A file photo of snow-cutting operation on the Manali-Leh route.

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Manali, March 2

With the hills witnessing the heaviest snowfall this year, the opening of the Manali-Leh highway to vehicular traffic is expected to take some more time this season.The opening of the Rohtang Pass to traffic may be delayed this year as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is yet to start the snow clearance work.Every year, the BRO starts snow clearance work from Gulaba to the Rohtang Pass depending on weather conditions. However, this time the BRO authorities are undecided as the state Met Department has predicted more rain and snow in the next four days.Talking to The Tribune, BRO commander Col AK Awasthi said: “We are uncertain about starting the snow clearance work because of inclement weather conditions in the region. We are in regular contact with the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment to get weather updates and as soon as the weather becomes fine, we will start the work.”The 474-km-long stretch of the Manali-Leh highway, 222-km stretch till Sarchu, has received heavy snow this year, posing a challenge to the BRO to resume traffic in the stipulated time.The Manali-Leh highway opens to traffic in May-end or the first week of June every year, but this time, it will be difficult to clear snow from avalanche-prone areas like the Rani Nullah, Beas Nullah, Chumbak Mor, Rakshi Dhank and Bara-lacha areas, which are under a thick blanket of snow.On the Rohtang Pass and Bara-lacha, more than 20 ft snowfall was recorded during the winter. People of Lahaul & Spiti are awaiting the start of the snow clearance work on the Manali-Leh highway as they are dependent on flight services provided by the state government to travel in and out of the district.Though BRO personnel have faced tough challenges in the past during the opening of the road, they are still working even during snowfall to keep Lahaul roads open to public. Despite heavy snowfall this year, the BRO has kept many stretches of the highway in populated areas in Lahaul & Spiti open.

Met warning

• Every year, the BRO starts snow clearance work from Gulaba to the Rohtang Pass by this time
• But now, the BRO authorities are undecided as the state Met Department has predicted more rain and snow in the next four days.
• On the Rohtang Pass and Bara-lacha, more than 20 ft snowfall was recorded during the winter.

NEW DELHI: India is now fast-tracking some long-delayed modernisation of the Army’s Special Forces to make them even more lethal and mobile for clandestine warfare.

Defence ministry sources said “restricted” tenders have been issued to select foreign arms companies for acquisition of new assault rifles, sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns, light-weight rocket-launchers, tactical shotguns, pistols, night-vision devices and ammunition.

“Seven tenders or RFPs (request for proposals) were issued last week to American, Israeli, Swedish and other companies for acquisition of the specialised weaponry on a fast-track basis, Times of India in a report said.  Separately in a different capital acquisition project, trials are in progress to acquire over 120 light strike vehicles, which can be carried by helicopters, for the Special Forces,” said a source.

This follows soon after India inked a flurry of emergency deals worth around Rs 20,000 crore for ammunition and spares for the Army, Navy and IAF to ensure they are ready to go to battle at short notice, and sustain the high-tempo operations for at least 10 days.

The Indian Special Forces already have specialised weaponry, ranging from Israeli 5.56mm TAR-21 Tavor assault rifles and 7.62mm Galil sniper rifles to American M4A1 carbines and Swedish Carl Gustav rocket launchers, as well as equipment.

THE ‘BRIDE QUALITATIVE REQUIREMENT’ WAS THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SELECTION WAS DONE. THE LOGIC: IF GIRL’S MOTHER IS SO DIGNIFIED, SHE WILL ALSO HAVE THE SAME DNA

Army procurement process for warlike and nonwarlike inventory revolves around a term GSQR (general staff qualitative requirement). Procurement goes through a stiff process of trials in all type of terrain, within the laid down guidelines of the GSQR which encompasses issues of price, transfer of technology, back up support and enhancing the war winning potential.

Similarly, there is another term QR (qualitative requirement), which means “right man for the right job”.

In 1983, my brother-in-law was the most eligible bachelor looking around eagerly for a beauty, to be the “fauji bride”. There was nothing like a site Shaadi.com and one generally scanned matrimonial columns of newspapers for finding the “queen of heart”.

Suddenly, a term struck me — BQR (bride qualitative requirement) — mainly derived from a combination of GSQR and QR. A consensus was arrived on the BQR as appended below. She should be three or four years younger than the “man”. Must be five feet three inches or more in the socks. Prepare to live in remote areas with temperature varying from 45°C (deserts) to –35°C (high altitude areas). Ready to move every two years on permanent posting. Has the capability to convert even tentage accommodation into a home. Ability to live in a “fixed salary profile”. Be ready to live in a “separated family accommodation” when the husband moves to the field area. Two educated girls from Delhi were shortlisted, from Lady Shri Ram College and Miranda House. With date and time fixed, the “holy journey” to select the bride commenced from Jalandhar to Delhi. En route, the BQR was further refined saying that the girl should also be dutiful, respectful and should have the “right sanskars”. Mom, dad and the young man by now were wellversed with the core issues as given in the BQR.

My dashing brother-in-law was advised to spell out the BQR in an appropriate, tactful and civilised manner, without being offensive or pro-active to the girl. And once he was through with his choice, he was to indicate to the parents that they could now go ahead for serious business of fixing the date, venue and other modalities of the wedding ceremony. The indication was to be done by holding the right moustache with left hand for 15 seconds meaning that celebrations could now commence.

But the drama unfolded sooner than later in the very first stop of selection venue of the girl from Lady Shri Ram College. Girl’s brothers and father escorted the selection team to the drawing room. Everybody was waiting for the prospective bride to be making the entry next. But it was the girl’s mother who made a grand entry.

The BQR designed over a period was thrown out of the window as my brother-in-law was holding both his moustaches with his hands — the selection was done. The logic as told to us later was that if the girl’s mother is so dignified, charming and beautiful, the daughter will also have the same DNA and qualities. He was not wrong as the girl proved herself as an “ideal fauji wife”.

Gut power is the virtue of successful army officers which enables them to take “quick decisions”.

A Saudi well-wisher kisses the hand of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz (C) in a symbolic pledge of allegiance during a ritual ceremony in Riyadh. AFP file photo

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12

Taking forward the growing engagement between India and Saudi Arabia, both countries are in talks for joint production in various fields, including petroleum, new technology and defence industry.As India prepares itself for the visit of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud later this year, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha, at an event today, said India-Saudi Arabia relations were growing rapidly beyond the field of energy with both countries in talks to explore joint production. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Kingdom last year in April and New Delhi is working out dates with Riyadh for the King’s visit.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“Saudi–Indian relationships can be furthered by more successful partnerships between companies which understand each other’s cultures and society deeply,” Secretary Sinha said gracing a function by SABIC, a Saudi-based global leader in diversified chemicals, that is undertaking social work in India.On his part, Saudi Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati touched upon the strategic partnership between the two countries in areas of research, including with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in Chemicals and Plastics.He said with Saudi Arabia embarking upon an economic restructuring programme under its “Vision 2030” diversifying the country’s dependence on oil to sustain the economy, the country sees India as a major partner in the Make in India initiative.As India and Saudi Arabia depend on imports to cater to is growing defence needs, both countries see a great potential in joint production in the defence industry. Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trade partner and the country imports around 19 per cent of its crude oil requirement from Saudi. During 2015-16, the value of bilateral trade stood at $ 26.71 billion, a 32 per cent fall from $32.97 billion the previous year due to lower prices of petroleum.Saudi Arabia is the eighth largest market in the world for Indian exports and is destination to more than 2.4 per cent of India’s global exports while Saudi Arabia is the source of 5.34 per cent of India’s global imports.As part of its corporate social responsibility, SABIC recently achieved a milestone of scanning 1 lakh government schoolchildren in Delhi and Gurgaon providing eye care, including spectacles, besides undertaking other works in Bengaluru, Vadodora and Mumbai, SABIC vice-president Janardhana Ramanujalu said.

Newly-wed Mriganka Singh, wife of Nirvan Singh, grandson of Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh, congratulate him at his residence in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 11

Fighting a do-or-die battle, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh saved the Congress from sinking into oblivion in Punjab, where it had lost back-to-back Assembly elections.Learning a lesson from the 2012 shocker, Amarinder went all out to ensure that his choice of party candidates got the ticket. He was able to rein in the rebels amid major differences with senior leaders over ticket allotment and also kept at bay his detractors within the state Congress and at the central level.The strategy to reach out to a wide range of voters, including students, farmers and traders, clicked. Since he had served a term as the CM (2002-07), the electorate preferred him over the inexperienced but hyperactive Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).The tough stand taken by Amarinder on various issues, such as the SYL canal, corruption, the plunder of the state’s resources, the drug menace and the worsening economy, won him the confidence of voters.Political observers said AAP’s association with hardliners and the Maur blast a few days ahead of polling were key factors that made the urban and semi-urban voters drift towards the Congress. The entry of Manpreet Badal, Pargat Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu into the party fold gave a big boost to its campaign.Pramod Kumar, Director of the Chandigarh-based Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), said the Congress was able to regionalise its agenda and promises, while AAP harped on vendetta politics.The party’s think tank made the campaign Amarinder-centric, coming up with “Coffee with Captain”, “Punjab da Captain”, farmer loan waiver and smart phone campaigns to woo voters.

Potential ministers

With the Congress coming to power, the names of potential ministers have started doing the rounds. Though a senior leader said a formal discussion would be held tomorrow, party insiders said those in the reckoning included Manpreet Badal, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Aruna Chaudhary, Rana Gurjit Singh Sodhi, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Brahm Mohindra, Tripat Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Vijay Inder Singla, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Razia Sultana and Pargat Singh.

OSD to Capt appointed

• Chandigarh: With the Congress coming to power, Punjab Chief Secretary on Saturday appointed Gurinder Singh Sodhi, Assistant Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, also a confidant of PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the CM-designate. TNS

Congress candidate from Mohali Balbir Singh Sidhu comes out of a gurdwara at Phase IV.

Kulwinder Sangha

Mohali, March 10

The three main contestants for Mohali held meetings with their party agents and workers today. They made them aware of guidelines regarding the counting process that will take place at the District Administrative Complex in Sector 76 here tomorrow.Balbir Singh Sidhu of the Congress held a meeting with 14 counting agents and party workers at his office in the Industrial Area this morning. Sidhu said he was more than confident of winning this time again. When asked whether he had booked “dholis” and ordered laddoos to celebrate his victory, he said there was no need to do this as his supporters would make such arrangements.He said he would start his day at 6 am by paying obeisance at the Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan tomorrow before going to the counting centre. Sandhu said though some  exit polls gave the party only 50 seats, he was confident of that the party would win 65 seats.Meanwhile, AAP candidate Narinder Singh Shergill said he held a meeting with counting agents and party volunteers, asking them to remain vigilant. He said his party workers were new to politics and had to be guided properly.When asked whether “dholis” had been booked by him and ladoos ordered, Shergill said this would not be done before time and all this would be managed by his volusnteers. However, he admitted that he had ordered 10 to 12 quintals of laddoos, which would be sent to the party office to celebrate the victory of AAP candidates.Shergill, who is totally opposed to exit polls, termed these as “corporate polls”. He said some TV channels were run by corporate houses and they wanted to keep some parties happy. He said they were happy as AAP was given, at least 50 seats. He , however, said AAP would get 75 to 80 seats in Punjab.While the AAP and Congress leaders were gearing up for the D-day, SAD-BJP combine candidate TPS Sidhu too held a meeting with his party agents, telling them to keep a watch on the counting process and maintain records.He too showed little faith in exit polls, stating that these were removed from the reality. Sidhu said the response from people was favourable and there was not triangular contest. He exuded confidence of winning the elections.   When TPS Sidhu was asked as to how he would spend his day, the former Deputy Commissioner said he would go to his party office instead of the counting centre.   

Before verdict, gearing up for last lap

Congress candidate from Kharar Jagmohan Singh Kang with his family members at his residence in Chandigarh.

Shashi Pal Jain

Kharar, February 1o

All three main candidates from Kharar assigned duties to their supporters for the day of counting. The counting for the Kharar constituency will be done under the supervision of SDM-cum-Returning Officer Amaninder Kaur Brar.SAD-BJP candidate Ranjit Singh Gill, a 52-year-old coloniser, went to Kiratpur Sahib in the morning and offered prayers at various gurdawars, seeking blessing of the Sikh Gurus. He hoped for winning the seat. “I am not nervous and accept people’s verdict with grace, love and affection. When ask about various exist polls, Gill said, “These are just estimates. Everything will be in front of you tomorrow. Our party will win the elections.” AAP candidate Kanwar Sandhu today met his party workers in Kharar, giving them necessary instructions. His supporters were seen hopeful of winning the elections.Meanwhile, Congress candidate Jagmohan Singh said, “A large number of people in the constituency voted this time. We are expecting a big win this time.”Speaking about his schedule today, he said, “I was just another day for me. I went to pay last respects to someone at 12 noon. After that, I headed straight to Kurali to be with my supporters and get a hang of the exit polls, which clearly indicate an edge for the Congress. I also met PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh and extended my good wishes to him. Tomorrow is a big day for us and I went to a gurwdara to seek the Almighty’s blessings. The exit polls clearly show that the SAD would be decimated. The actual race is between the Congress and AAP. I am confident of the Congress’ victory.” The Kharar seat was won by Jagmohan Singh Kang in 2012. He had defeated Ujagar Singh Badali of the SAD by 6,779 votes.According to data, the constituency has 2,20,994 voters (1,17050 males and 1,03,940 females). Out of them, 1,59,411 voters (85,887 males and 73,524 females) cast their votes. The total percentage of the voters who exercised their franchise stood at 72.13 per cent this time. Kharar has four third-gender voters but nobody turned up at the polling booth. 

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 24

The Indian Navy has successfully conducted the maiden trial firing of newly installed surface-to-air missile system from its sea-borne aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

During the firing carried out in the Arabian Sea, the missile—from the Barak series—was fired against a live low-flying high-speed target. The target was successfully engaged and destroyed, Indian Navy spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said on Friday.

The firing was conducted as part of the Operational Readiness Inspection of the Western Fleet by Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra, the Western Naval Commander. The missile marks a significant milestone in providing Air Interception and Defence capabilities, of the Navy’s aircraft carrier and the fleet.

RK Grewal

TNS and Agencies

New Delhi, Bhiwani March 9Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has rejected AAP government’s decision to award a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishen Grewal from a village in Bhiwani, who committed suicide in Delhi over the “One Rank, One Pension (OROP)” issue in November last year. But Grewal’s family members, who met Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal last week, said they were hopeful of receiving the monetary help by this month-end. Grewal’s son Jaswant Singh said the CM had assured him that he would award the compensation despite the L-G’s objections, “come what may, even if I have to find an alternative.” (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Sources said: “The Lt Governor has turned down the proposal sent by the Delhi Cabinet for approval, saying it is not in line with the compensation policy to provide ex gratia to servicemen.” In his note to Kejriwal, Baijal reportedly pointed out that Grewal had consumed poison on November 1, 2016, during a protest. “This specific case does not fall within the parameters of the scheme for grant of ex gratia i.e death occurring in the discharge of official duty.“Therefore, while I fully sympathise with the family of Subedar (retd) late Ram Kishen Grewal, I’m not able to agree to the proposal for payment of ex-gratia relief in this case,” the L-G wrote. This is the first proposal of the Delhi Government shot down by Baijal after he cleared a slew of files stuck with the L-G’s office during Najeeb Jung’s tenure. Reacting to the move, Kejriwal today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “anti-soldiers.” In November last, Kejriwal had announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the family of the ex-serviceman whose suicide had sparked a political slugfest with Kejriwal and the Congress attacking the Centre for “not fulfilling the OROP demand.” Gandhi, Kejriwal and other leaders had attended Grewal’s funeral in his native village in Bhiwani. 

L-G rejects ex-gratia to former soldier’s kin who killed self

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Tribune file photo

New Delhi, March 9

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has rejected the AAP government’s decision to give Rs 1 crore compensation to the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishen Grewal who had committed suicide over the OROP issue last year.Sources said that Baijal, on March 6, rejected the decision of the Delhi Cabinet which had also granted martyr status to Grewal.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Last year, the Army veteran had committed suicide in the national capital demanding immediate implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP).“The Lt Governor has turned down the proposal sent by the Delhi Cabinet for his approval, saying it is not in line with compensation policy to provide ex-gratia to servicemen,” sources said.In his note to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Baijal said that as mentioned in the Cabinet decision, Grewal had consumed poison on November 1, 2016 during a protest for the implementation of OROP.“This specific case does not fall within the parameters of the scheme for grant of ex-gratia payment i.e. death occurring in the discharge of official duty.“Therefore, while I fully sympathise with the family of Subedar (Retd) Late Ram Kishen Grewal, I’m not able to agree to the proposal for payment of ex-gratia relief in this case,” Baijal said in the note.He said the position was also explained to the Chief Minister during his meeting with him earlier this month.This is the first proposal of the Delhi Government shot down by Baijal after he cleared a slew of files that were stuck with the LG office during Najeeb Jung’s tenure.The move may trigger a tussle between the AAP dispensation and the LG office.Sources said the proposal was also turned down as Grewal was neither associated with any service with the Government of NCT of Delhi, nor a resident of the capital.As per the existing scheme, ex-gratia payment is made in cases of defence, paramilitary forces, the Delhi Police, Home Guard, Civil Defence, Delhi Fire Service personnel dying in discharge of bonafide official duty.“They have to be either working with the GNCT of Delhi/ Delhi Police or have their permanent address recorded at the time of joining service as Delhi in case of defence/ paramilitary personnel. The situations that qualify for ex- gratia payment are well defined in the scheme,” Baijal said.Reacting to the move, Kejriwal today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“Narendra Modi is anti-soldier. Modi ji himself doesn’t not provide good food to soldiers and when we are trying to help the family of the deceased soldier, why is he stopping us?” he tweeted.In November, Kejriwal had announced a compensation of Rs one crore for Grewal’s family.His suicide had sparked political slugfest as Kejriwal and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had attacked the Centre for “not fulfilling OROP demand” of the ex-serviceman.Both leaders had also been detained by the Delhi Police when they tried to meet Grewal’s family.Gandhi, Kejriwal and other political leaders had reached the Army veteran’s native village to attend his cremation. — PTI

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The astonishing level of coordination and alacrity in “solving” the Madhya Pradesh train blast case seemed improbably professional. But within hours of the blast, the UP Police tracked down all the alleged perpetrators and managed to gun one down in a “live” shootout in Lucknow. Skeptics drew attention to the coincidence of an all-day live encounter on the eve of the crucial last phase of voting in UP. But we owe it to ourselves not to rush to form conclusive judgements from all-too-inconclusive evidence. Our own record of dealing with past terror cases does make a case for caution and circumspection.The court’s observations while acquitting the 2005 Delhi serial blast accused punched holes in all the grand claims made by the Delhi Police then, very similar to the UP Police’s assertions now. Or take the 1998 serial blasts that took place in Delhi, UP and Haryana. The police officials who had laid out the blueprint of a trans-national conspiracy at that time were left unscathed by the collapsing of the case in all the 19 cases. The only loser was the youngster who spent most of his dozen years in solitary confinement. Despite the all-too-neat tying up of loose ends in Lucknow, security managers suggest a formless apparition as the master controller. The need to exercise greater vigilance of the Internet has never been more acute if the police’s version that the motivators are Syria-based is taken at face value. This may be because the Central Government’s aversion to accommodating Muslims in political arrangements is stark. There are bound to be counter-effects in the community, especially among the restive younger elements, being painted as the “other”. Skeptics may say the ISIS bogey provides the common ground for reopening talks with Pakistan which claims to be under attack from the same source. It could also put India on the right side of US President Donald Trump currently obsessed with rooting out the ISIS. But given the Indian investigators’ consistent inability to get to the root of the conspiracy, we should take care that we do not end up chasing shadows and incarcerating innocents.

Won’t accept traitor’s body: Saifullah’s father

Sartaj, father of Saifullah

Kanpur, March 8

The father of suspected Islamic State operative Saifullah, who was killed in an anti-terror operation in Lucknow early this morning, refused to take the body of a “traitor”. Saifullah’s father Sartaj said his son had left home around two-and-a-half months ago after being reprimanded for not doing any work. He said he had hit his son a day before he left home. Saifullah had contacted his family last Monday and told them he was going to Saudi Arabia in search of a job.“What he has done is not in national interest. We will not take the body of such a traitor. A traitor cannot be my son. We are Indians, we were born in India, our forefathers  were born in India. One who works against my country is not my son,” Sartaj said.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)His elder brother Khalid said Saifullah had told the family he was going to Mumbai to get a visa for Saudi Arabia, where he wanted to work in the leather industry.  He had taken his Aadhaar card, passport and other papers before leaving, the elder brother said, adding he did not answer calls thereafter and his mobile phone was usually switched off. He had studied accounts and was a religious youth who offered namaaz five times a day.