General Bipin Rawat, is an alumnus of St. Edward School, Shimla, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla: he was commissioned to the Fifth Battalion, the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in December 1978, from IMA, Dehradun, where he was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’. The officer has vast experience in operations across a wide spectrum of conflict and terrain profiles.
He commanded an Infantry battalion, along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector; a Rashtriya Rifles Sector; an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley; and, a Corps in the North East. The officer also commanded a Multinational Brigade, in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).
As an Army Cdr, he commanded a theatre of operations along the Western Front.General Rawat’s staff and instructional assignments include, Instructional tenure at IMA Dehradun; General Staff Officer, at the Military Operations Directorate; Logistics staff officer of a Division in Central India; Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch; and Senior Instructor, Junior Command Wing.
He has been Major General General Staff of the Eastern Theatre, and the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.General Bipin Rawat is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command and National Defence College courses and, has attended the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, USA.
The officer during the span of over 38 years service in uniform has been awarded for gallantry and distinguished service with the UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM; COAS Commendation on two occasions and the Army Commander’s Commendation. Whilst serving with the United Nations, he was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.
Academically inclined, the General has authored numerous articles on ‘National Security’ and ‘Leadership’ which have been published in various journals and publications. He was awarded M. Phil in Defence Studies from Madras University, and holds two Diplomas, in Management and Computer Studies respectively.
General Bipin Rawat completed his research on military media strategic studies and was awarded Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.
The General officer assumed the appointment of the Chief of the Army Staff on 31 Dec 2016.
I will be his wicketkeeper, says Capt in first press conference with Sidhu
Sidhu did not put any condition while joining the party, says Capt Amarinder. Tribune photo: Vishal Kumar
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 19
Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday said his party was aiming for two-third majority in the Assembly elections, and the incumbent SAD-BJP alliance will manage to win only 10 to 20 seats.Addressing the media along with newly-inducted member Navjot Singh Sidhu for the first time here, Amarinder said the people of Punjab were fed up with the SAD and want to dethrone the government.Former BJP MP Sidhu hinted at playing ‘second fiddle’ ‘to Capt Amarinder in his maiden innings of Assembly polls.It was also for the first time that Sidhu refrained from answering queries posed to him. When asked to comment over PM Modi’s demonetisation move, Sidhu said, “When Congress president is here who am I to speak”.Setting aside speculations of alleged cold war over the post of ‘chief minister’, Amarinder made it clear that the Sidhu couple joined the Congress unconditionally though they would play a vital role in the party, if voted to power.Unlike in 2012, the Congress has been late in announcing its CM face.Sidhu’s body language indicated that he was prepared to start his political innings under his new ‘captain’. Amarinder volunteered to be his wicketkeeper. “As wicketkeeper I will be there to catch him in slips”, he said.When Amarinder was asked if he would accept Sidhu as the chief minister, Sidhu bounced back with his one-liner. ‘No ifs and buts…if my aunt were a man, she would have been my uncle…AAP disclosed that they offered me CM’s chair, did I accept it?”Going back in nostalgia, Amarinder said, “I knew Sidhu family since his father was Patiala district party president and Sidhu was a little boy. He is like my son and I am happy that he is now part of us,” he said.The Congress is set to face a tough electoral battle with the ruling SAD-BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party when the state goes to polls on February 4.The major focus is on Lambi where Capt Amarinder is to take on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.“I moved in Malaut and Lambi constituency and got immense support. We are getting overwhelming response from everywhere and we are confident to win with a two-third majority to flush out the SAD-BJP and form our government,” he said.Taking AAP as no threat, he said “Punjab is for Punjabis. How come ‘outsiders’ establish themselves and hold the reigns.
t a press meet, Gen Bipin Rawat indicated more surgical strikes could be carried out if Pakistan didn’t stop backing terrorists.
GEN BIPIN RAWAT
“WE HAVE told the adversary to accept peace and in case that offer is not reciprocated, this method of operations (surgical strikes) shall continue… Our offer to the adversary is if you reciprocate the offer of peace in the same manner, the need to conduct a surgical strike will not arise.” “WHAT HAPPENED in 1989, the secular credentials were on target… We have to make sure J&K revives back to what it was.”
GEN QAMAR BAJWA
“THE SITUATION at the LoC will improve soon.” “EACH VIOLATION of any kind must be responded to with full force in the most effective manner.” “REJECT SELF defeating claims by Indian COAS about so-called surgical strikes and its possible recurrence” and Pakistan’s armed forces “are fully geared to respond to any aggression by India”.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa after a MiG-21 sortie at the forward base in Barmer, Rajasthan, on Thursday. PTI
New Delhi, January 12
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who was on a visit to a forward base in Utarlai in Rajasthan, on Thursday flew solo in a MiG-21 ‘Type-96’ aircraft, his first such flight after taking charge of the force.It is also rare for an Air Force Chief to fly solo.
Dhanoa flew the same type of aircraft during Kargil Operations and carried out many night strike missions in the mountainous terrain. He was awarded Yudh Sewa Medal.The MiG-21 is the oldest fighter fleet in the IAF inventory.Dhanoa, who is visiting the forward air base in the western sector from January 12 to 14, will assess operational readiness and review the morale of the personnel stationed there. — PTI
MORE EX-SERVICEMEN JOINS CAPT AMARINDER SINGH TEAM IN CONGRESS
Ever since the coming of social media two things have happened. First, channels of complaints have broken. Second, comments are more by people who have no experience or nothing to do with the issue. This issue is best an aberration in some unit of the BSF and should be handled as such but then it gives opportunity to throw a lot a lot of filth around. The current officer cadre lives with this problem and therefore man management issues have to be handled differently. This is a BSF case not of the Army.
I chose to explain through this piece just how the logistics system works. What operational logistics is and where unit administration starts. Through medium of social media it has also gone into the Twitter world and on FB to educate the public so that fingers are not pointed unnecessarily to the wrong quarters.
The BSF Jawan’s Video: Don’t Be In A Hurry To Paint All Uniformed People With The Bad Brush
The one thing detestable in this entire episode is that it has painted all uniformed people with the same brush.
It is unfortunate, but we live in difficult times when social media has paralysed propriety and correctness, two things on which organisations such as these rely hugely.
When the recent video complaint by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable started doing the round on social media, it was a matter of time before opinions of all kinds were expressed. Social media has a way of empowering people with simply no knowledge of the subject, or connect, to become experts. That was the reason why I declined to go on any television channel to discuss an affair, which must be dealt with purely by the BSF in the way it thinks best. Officials and former officials can step in only to spoil inter-organisation relationships and unnecessarily cast aspersions. What is important for me is to explain, for public information, what the system of logistics is for our troops on the field; a reassuring explanation not to take these aberrations as the system. I am doing this because the video pertains to BSF deployment along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, as evident from the video. People first need to know that BSF is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), and is not the Indian Army. It works under the Ministry of Home Affairs and not under the Ministry of Defence.
All along the LoC, BSF units add strength to the Army’s deployment both in ‘No War No Peace’ (NWNP) and wartime conditions. It is trained for irregular operations, NWNP conditions of border management and defensive deployment for conventional operations; not for offensive operations or anything to do with capture of ground. Along the International Border (IB), the BSF deploys itself during peace time. It is only during mobilisation that the Army moves into ‘hot war’ deployment. It is then that the BSF redeploys tactically and in sync with the Army, its units coming under command of the Army. However, in J&K’s LoC environment, BSF units are tactically deployed with the Army and placed under its command, even during NWNP.
There are many connotations of the term ‘under command’, which soldiers understand very well and one need not split hairs over it here; the only one relevant for this explanation is that the operational logistics of these units becomes the responsibility of the Army. The administration is still in the hands of the units themselves; this involves the best use of the resources provided. For example, the cooking of food to the taste and need of the jawans, the hygiene and sanitation and the medical necessities all become a unit’s responsibility. It is the responsibility of the controlling organisation under which the unit/sub-unit is placed, to provide the necessities keeping financial and availability aspects in mind. A fine way to understand this is with reference to advance winter stocking (AWS).
The Army caters for AWS in a huge way. The necessity is because the climatic, terrain and human related constraints may cause impediments to the smooth process of daily maintenance, which is the usual way of maintaining deployed troops. Anywhere in India, the Army units will always have a certain amount of reserve stocks in addition to the running stocks, which are under normal consumption. However, the LoC/Line of Actual Control conditions, being what they are, can impose huge constraints on the smooth flow of logistics. Thus stocks of upto predetermined levels based on experience are dumped at the location, where the troops are stationed. Stocks are dumped for a fairly long period in winter. Units thus do not have to look over their shoulders. With the BSF deployed alongside the Army at these locations the same rules apply; the same period of stocking is resorted to. To execute the stocking effort, Army’s staff officers and provisioning logistics units, along with those responsible for transportation, meet frequently from as early as six months before the movement commences. Details are chalked out and demands placed; the procurement process of course takes long in the rear and higher chain.
Finally, in May-June each year, the dumping efforts begin and convoys start moving. These are long convoys one sees winding along mountain roads in Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu sectors; equal amount of effort goes on in the East and the Central sectors of their northern borders. Units receive these stocks at their bases, the biggest commodity being kerosene for cooking and heating purposes, and dry rations. BSF units are also receiving units. Vegetables, fruit and meat are catered through tinned stocks, which are meticulously calculated as per authorisation tables based on the strength of troops. The important thing is that Army and BSF units are responsible to ensure that the stocks delivered to their bases are transported to the posts in summer by vehicle, animal transport or porters. Vehicles are part of unit equipment, and other transport resources are hired as per the needs of the terrain. There is usually no shortage of funds from the government for this, although each year, there is a running feud with financial authorities to enhance the amount.
The long and the short is that, as far as rations and basic comforts such as fuel for warming, drying and cooking are concerned, there is simply no shortage in the system. It is then a question of efficient management by units supervised by their superior formations. Let me outline for the reader the type of concern food for jawans draws from the leadership at all levels. While commanding 15 Corps, I made random calls almost every night to remote posts in the Corps Zone and spoke to the lowest commanders and even individual jawans. There were only three things I discussed with a jawan at the other end; first, the time when he had last been on leave; two, the weather and enemy threats to his security; and three, the quality of rations he was getting. I was particular in placing their minds at rest and then inquiring about the fresh rations, the state of bukharis (kerosene heaters) at the post and even the quantity and state of snow boots. I got some startlingly frank responses and could immediately make amends. For the non-uniformed public community, to whom this article is addressed, it will be good to know that in winter no fresh ration is possible to be supplied but there are sufficient stocks of tinned vegetables, egg powder and dry commodities like ‘Nutri Nuggets’, which are already stocked at posts.
In summer, the vegetables provided by contractors at bases suffer the hazards of transportation by all kinds of means and may not always end up at posts in the form that you will find in Delhi’s mandis. These are constraints we all accept. Through winter, on almost all good weather days, I flew in a Cheetah helicopter to cut off posts at the LoC to meet officers and troops, some in winter cut-off deployment, which means no rear movement for six months. In the helicopter, at the cost of much discomfort, I invariably carried a big box of fresh vegetables, some fruits and a fruit cake for the officers along with as many newspapers of the last seven days I could lay my hands on. Along with it a few bottles of pickle based on the likings of the troops I was visiting. People deployed at the LoC love these novelties.
With all the loose talk about lack of concern from officers for administration of troops, let me candidly state that officers of the Army will go to ridiculous limits to meet the culinary requirements of their jawans. I do remember a time when there was a temporary shortage of rice due to some contract related problems. Units from Assam and South India had a problem meeting the demand. All of us from the flanking North Indian units decided to give all our rice to these units and opted for only chapatis for the next couple of weeks. Unit administration is a command responsibility; the best operational logistics cannot satisfy troops if the unit administration is weak. The regimental system of the Army is a huge plus in this regard. One needs to bless our young officers who merge and integrate with the men and many a time will be found even cooking along with them.
So what has Constable Tej Bahadur Yadav to complain about? Somewhere the unit administration in his BSF unit has gone awry; the operational logistics is uniform for all because the higher headquarters ensures this. The unit administration is based upon the commitment of the Commanding Officer and his administrative staff. Why wasn’t there a system for grievances? The answer is, simply because someone in the chain of administration does not have the experience of being with the men at the posts.
For those casting aspersions on officers and the quality of the food they are served, they need to be informed that officers and men at forward posts eat exactly the same food. Some supplements such as pickles or condiments may be added by the officer at his own cost. In my own unit we ensured that variety was always provided even if some regimental funds had to be spent. Condiments, salad, chutneys and raita are all part of the fun of planning ‘langar menus’ for the men.
It is not for me to cast aspersions on any individual, service or system. There are good and bad people everywhere; equally there are experienced and inexperienced people too. This case should be taken as an expose of possible callousness due to inexperience, lack of commitment or simply a lack of the most important thing which keeps men in such situations going – officer leadership and being in touch with the men.
If there is truth in the allegations obviously someone without sense of commitment was responsible for unit administration and he needs to be taken to task. The one thing detestable in this entire episode is that it has painted all uniformed people with the same brush; unfortunate, but we live in difficult times when social media has paralysed propriety and correctness, two things on which organisations such as these rely hugely.
Soldiers march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2017. Reuters
New Delhi, January 26The weather may have played a bit of a spoilsport at the Republic Day parade on Rajpath but the ceremonial artillery unit fired the traditional 21-Gun Salute on Thursday with “clockwork precision” despite the rains.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)”We did 10 days of physical practice, both on the site and in Delhi Cantt, which included rehearsing both with and without ammunition. And, today, the first round was fired on the first note of the National Anthem and the 21st round was shot on the 52nd second.“Although it rained but the whole team worked in a well-coordinated manner and I reckon it was fired with possibly the best precision in last few years,” Lt Col Aditya Devrani of the ceremonial battery told PTI.Part of the 2281 Field Regiment, seven cannons of 1940s era form part of the artillery that today fired the ceremonial salute in the backdrop of the Republic Day celebrations on Rajpath.The duration of the 21-Gun Salute coincides with the length of the National Anthem (‘Jana Gana Mana’).”Each gun, (25-pounder) is handled by a team of three personnel, and ideally all seven fire in a cyclical fashion until the 21st round is fired when ‘hay’ of ‘…jay jay hay’ is being sung or played.”“For exact precision, we use special clocks to measure time in smaller units. And, in some situations, a gun may not fire, but we have to keep the other one as a back up and then continue with the cycle without losing time. Today, it rained but we still fired the 21 rounds in 52 seconds.“We also fire on other ceremonial and sombre occasions and luckily we haven’t had the situation so far, where any guns didn’t fire. But, it takes a high-level of coordination to achieve the perfect 21,” a senior official of the artillery unit said.Besides, Republic Day, the guns are used for firing salutes during Independence Day (August 15), Army Day (January 15), Martyr’s Day (January 30) and for welcoming heads of states of other countries at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.”Tomorrow we are practising for the Martyr’s Day (January 30). On this occasion, we only fire two rounds from five guns, kept at five different locations, and fired simultaneously within a gap of two minutes.”A two-minute silence is observed on death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (Martyr’s Day) from 11am to 11.02am. The salute is fired bracketing this duration,” another official of the regiment said.The five locations are Rajghat, Connaught Place, Nehru Park, Buddha Garden and Vijay Chowk.”We keep two cannons, one as a back-up, at Rajghat as dignitaries gather there, but at other four places only one gun. We coordinate through wireless communication and mobile phones to execute it in synchrony,” he added.”It is a matter of pride for us and for the country. We cannot afford to lose even one micro-second,” he said. — PTI
The much-touted electronic postal ballot, which will facilitate defence and paramilitary personnel (service voters) to cast their votes electronically, will be provided only in five of the 117 Assembly segments in the state.The Election Commission of India had, in October last year, announced that for first time that the e-ballot facility would be provided to service voters during the Assembly elections. However, it didn’t reveal the exact number of segments wherein this channel of voting would remain operational.Now, the commission has decided to extend this facility to service voters of only five constituencies – Ludhiana (North), Ludhiana (East), Atam Nagar, Amritsar (North) and Jalandhar (West).Before Punjab, the option of voting through e-ballots was introduced in Pudducherry where only three service voters were registered.However, there are around 1.09 lakh soldiers registered as voters in Punjab. At present, the soldiers deputed outside states cast their vote using postal ballot.“The introduction of e-ballot system in all 117 segments requires elaborate arrangements, which is not possible at this juncture and can be possible only by 2019 general elections. We are introducing the facility only in five segments on a pilot basis,” said a senior officer.Since the delivery of postal ballot to soldiers and then back to election authorities entails a lengthy procedure, these had a low share in poll percentage. In case of Punjab, it was never more than 3-4 per cent. The facility is aimed at increasing soldiers’ share in the voting percentage.
Limited utility
There are around 1.09 lakh soldiers registered as voters in Punjab. But they will be able to use the e-ballot facility only in Ludhiana (North), Ludhiana (East), Atam Nagar, Amritsar (North) and Jalandhar (West) constituencies
Capt’s 21-point agenda an attempt to misguide ex-servicemen, says SAD
Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 6
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) lashed out at PPCC Chief Capt Amarinder Singh for trying to mislead ex-servicemen by announcing 21-point agenda for the so-called welfare of defence personnel in the state.In a statement issued here, SAD secretary and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said it was surprising that Amarinder was promising moon to every member of society and even making false, misleading and baseless promises on the issues which were outside the purview of any Chief Minister.Cheema said the 21-point agenda unveiled today by the former CM was nothing but repeat of such type of misleading promises. He questioned the PPCC chief on how could any state leader take a decision on OROP, as the defense issues were directly dealt with by the Centre. He said not one but majority of issues contained in the agenda were totally false and devoid of truth.The SAD leader also urged the former CM to specify what he had done for the ex-servicemen when he earlier served the state as Chief Minister? He said the reality was that he remained the Chief Minister for no good for the state. He said he miserably failed to formulate and implement a single policy for the welfare of the ex-servicemen.He also reminded Amarinder that it was the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narinder Modi which had taken key decisions, including the one on OROP benefitting the ex-servicemen, while the earlier Congress-led UPA government was dithering to take a decision for decades.
Capt: Will expose Badals in Nabha, Fazilka jail episodes
Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and vice-president Sunil Jakhar discuss a point during a press meet in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 6
Comparing the facilities for criminals at the Fazilka jail with Sukhbir’s Sukhvilas, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today said he would “expose and punish” Badals for the Nabha jailbreak case and the Fazilka sub-jail episode.He alleged the Fazilka incident, in which 24 people there reportedly conducting a secret meeting with liquor baron and former SAD Abohar halqa incharge Shiv Lal Doda, had exposed that there was a nexus between the Badals and criminals.Congress leader Sunil Jakhar, who earlier went to submit a memorandum on the issue, to Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh, alleged the government was influencing the probe. The police were trying to “save the culprits by distorting facts and were lying the meeting was held in the superintendent’s office”, he added.Jakhar said he had requested VK Singh to send a team to ascertain how many people could fit in the superintendent’s office and added he was sure not more than six could be accommodated, while the total number of people caught attending the meeting were more than two dozen.Questioning the mode of entry of so many people in the jail, the party leaders said they had either forced their entry, amounting to criminal trespass or jail break, or they had bribed their way. “Doda’s name is not in the FIR. I have demanded that the call records of the DC and the DSP be made public to find out how many times Sukhbir had called and intervened since the raid started,” he said.
Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, SAD MLA from Balluana constituency, entered the Congress fold today in the presence of PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh. Ghuriana said he had decided to join the party unconditionally in the interests of Punjab. Earlier, Amarinder welcomed into the party fold former Akali minister late Ranjit Singh Balian’s wife Rajvir Kaur and son Gurjot Singh. Meanwhile, the 1984 Sikh Katleyaam Action Committee announced its support to the Congress.Ghuriana had defeated Congress candidate Giriraj Rajora from Balluana in 2012, bagging 49,418 votes. Former Congress MLA PS Bhatti is now the Akali candidate from the constituency. Ghuriana also won as the SAD candidate in 2007 and 1997. — TNS
Atta-Dal scheme under EC scanner
Newly issued blue cards carry the pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon.
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 6
The SAD-BJP government’s flagship Atta-Dal scheme, which played a key role in the alliance’s victory in the 2012 elections, is under the scanner of the Election Commission.The newly issued blue cards – which enable 1.41 crore holders (almost 80 per cent of the state’s population) to get wheat at Re 1 per kg – bear the photographs of CM Parkash Singh Badal and Food Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon. The distribution of wheat on the basis of these cards tantamounts to promotion of the Akali Dal.When these new blue cards were being printed, it only had a detachable booklet highlighting the features of the scheme, bearing only Kairon’s photograph. However, a section of the Akali Dal had raised a hue and cry over the absence of the CM’s photo. It was then that the CM’s photo stickers were pasted on the cover page or inside.Opposition leaders are alleging that wheat and dal are being distributed among the beneficiaries in the presence of a vigilance committee — which comprises persons owing allegiance to the Akali Dal.Sources in the Food and Supplies Department told The Tribune that the beneficiaries received their first six-monthly stock (April to September) in June-July 2016, while the second instalment (October to March) was currently under distribution. Almost 4,000 metric tonnes of wheat was to be distributed, but by the time the code of conduct was imposed on January 4, the department had distributed 81 percent of the wheat. Three hundred metric tonnes of urad dal was being distributed for December. Most of it had been given away before January 4, but the distribution of the rest has been stopped. The department has now sought the EC’s permission before distributing the remaining wheat.
Akali ex-sarpanch, others join Congress
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 6
The election campaign by the Congress candidate from Bathinda (Rural), Harwinder Singh Laddi, got a shot in the arm when former Akali sarpanch from Teona village, along with former panchayat members, joined the party and came out in support of Laddi.At a function organised at the residence of former sarpanch Naccattar Singh, members of more than 20 families, who had earlier pledged their allegiance to the Shiromani Akali Dal, joined the Congress stating that the ruling SAD-BJP combine had not offered any kind of redressal forum to their problems.Among those who joined the Congress were Balvir Singh, Babu Singh, Buta Singh, former panch Natha Singh, Balkaran Singh, Kaura Singh, Lili Singh, Jagdev Singh Khalsa, Mander Singh, Surjit Singh and others.Addressing the gathering, Laddi promised that the issues of the residents of rural areas would be considered.“In the rule of the Congress in the state, the public will not have to run from pillar to post to get their works done. The party will give a boost to the public redressal forum,” he said.Laddi is a former leader of the People’s Party of Punjab and is now contesting from the reserved constituency of Bathunda (Rural) on Congress ticket.He is pitted against Aam Aadmi Party candidate Rupinder Kaur Ruby and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Amit Rattan.All three will be fighting their maiden elections this time. The SAD MLA from the constituency, Darshan Sing Kotfatta, is now fielded from Malout.
10 Punjab SSPs, two IGPs shifted by EC
Chandigarh, January 6
Just two days after enforcement of the model code of conduct, the Election Commission today directed the Punjab administration to transfer Senior Superintendents of Police of 10 districts. G Nageshwara Rao and Amit Prasad have been appointed as the Amritsar Commissioner of Police and Bathinda IGP (Counter-intelligence), respectively.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The EC has also decided to post new IGPs of Bathinda and Patiala Zone. It has proposed the names of Nilabh Kishore and B Chandrasekhar, respectively, for these posts. However, the orders would be finalised only after the EC receives inputs from the state by tomorrow since the two were outside the panel. The SAD-BJP government was constantly facing criticism for appointing either Punjab Police Service (PPS)-cadre or officers promoted from PPS as SSPs in many districts of the state. At least seven of the 10 officers transferred today were from PPS.DH Nimbale goes as SSP of Muktsar, Harjeet Singh to Tarn Taran, Gaurav Garg Ferozepur, S Bhoopathi to Patiala, J Elanchezihian as Amritsar (Rural) SSP and Deepak Hilori to Batala. PK Baliram goes to Fazilka, Nanak Singh Faridkot, Alka Meena Kapurthala and VS Soni to Mansa. — TNS
Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll on February 4
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 6
It will be a twin battle in Amritsar on February 4 as voters besides electing MLAs from nine Assembly segments will also vote to choose the new Member of Parliament.The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party as well as the Akali-BJP alliance will be in the fray for the Lok Sabha bypoll. While the parties are yet to choose their candidates, the Congress is likely to allow three-time Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu have a say in its pick. Officially, both Congress and AAP leaders say their respective central election committees will decide the candidates. From the Akali-BJP alliance, the BJP will field its candidate. The name may be discussed during a meeting between leaders of both parties on Saturday evening, say sources.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Amritsar seat fell vacant after Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh quit as MP on November 23 on the SYL canal issue. Capt Amarinder Singh is now contesting the Assembly election from the Patiala Urban constituency.
Amarinder in Patna to attend guru anniversary celebrations
Capt Amarinder Singh pays obeisance. Tribune photo
Jitendra K Shrivastava
Tribune News Service
Patna, January 3
Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday paid obeisance at Takht Sri Harmandir Ji, Patna Saheb, before reaching the Gandhi Maidan tent city.Singh also paid obeisance at Darbar Hall at Gandhi Maidan. He was accompanied by Bihar Congress state chief and state education minister Ashok Chaudhary.Singh, who reached here on Monday to attend the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh, praised the Nitish Kumar government.Singh said: “A congregation of Sikh devotees from different corners has gathered here to attend the celebrations. They are happy with the arrangements made by the state government in which the Congress is an ally. We have not seen such arrangements made by any government. We are happy as we came here solely to offer prayers to the guru. We are not here to do any politics.”After offering prayers, Singh served langar to devotees.Subendra Singh, a sevadar, said: “We serve meals to thousands of devotees. We see great enthusiasm among locals, who also support us in running the free kitchen here.”
At least 70 seats for Congress, predicts Amarinder Sarbjit Dhaliwal & Rajmeet Singh in Chandigarh
The other day when the winter rain lashed Chandigarh, Capt Amarinder Singh was delayed for his campaign trips. In the next couple of days the sun came out; some warmth returned. And so did smiles at Captain’s room — a big hall, a royal redoubt — where his close aides heard Rahul Gandhi announce the Captain being made the chief ministerial candidate of the Congress. Everybody knew the party was pretty late in formalizing something due for long. It is said to be his last election. In the party’s backyard lie two successive defeats under his watch. Yet he has gained in many ways over the years, so much so that many say he has dwarfed the party in Punjab. He is gutsy. “That’s why,” says a supporter, “he is contesting from two places”. One, against former Army Chief JJ Singh in Patiala and, two, Chief Minister Badal in Lambi. Is the Captain fighting on too many fronts? This time the contest is essentially triangular. “There were triangular contests in the past, but not of the existing scale,” he says.“I can say for sure that there is a strong anti-incumbency wave across the state against the ruling SAD-BJP. It won’t be a surprise if the alliance ends up with the lowest-ever figure in the Assembly on March 11, the day the result is out”, says Amarinder. So, how many seats for the Congress? “I am confident of winning 70 seats, AAP would get 30 and the SAD-BJP combine may get 15-17 seats. We will do well in Majha, Doaba and in parts of Malwa. We do not face any big challenge in these areas. But there will be tough fights with AAP in some parts of core Malwa area, especially the Sangrur-Barnala-Mansa region,” he says.What are the issues dominating the election? “The sacrilege of the holy books weighs heavy on the minds of the people. We will go all out to find the culprits. These incidents are akin to the ones that took place in the early 1980s. I squarely blame Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who has failed to resolve even a single such case.”The other issues, he says, are drugs, failure of the rural economy and crisis in farm sector, unemployment, migration of the industry, poor law and order and highly politicized governance. “I promise to sort these out on a priority,” says Amarinder.The party is facing the rebels in some constituencies. “We know campaign of some rebels is being funded by a senior Akali leader. We have been able to convince some rebels to withdraw. But there are certain habitual party hoppers; we don’t think we’d approach them,” says Amarinder.The Captain is banking heavily on AAP’s ‘outsider’ tag. “AAp is being directly run by Kejriwal’s team from Delhi. It has not recovered from the telling blow following Sucha Singh Chhotepur’s removal. This will hugely affect AAP prospects in parts of Majha-Doaba”.The other factor that the Captain counts on is his performance as Chief Minister for full five years (2002-07). “The people know I do not make false promises. They will prefer experience over inexperience (of AAP),” he says.
New Delhi, January 27In a joint exercise, the three armed forces and the coast guard will test their readiness at sea.The month-long exercise, called the Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise, is conducted by the Navy, Indian Air Force and the Army to carry out various joint tasks. It started on January 24.It will involve some 50 Navy warships, including the seaborne aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramditya, and the nuclear-powered submarine, the INS Chakra.The exercise is being conducted off the Western coast and will test the abilities in conventional war, anti-submarine warfare, securing sea lanes of communication, the busiest one passes close to India. The last edition of the Tropex was conducted in January 2015.The Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa will be deployed to conduct amphibious operations – to land Army’s mechanised forces on land by using a warship.
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