18-20 people died in queues and PM was laughing: Rahul

 

Rahul said even Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was kept in the dark. — ANI

Mumbai, November 15

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday night accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “laughing” when 18-20 people died in queues outside banks and ATMs and termed the demonetisation of high currency notes as a decision sans rationale.In an apparent reference to Modi’s remarks in Japan and Goa, he said, “18-20 people died in queues (outside banks/ ATMs) and PM Narendra Modi was laughing. He should clarify whether he was laughing or crying.”He also claimed that BJP people were alerted beforehand about the demonetisation.”How can one explain the BJP people in West Bengal depositing crores in high-denomination notes just before PM’s announcement on November 8?” Rahul asked.”BJP workers were seen holding up bundles of the new Rs 2,000 notes, as seen from images on the Internet, before Modi announced this decision,” he told reporters in suburban Bandra tonight.”This move by the Modi government will turn out to be a big scam,” Rahul said.He also claimed that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was kept in the dark about the announcement.”I don’t think even Finance Minister knew about the demonetisation announcement,” Rahul said.”The PM took decision without thinking. We don’t want to reverse it, but at least resolve the difficulties people are facing,” he said.”Many economists say there is no rationale to this decision. They say it’s a decision based on political calculation,” he said.”The entire Opposition united against Modi government’s demonetisation move which has resulted in massive inconvenience for people,” Rahul said.”Go after the big players in black money. I don’t see that happening. We cannot let farmers and labourers stand in queues for months,” he said.Asked to comment on Modi’s mother standing in a bank queue, Rahul quipped: “Mine and Narendra Modi’s styles are different. I won’t speak about his mother.” — PTI

Kejriwal accuses Modi of accepting Rs 25 crore bribe from Aditya Birla Group

The UPA did not take action, says Kejriwal. ANI photo

New Delhi, November 15

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having accepted a bribe of Rs 25 crore from Aditya Birla Group while he was chief minister of Gujarat.While addressing the Delhi Assembly’s one-day session on Tuesday, Kejriwal said: “On 15 October 2013, the income tax department conducted raid on Shubendu Amitabh’s house. He was an executive of Aditya Birla Group. His Blackberry phones, laptop everything was thoroughly checked. They found a ledger entry in his laptop stating that on 16 November 2012, the Gujarat chief minister was paid Rs.25 crore…For the first time in history of independent India, a sitting PM’s name has come in black money transactions.”“This raid happened in 2013. The Congress was in power. But they should have initiated action, given that Narendra Modi was projected as Prime Minister’ face for BJP. Then it means that the BJP and Congress had deals between them. They must have thought that once Narendra Modi becomes the PM, he will help them in the Robert Vadra case,” Kejriwal said. “He has been claiming that the decision is an attack on black money, but it is an attack on common people. He is protecting his friends. These businessmen pay Prime Minister Modi and in response the Prime Minister ensures that the income tax department does not conduct raids on these businessmen’s house,” Kejriwal said.He claimed that when the Income Tax Department filed an appraisal report on deal, the UPA regime did not take action against Modi.“You (Prime Minister Modi) say that the poor man is drinking ‘kadvi chai’. But the truth is that, the Prime Minister is offering poison to them in the name of black money,” Kejriwal said, accusing Modi of targeting the poor through his drive to withdraw high-currency notes while protecting his “corporate friends”.  The chief minister also demanded roll back of the drive. “We would urge the government to roll back this scheme. We are not against black money. If they want to implement, then give proper time to people. Plan it properly, we will support you. If they do not roll back immediately then this economy will be in peril,” Kejriwal said.Earlier in the day, the Delhi Government passed a resolution asking President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the central government to withdraw the “draconian” demonitisation drive.“This assembly resolves to urge upon the Honourable President of India to take necessary steps to institute a high-level probe to be monitored by the Honourable Supreme Court of India to look into the allegations that the scheme is fraud on the nation and that it has been launched to benefit a particular political party through its agents in black money,” the resolution stated. — ANI

Modi govt has turned people into beggars: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI file photo

Kolkata, November 15

Accusing the Modi government of turning the people of the country into beggars by the demonetisation move, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would meet President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow on the issue irrespective of whether other parties join her or not.“Tomorrow I am meeting the President on demonetisation issue. I will be meeting him with 40 of my MPs. I have spoken to various political parties. I have spoken to Rahul Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal.“If they want to join me, it is good. If not, then I will go alone with my MPs. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah is likely to join me,” Banerjee told reporters at the airport here before leaving for New Delhi.Asked about some political parties’ comments that it was too early to meet the President on the issue, she said, “It is their choice. You need to call the doctor before the patient is dead. There is no use of calling a doctor after a patient expired. You need to meet the President right now. I want all political parties to meet the President,” she said.“I am ready to stand behind. Let them (other political parties) take the front stage but they should meet the President,” she said.Banerjee’s move to play a pivotal role in uniting the opposition against BJP has been throttled by CPI(M) with its general secretary Sitaram Yechury yesterday stating that the party will wait to see what position the government takes in the matter in Parliament on the issue and “who stands where”.She remarked, “There are thousands of areas where there are no proper banking or post office facilities. What will the people there do ? The people of this country have been turned into beggars due to demonetisation move.”     Later, in a tweet, Banerjee charged the central government with pursuing discrimination in dealing with the demonetisation issue.“Old Rs 500/1,000 notes allowed in railways, petrol pumps. NHAI exempted. But no exemption for state sector agriculture, co-operatives. No exemption for patients in private hospitals, nursing homes or for non-prescription medicines. Why this discrimination? The situation is serious. Very grim. People are suffering,” she tweeted. — PTI

Congress-led opposition set to corner govt in Parliament tomorrow

An all party meet underway in Parliament on Tuesday. ANI photo

New Delhi, November 15

A Congress-led opposition on Tuesday came together seeking to pin down the government on the demonetisation issue in the winter session of Parliament beginning tomorrow but a consensus eluded on TMC’s proposed march to Rashtrapati Bhavan for meeting the President.The leaders will meet again tomorrow to finalise the strategy on the issue agreeing at the meeting to use “all parliamentary tools including a demand for constituting a joint parliamentary committee to go into the issue and hold the government to account.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)On its part, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her party will go ahead with its plans to meet the President tomorrow. Representatives of the National Conference and AAP are likely to accompany the TMC delegation.At a meeting of 13 opposition parties including arch rivals TMC and CPI-M, besides BSP, SP, JD-U and DMK, opposition leaders unanimously concluded that it was too early to visit the President on the issue which must first be raised adequately in parliamentary forums.Various parties have separately given adjournment notices in Lok Sabha and for suspension of proceedings in Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue and highlight the plight of the common man.“So far as the march is concerned, there was unanimous decision by everybody that the march tomorrow is too early. As an opposition party, we must have a march in due course of time, but not on the very first day. On first day of Parliament, we must hold a discussion inside the House.“There was an overwhelming consensus that there is no need to rush to Rashtrapati Bhavan on the very first day before bringing this issue before Parliament,” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said after the meeting. — PTI

CHANDIGARH: The army will start civil works for setting up Service Selection Centre (North) at Rupnagar, Lieutenant General Surinder Singh, GOC-in-C of Western Command, informed chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday.

HT PHOTOWestern Command chief Lt Gen Surinder Singh greeting chief minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence in Chandigarh on Sunday evening.

The commander of the Western Command said that army was running the provisional campus of SSC at Kapurthala and it will be shifted to Rupnagar after the work was completed. The Punjab government had given 200 acres for the centre. During the meeting, the CM assured Lt Gen Singh of support and cooperation from the state government for financial assistance to Sainik School, Kapurthala.

Mumbai, November 11

Continuous efforts are being made for the safe return of 22-year-old Indian soldier Chandu Chavan from Pakistan but the process will take more time, according to Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre.Bhamre, who was in the city to attend a function, said the Pakistan government’s admission that Chavan is in their custody is significant in view of the strained relations between the two nations.“We have referred to the agreement and communicated with the Pakistan government. It is true that relations between the two governments are a bit tense after the incident (cross-LoC surgical strikes). But, we will continue our efforts and bring him back,” he said.Earlier, the Pakistani army had denied that it had captured the jawan, who had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control after the surgical strikes in September.On September 30, Chavan from 37 Rashtriya Rifles had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control following which Pakistan had been informed by the DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) on the hotline.Soon after the news broke, Chavan’s aged grandmother Lila Chindha Patil died of shock. The Army jawan was planning to get married around Diwali. His parents died when he was small and his grandmother had raised him. — PTI

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 10

In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said while the chances of a full scale convention war were very low, terror attacks and sub-conventional warfare would continue to be primary concerns.Addressing mediapersons, the Air Chief said the armed forces were continuously preparing to meet this challenge. Stating that deterrence was an important aspect of preventing war, he said some gaps in security observed during the terror attack on Pathankot airbase earlier this year were being plugged with advanced surveillance technology, revamped training and induction of modern weapons and equipment. He claimed that airbases were better off now to take on attackers.Raha said the first Rafale squadron is expected to be operational in three years and the second would be fully functional in five-and-a-half years. One squadron each would be based in the eastern and western theatre.The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, being developed jointly with Russia, is expected to roll out in 7-10 years. It would have advanced features such as stealth, super cruise and advanced radar, avionics and weapons.On the controversy over the Seventh Pay Commission, he said while some of the issues have been addressed, several anomalies, including those related to allowances, remain.

Prez presents Standards to 2 IAF units

President Pranab Mukherjee and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha present the President’s Standards at the Ambala Air Force Station. Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 10

Asserting that India is firmly committed to peace, President Pranab Mukherjee, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said that we would use all our might to protect the sovereignty of our nation.Addressing IAF officers and men at the Ambala Air Force Station after presenting Standards to 501 Signal Unit and 30 Squadron, the President said, “India’s increasing eminence in the comity of nations also draws its strength from the ever-increasing capabilities of our armed forces.”The President’s Standards are awarded to military establishments for having rendered exceptional service during war and peace. The Standards were received by Gp Capt Vineet Jindal, Commanding Officer, 501 Signals Unit, and Wg Cdr Abhay Phansalkar, Commanding Officer, 30 Squadron.The 501 Signals Unit, which commenced operations in 1966 and is now located at Barnala, is responsible for defending the Punjab Sector against the western adversary with its radars and aerostats. Raised at Tezpur on MiG-21s and now flying SU-30s from Pune, 30 Squadron’s vast responsibilities include maritime operations.Haryana Governor, Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command and South Western Air Command, Air Marshal SB Deo and Air Marshal RK Dhir along with a large number of senior Air Force and Army officers as well as civilian dignitaries were present on the occasion.The President also released a Special First Day Cover and brochure to mark the occasion. A flypast by Mi-17, Jaguar and Su-30 formations, performance by the Air Force Drill Team and scintillating aerobatics by the Sarang Helicopter Display Team and the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team were other highlights of the event.

The winning units

• The 501 Signals Unit, which commenced operations in 1966 and is now located at Barnala, is responsible for defending the Punjab Sector against the western adversary with its radars and aerostats
• Raised at Tezpur on MiG-21s and now flying SU-30s from Pune, 30 Squadron’s vast responsibilities include maritime operations

Our Correspondent

Una, November 5

State BJP president and Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti today asked Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders to stop degrading the status of a martyr.Addressing mediapersons at the Circuit House here, he termed the incident in which former Army man, Ram Krishan Grewal, committed suicide on the OROP issue as unfortunate.The BJP leader said if members of the Opposition parties referred to the former soldier, who took his own life as a martyr, then how the country should define the men who make the supreme sacrifice while fighting for the security and integrity of the motherland? He said political parties were doing so to gain cheap political publicity.Satti said the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party were trying to implicate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in unfortunate mishaps in the country, just for the sake of politics. He advised Congress activists to burning effigies of leaders from Nehru and Gandhi family instead of burning effigies of the Prime Minister. It was Congress leaders who were responsible for the partition of India that led to the biggest migration of human population in the world, besides triggering the death of lakhs of people in India and Pakistan.Satti said the then deliberate mistake, including the Constitutional provision of a special status state to Jammu and Kashmir continues to give pain and agony to the people of the country. He questioned the reason why the then Congress government had released 90,000 Pakistani prisoners after the 1971 war.The BJP leader asked the Congress leaders to spell out the financial assistance rendered to the families of martyrs during the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars against China and Pakistan, adding that during the Kargil war which took place during the NDA regime, martyrs were cremated with honours at their respective native places and their families were given adequate financial compensation, besides alternate avenues for income generation.Satti said after the Modi-led NDA government took over, India had not only witnessed increased pace of development, but its image in the international forums has also enhanced manifolds. He said today, Pakistan stands isolated on the issue of terrorism, adding that dozens of Muslim-dominated countries were with India on the issue.

‘Rahul shedding crocodile tears over OROP’

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 5

Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal today lashed out at All-India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi for shedding crocodile tears on the issue of one rank, one pension (OROP). He said the Congress did nothing during the past 40 years to resolve the issue and was trying to mislead the people.Decrying the attempts of Rahul to derive political mileage from the suicide committed by an ex-serviceman, Dhumal said Congress leaders had only exposed their “insensitiveness” over such a sensitive issue.Recalling that he had raised the issue for first time in Lok Sabha in 1990 and brought it in public domain, Dhumal said the Congress leaders misled ex-servicemen on this issue by making false promises and when the demand started gaining momentum in 2013, the UPA government made a provision of only Rs 500 crore, which tantamount to playing with sentiments of ex-soldiers.Cautioning the ex-servicemen to remain vigilant against the sinister designs of the Congress, Dhumal said “Ex-servicemen should not forget that Modi government had already released Rs 5,500 crore for implementing OROP and more funds would be released to ensure that every ex-soldier got the benefit of the OROP.

FIVE BOOKED Retired havildar Beant Singh, 35, had objected to ‘overpriced’ liquor

At the behest of Harjinder and Sunny (liquor contractors), their workers beat up Beant to death using sticks. JASWANT SINGH, victim’s cousin

MOGA: Two owners of a liquor shop and their three aides allegedly beat up a retired army man to death at Thathi Bhai village in Smalsar near here on Thursday night, reportedly after the victim objected to liquor being overpriced. Five people have been booked for murder.

The deceased, Beant Singh, 35, of Chida village in Smalsar town of Moga, who had retired as havildar from the army a year ago, had gone to the Thathi Bhai village to buy liquor from the vend owned by Sunny Gill and his partner Harjinder Singh. The liquor shop had been sealed by the excise department recently over non-renewal of licence, still the contractors had been doing brisk business, it is learnt. The contractors’ men were selling liquor at exorbitant rates from a vehicle parked outside the shop.

Smalsar police have booked contractors Sunny Gill, Harjinder Singh, and their aides Sant Ram, Jagdeep Singh alias Giani of Moga, Jeet Singh of Smalsar, for murder. Gill is said to be close to some Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders and he has liquor business interests in Moga, Ludhiana and Sangrur. He reportedly also has shares in the Fastway cable network company in Moga district.

“Beant had insisted on paying the market rate for the liquor he wanted to buy, which the accused didn’t agree, leading to a scuffle. At the behest of Harjinder and Sunny, their workers beat up Beant to death using sticks,” said Jaswant Singh, a cousin of the victim.

Smalsar station house officer (SHO) Bhupinder Singh said all the accused were absconding and police teams were raiding their possible hideouts.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 4

The IAF’s sole Aerostat operating unit, 501 Signals Unit (SU), along with No. 30 Squadron that operates the SU-30 fighter, will be awarded the President’s Standards at a ceremonial parade scheduled to be held at Ambala Air Force Station on November 10.Standards or Colours are presented to a military unit or establishment in recognition of exceptional service rendered by it during war and in peace.Raised in August 1964 and based at Barnala, 501 SU is responsible for defending the airspace over Punjab Sector against the western adversary. It is equipped with French-made high powered radars and aerostats, which are large fixed balloons carrying radars, sensors and electronic intelligence gathering gadgets that can be raised to a height of 15,000 feet for aerial surveillance.Presently commanded by Gp Capt Vineet Jindal, it is also the first IAF radar unit to receive the Standards.Giving details, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal SB Deo said that the 49-year-old 30 Squadron that is based in Pune has a vast operational role ranging from the Andamans to the northern frontier.Raised initially on MiG-21FL and then charged with conversion training of new pilots, it was the first squadron to be equipped with the SU-30. Presently commanded by Wg Cdr Arun Phansalkar, it was involved in six protracted phases of user trials of the SU-30 and has also been associated with integration trials of indigenously developed systems and weapons.

Protesting Congress, AAP leaders detained; Govt says implementing policy

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 2

Suicide by an Army veteran, Ram Kishan Grewal (70), over One Rank, One Pension (OROP) today turned into a massive political showdown with the Congress and AAP accusing the Narendra Modi government of betraying soldiers on its promise. The BJP hit back, accusing them of doing “politics over deaths”.The Delhi Police detained Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, while they restricted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s movement at a hospital where they had gone to meet the family members of the deceased. Home Minister Rajnath Singh defended the police action, saying: “Whatever has to be done for risk reduction, the Delhi Police will do.” He said the OROP issue had been resolved and “we are implementing it”.Even the Delhi Police officially justified the action of detaining leaders, saying they would not allow anyone to disturb law and order. There is a feeling among officials in the defence establishment that the suicide by the former Army man was the result of unpaid OROP arrears. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar tweeted the list of OROP beneficiaries.Refuting BJP’s allegation of the Congress politicising the issue, former Defence Minister AK Antony said: “Instead, the ruling party had made it a political issue when we were in power. The government must implement OROP in its entirety and remove anomalies, otherwise things will be difficult.”Antony also asked the PM to apologise to the nation and the armed forces for misleading them on OROP. Gandhi, who was detained twice by the police, lamented detention of the kin of the deceased and called the action “shameful”. On his second attempt to meet the family members, Gandhi along with several senior Congress leaders was detained, but was soon released. Congress and AAP workers later staged protests.Kejriwal, who in a Twitter post claimed he was also detained, tore into the Centre by holding it guilty of “deceit” over OROP.BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “The suicide of an ex-Army man is most unfortunate and our sympathies are with his family. But what is even more unfortunate is the politics over his death.”

Govt for thorough probe

The circumstances in which Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide, especially as to who provided him poison and if anybody had provoked him to take the extreme step, need to be thoroughly probed, the government feels. The subedar’s letter to the Ministry of Defence is dated October 31 but he committed suicide on November 1, raising several questions. The government also wants to ascertain who was with the deceased when he took the extreme step, say sources. TNS

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, November 17

A Major General on deputation to the Assam Rifles is facing disciplinary proceedings after a woman Army officer accused him of misbehaving with her. He has been attached with headquarters of the newly raised 17 Corps at Ranchi for the conduct of proceedings against him, which depending on review of charges and evidence could entail a possible trial by general court martial.Sources say the hearing of charge (HoC) was done today by the General Officer Commanding, 17 Corps, who is the accused’s commanding officer. The HoC is a procedure where tentative charges are read out to the accused against whom disciplinary action has been ordered after being held blameworthy for an offence and where he is allowed to give his defence.Sources say the woman officer had submitted a written complaint to her superior officers about the incident that had taken place in Nagaland on October 24. Following this, a court of inquiry was ordered by Headquarters Eastern Command, which was presided over the Maj Gen ST Upasani, Chief of Staff, 17 Corps.The complainant, a captain with the Judge Advocate General’s Department, had alleged the accused called her to his room late evening for some official work and misbehaved with her.The accused, a decorated infantry officer who was nearing the end of his deputation, on his part denied the allegations against him before the court of inquiry.There are four officers of the rank of Major General posted with the Assam Rifles, a 66,400-strong Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs that is responsible for peacetime management of the Indo-Myanmar border and undertaking internal security duties in the North-East.There have been instances in the past where senior officers have been held culpable for such actions and have been proceeded against under provisions of the Army Act. The Army takes such complaints and abrasions seriously and moves swiftly to deal with such cases.

October 24 incident

• A woman officer filed a written complaint to her superior officers about alleged misbehaviour by a Major General on deputation to the Assam Rifles in Nagaland on October 24
• A court of inquiry was ordered by the Headquarters Eastern Command and disciplinary action was ordered. The hearing of charge was done on Thursday by the General Officer Commanding, 17 Corps
• The officer has been attached with headquarters of the newly raised 17 Corps at Ranchi for the conduct of proceedings against him

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur on Tuesday. Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 15

A day after Pakistan admitted that seven of its soldiers were killed in firing from across the border, Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag visited the headquarters of Northern Command at Udhampur today.The General interacted with the formation commanders and reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and asked the troops to be alert to any inimical activity in the wake of the heightened tension on the border.The Army Chief commended the soldiers for boldly responding to ceasefire violations along the LoC. He lauded the synergy and cooperation between the Northern Command, Air Force, paramilitary forces, civil administration and the Central police organisations operating in the region.According to an official handout issued by the PRO (Defence), Udhampur, the Army Chief exhorted the troops to be alert to the enemy’s inimical designs and be aggressive in their approach.