the streets during an ongoing law and order incident is dynamic and mobile. In such a situation, sometimes it is difficult to go in for precise aimed fire at a moving, bending and running target,” it said.The CRPF said it had fired around 3,500 pellet cartridges from July 9 to August 11 during violence by protesters in the Valley.The PIL was filed by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association on July 30.While the CRPF and BSF have submitted their replies, the state government has not filed its response so far.The case is listed for hearing on Saturday. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today asked the armed forces to maintain all-round vigil on the nation’s borders and said the assets be kept in a state of “readiness” allowing “mobiliaation” of troops to forward positions at short notice. ‘Assets’ is euphuism for all military hardware like planes, guns, missiles and tanks.Parrikar made the comments during his customary broadcast to the armed forces personnel over All India Radio on the eve of the 70th Independence Day today evening.The Defence Minister said, “There is a need to constantly upgrade and modernise our weapon systems and equipment. The government has taken many steps to streamline the procurement process and make it faster and transparent.”He went on to talk about indigenous 155mm Howitzer gun ‘Dhanush’. “This advanced gun has now been handed over to the Army for user trials. This will enhance the firepower of our Army to a great extent,” he said.Addressing the issue of the missing Indian Air Force AN 32 transport plane, Parrikar said all next of kin of crew and passengers on board were being informed and regular updates on the search operations were being given to them by nominated officials. The plane is missing over the Bay of Bengal since July 22.Parrikar commended the “daring response” against terrorists who came fully armed from across the border to attack the Pathankot Airbase. He lauded the role of Armed Forces for showing ‘utmost restraint’ in tackling terrorists in the Kashmir valley.

PM to receive Guard of Honour by Army’s iconic battalion

New Delhi, August 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will unfurl the National Flag at the Red Fort tomorrow, will be given a Guard of Honour and among the contingent will be men from the battalion formed in the aftermath of Independence in 1947 to drive out Pakistan-backed raiders from Kashmir.  The Guard of Honour consists of one officer and 24 men each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Delhi Police.The Army contingent for the PM’s Guard is drawn from the 8th J&K Light Infantry (Siachen). The battalion was raised as the First Battalion Border Scouts by volunteers who took up arms in the wake of partition to stop the raiders at Poonch on December 18, 1947. The battalion was re-designated as 8th J&K Militia on April 15, 1948. The Regiment was rechristened J&K Light Infantry on April 27, 1976. — TNS

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 13

The Centre is against increasing the retirement age of Army doctors to 65 years in line with the new age limit for their civilian counterparts.“The Army always has its own retirement age for its personnel from time immemorial,” Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh pleaded with the Supreme Court yesterday.The Centre took the stand before a Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra which was hearing a PIL by some of the doctors who retired last month after being denied the benefit of a recent government notification on the new retirement age for civilian doctors.The ASG also pleaded that retirement age was a service issue for which the doctors had no right to approach the apex court directly. The proper forum for resolving the controversy was the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), he said.Other affected doctors had already approached the AFT, New Delhi, and as such the petitioners in the SC should be directed to join the litigation pending with the AFT, Singh pleaded.Accepting the Centre’s plea, the Bench asked the petitioners to approach the AFT. The apex court directed the tribunal to dispose of the case expeditiously, preferably in three months.On July 29, the Bench had asked the Centre to respond within two days to Army doctors’ plea for enhancing their retirement age to 65.The petitioners from the Army Medical Corps (AMC) had pleaded that the Centre had enhanced the retirement age of non-teaching civilian doctors to 65 years, but the Defence Ministry was not extending the benefit to the Army where doctors retired at 60 or 62, depending upon their rank.However, other government wings such as paramilitary forces had decided to follow the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) decision to retire doctors at 65 years of age from May 31 this year.If the Army was not willing to retain them, they should be transferred to other departments facing shortage of doctors so that they could continue to serve till 65, they pleaded.The Centre’s move to increase the retirement age has come at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making use the services of experienced doctors for the benefit of the poor.

Powered up: Erdogan is unapologetic about his overreaching ambitions.

THANKS to Turkey’s key position in a turbulent region and help to stem the flow of refugees to Europe for a price, the world’s capitals are responding cautiously to President Recep Tayip Erdogan’s moves to detain thousands and propose giving himself all powers over the military and civilian fields. He has publicly declared that it is an opportunity given by God and he is exploiting it to the hilt.The coup of July 15 initiated by a section of the armed forces, which fizzled out quickly with political parties and the public condemning it, has culminated in a wholesale cleansing of the armed forces, including many generals and admirals, and the civilian and judicial power structures. The state’s enemies now are the Gulenists, followers of Fetullah Gulen, a self-exiled cleric living in America being charged with instigating the coup. Here we must explain the peculiarities of the Turkish legacy. Ataturk, the builder of modern Turkey on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, left a transformed country, abolishing the symbols of religious beliefs and practices to the extent of changing the written script to Roman characters. But he left behind a tradition of the army assuming state power and Turkish history is littered with a succession of coups carried out in recent times by the armed forces underlining the military being the main power centre. Mr Erdogan entered the political arena as a religion-flaunting mayor of Istanbul. He was imprisoned briefly for flaunting his religious card. But he and his colleagues were mining the religious constituency for his Justice and Development Party (AKP) and as his party’s fortunes progressed, he sought the help of Gulen and his “service” movement to create conditions in which the military could no longer pose a threat to the civilian dispensation. In his earlier avatar as prime minister, Mr Erdogan had presented himself as a moderniser making determined moves to seek membership of the EU and undertook legislative measures to comply with its norms and started negotiations with the militant Kurdish party, the PKK, to try to end the longstanding insurgency. There was resistance in the EU (the European Economic Community as it then was) to absorbing millions of Muslims into the community. It is still not clear what made Mr Erdogan change direction. But the demands of his main community, the upworldly mobile religiously-observant new middle class in Anatolia, were very different. Even as the Gulenists helped Mr Erdogan in making the country safe from coups, it came at the cost of Gulenists becoming a force by infiltrating the ranks of the armed forces and the civil and judicial services. The marriage between the AKP and the Gulenists lasted till Mr Gulen discovered that Mr Erdogan had his own agenda of assuming total power. He had sought exile in the US earlier. In 2013, Gulenists named senior members of the Turkish cabinet and Erdogan’s family members in serious corruption charges. The war between the two sides was on, with Ankara now demanding Mr Gulen’s extradition from the US.  Mr Erdogan’s own ambitions grew exponentially. After being elected and re-elected prime minister, he declared his intention to change the constitution to convert the system into an executive presidency. While in search of a two-thirds majority in Parliament, despite relatively poor showing in two elections, he resigned to run for presidency through an election he won. Although Mr Erdogan has still to secure a constitutional amendment, he runs the country in practice having appointed a more pliant prime minister. The present situation is full of ironies. His hero Ataturk pulled the country out of its fall by confining religious practices to the dustbin. By contrast, Mr Erdogan is seeking to re-emphasise religion, giving primacy to headscarves for women and observing other Muslim conventions to please his main domestic constituency and remain in power. Yet Turkey remains a key player in the Middle East because of its location, its military strength and the state of other countries in the region. Until recently, it was the main conduit for an army of jihadists fighting in the Syrian civil war. Its stricter control of borders came after American and Western pleading, as was its belated decision to let the US and allied aircraft use the Incirlik air base for bombing IS targets. A number of bombing incidents in Turkey are believed to be expressions of IS anger over Ankara’s policy change. Turkey has resumed its war with the Kurdish PKK in the south-east of the country in particular. The picture is further complicated by the Syrian Kurds being the best ground fighters in the American effort to get the better of the IS. And Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war through supporting the Assad regime mainly by air power gives a further loop to something of an East-West struggle.The most serious consequence of recent developments in Turkey is that a country that was supposed to be a stabiliser in a maddeningly disturbed area has itself become a cause for concern as Mr Erdogan seeks total supremacy over all his combined political foes. His goal is nothing short of constructing a new Ottoman dispensation even as he subverts the essence of the Ataturk revolution.Turkey is hosting millions of Syrian refugees, as are its neighbours. Americans’, and the world’s, attempts to end the Syrian civil war have stumbled, with Russia now a new party to be consulted, as the US realises, despite the Obama administration’s antipathy to Moscow. How Ankara can help this process remains doubtful, apart from Mr Erdogan’s efforts to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Clearly, the Turkish ruler’s attention will be devoted in a greater measure to his domestic problems.America’s contest with the IS will continue, with bombing runs now extended to Libya with its different armed centres of power fighting the recognised coalition. The Obama administration is leaving it to the next President to frame a new policy for the Middle East and the world.