Monthly Archives: August 2018

Border guards of India and Pakistan during the Retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border. Tribune file photo

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, September 15

The Border Security Force and the Border Guards of Bangladesh are all set to start a daily Retreat ceremony on the lines of the one at Attari-Wagah border in Punjab at Dawki in Meghalaya on the India-Bangladesh border.The ceremony was expected to begin before the next BSF Raising Day and a saluting platform had already been built, a senior official said. The Retreat would have already started but for some hiccups faced by the BGB, he said.Besides the saluting platform, the BSF is making arrangements for other utilities and amenities such as washrooms, resting sheds and canteen for the visitors/tourists who would converge on the border to witness the ceremony.Dawki has already been popular destination for domestic as well as foreign tourists visiting Meghalaya. Tourists used to cross the border point at Dawki from both the sides under the watchful eyes of the BSF and the BGB guards.“The BSF plans to flaunt picturesque destinations of Meghalaya and destinations in rest of the country embedded in the infrastructure that is being built at Dawki in view of the the Retreat ceremony, which will soon become a reality,” another official said. The ceremony will provide scope for the Meghalaya government to chip in to boost tourism in the state.

Col (retd) Mandip Grewal, along with his wife Kamaljit Kaur, at his home in Sofi Pind. Tribune Photo

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 11

He gave his crucial years of life to the service of the nation and dedicated his retired life to the service of nature.Meet 59-year-old Col (retd) Mandip Grewal who hails from a distinguished family of Risaldars, Numbardars and decorated Army officers. Now, settled in Sofi Pind, he has turned his house into an abode of nature.His home — home to over 100 birds and animals — is a delight to visit. Interestingly, he has not bought any of the animals or birds kept at his home. They have chosen his house of their own will.He does not sell any plant or animal but offers them to all those who come to his home to enjoy the serenity of nature as a return gift.Among the daily visitors, a majority are children.Throwing light on the idea, he said, “Love for nature is like passion for the Army that runs in my veins. My father was also an Army officer and had immense love for nature. Earlier, we used to transport our birds and animals along to various places. The transferable job in the Army did not prove to be detrimental in diminishing our love for nature.”Known as Mandy among his friends, Col (retd) Grewal was awarded the Sena Medal for his exemplary services.On being asked how he managed to attract so many birds and animals to his place, Col Grewal said, “Birds also have basic needs and fulfilling the need of some of them will ensure you’ve got quite an audience. Birds need food, water, shelter and nesting materials during the spring. These things can be provided easily to the birds like a tray of sunflower seeds, a pan of water, a bush to hop into and an old plastic basket, that are kept in the open area of my lawn.”While his children are away for higher studies, Col Grewal and his wife Kamaljit Kaur are busy taking care of the extended family, which they actually ‘won’ in the past five to six years.“Apart from enjoying their sight and sound, one can easily feel rejuvenated while looking at some of the interesting species around. Moreover, you can learn a lot from them,” added Col Grewal.Talking about lessons learned from nature, Col Grewal said, “The most important lesson is love. The birds are very careful about their offspring and also make strenuous efforts to make a house for them. Also, unlike human beings, they do not spoil nature but add value to it by planting more trees,” said the officer who only retired last year and has taken over as Officer–in-Charge (OIC) of the ECHS polyclinic in the Ucchi Bassana area.He said birds play an important role in tree plantation by flying seeds from one part of the world to another.The officer not only distributes free plants and animals among the visitors at home but also gifts a Neem or Moringa tree to every patient who visits his ECHS polyclinic everyday.“These are herbal plants having a medicinal value. Their presence prevents many diseases,” he added.He said his family supported him in the endeavour. “While my children are away and busy making their career, my wife is very supportive and treats every bird and animal like her own child. As I keep travelling to various places to distribute free plants, she is the one who takes care of food for the birds residing at our house,” added Col Grewal, who was also honoured with the Green Ambassador award by a Pune-based NGO, Save Earth, in 2010.He has painted pictures of cranes in his home, including the main door. Explaining the reason for this, he said, “This is because a crane never stays alone and cannot survive without his companion.”He said the support of his family had added wings to his crusade for preserving nature. The former Army officer urged the city residents to make small endeavour to upgrade green cover and wildlife around their homes. Col Grewal also encouraged the children to spend more time with nature instead of electronic gadgets.

Nirmala Sitharaman after assuming office. Tribune photo

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News service

New Delhi, September 7   Nirmala Sitharaman, the newly appointed Defence Minister, on Thursday said military preparedness, sorting out long-pending issues, ‘Make in India’ and welfare of families of soldiers would be areas of focus.Sitharaman assumed charge as Defence Minister at the South Block office here in the presence of outgoing Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhmare.

In a brief statement after taking over, Sitharaman said, “My priority will definitely be the armed force preparedness.”It is important that the Indian armed forces received all attention in terms of giving them every necessary endowment and equipment to perform their duty, she added.Promising to address the long-pending issues, the Minister said, “I will address all long-pending issues in consultation with the Prime Minister and the cabinet.”

Sitharaman, who was commerce minister in the Modi cabinet, stressed upon ‘Make in India’. India is the world’s biggest importer of weapons and military equipment. “It’s very important for defence capability to have a make in India. We will ensure that it’s given full play for defence production.”“With technology coming in, we have to ensure that we ‘make in India’ so that we benefit and also send these to the international market,” she added Sitharaman said one of her priorities would be the families of the armed forces personnel. “Soldiers and their families should remain absolutely assured that their interests are watched,” she said.The taking over of Sitharaman had been scheduled for Thursday and was consequent to the return of Jaitley from his visit to Japan. Sitharaman was appointed Defence Minister on Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi effected a reshuffle of his council of ministers. Sitharaman is the first-ever independent woman Defence Minister. Indira Gandhi held the portfolio for more than two years as the Prime Minister.

 

US Senator Larry Pressler. Photo: @larrypressler/Twitter

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 28

Pakistan has three to four operational tactical command posts where nuclear weapons might or could be launched from, Senator Larry Pressler has warned.A US Senator for 18 years and the architect of the Pressler Amendment of 1985, the former lawmaker was speaking at the launch of his book “Neighbours in Arms” in Delhi.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Pressler Amendment had banned most economic and military assistance to Pakistan in the absence of an annual certification of non-possession of nuclear devices by it signed by the US President, and halted the spread of nuclear weapons briefly in 90s. Pressler further expressed serious concerns about the nuclear command structure in Pakistan that leaves it very vulnerable to rogue elements. “India has very clear line of authority. In US, the President cannot alone launch nuclear weapons without the concurrence of more than a dozen people. We must get assurance from Pakistan that these tactical weapons are not unguarded or can work independently,” said the Senator. Agreeing with his assessment, former chief of RAW Vikram Sood emphasised that the state and non-state ideologies were blurred in Pakistan. “When you do terror under a nuclear umbrella, the terrorists already have a bomb. You have a mindset of nuclear terrorist and trigger in hand of an authority that could go rogue. So, the worry is how do you overcome the mindset,” asked Sood. Pressler believes that despite his controversies, there is a clear shift in the White House’s Pakistan policy under President Trump and chances of the non-NATO ally being declared a sponsor of terror cannot be ruled out. But on the Indo-US civil nuclear Deal, the US Senator expressed pessimism that it might not really go much forward and remains more of an arms deal right now. 

Wife of Rifleman Rajesh Khatri, who was killed in firing by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir’s Karen sector, lays a wreath on his coffin in Varanasi on Friday.

Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot hands over a cheque to BSF ASI’s wife Karamjit Kaur in Mansa on Sunday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Mansa, September 10

The state government today announced that a government job would be given to Navdeep Singh, son of BSF ASI Kamaljit Singh, who was killed in firing by the Pakistani soldiers in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir last week.The announcement was made by Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot at the bhog ceremony organised to pay tributes to the departed soul.The minister said Kamaljit Singh would be remembered for the bravery that he showed in line of his duty.The minister handed over cheque for Rs 2.5 lakh each to martyr’s father Roop Chand and his widow Karamjit Kaur. He then announced that Navdeep Signh would be given a government job after completion of his graduation. He also assured that the government would stand by the family in the hour of need.Rajya Sabha member and senior SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the construction of the martyr’s memorial in the village.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 6

Despite a credible deterrence, a two-front war—a situation where India has to fight Pakistan and China simultaneously—cannot be ruled out, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned here today. It would predominately be a “land war”, he added.War is very much in the realm of reality, General Rawat said while speaking at a seminar here.He said it was a “myth” to assume that “democracies or nuclear armed” neighbours don’t go to war.Pakistan believes that India is its main enemy and has launched a proxy war against it. “Differences with our western adversary (Pakistan) are irreconcilable. We don’t see any scope of reconciliation, because their military, polity, and people have been made to believe that there is an adversary, India, which is all out to break their nation into pieces,” he said.Referring to the recent standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam in Bhutan, he said more incidents like that could not be ruled out.China, he said, would continue to try and nibble away at Indian territory. Terming it as “salami slicing”, he said China would continue to test our limits and threshold. India would have to be prepared for that, he said.He said Pakistan could try to take advantage whenever India got engaged with China. “We have to be prepared for conflict on the northern and western borders,” the Army Chief said.Believing that there would be no war could affect modernisation of forces and budgetary allocations. “Only militaries don’t go to war, nations go to war; and we must prepare ourselves accordingly,” he said.“Credible deterrence does not take away the threat of war… Nuclear powers don’t go to war and that nuclear weapons are weapons of deterrence, yes they are. But to say that they can deter war, they will not allow nations to go to war, in our context that may also not be true,” Gen Rawat said.

Gen Bipin Rawat says…

On Pakistan: Differences with our western adversary (Pakistan) are irreconcilable. We don’t see any scope of reconciliation, because their military, polity, and people have been made to believe that there is an adversary, India, which is out to break their nation into piecesOn China: Salami slicing (taking over territory in a very gradual manner), testing our limits of threshold is something we have to be wary about and remain prepared for situations emerging which could gradually emerge into conflict

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 28

A local court today dismissed the bail plea of Col Manveer Bains, accused of murder in an incident of road rage. The court observed that Colonel Bains had committed a serious offence and that “he knew the consequences of his actions”. Colonel Bains has been accused of murdering Sector 37 resident Praveen Yadav.The bail application claimed that Yadav died of natural causes and was supported by a medical report from doctors of the GMCH, Sector 32.However, the prosecution opposed it saying that the CFSL and the histopathology reports were awaited. The results of these reports could be vital as these may suggest the chronological order of events and the exact cause of the death. These may also suggest what chemical reactions in the deceased’s body led to his “natural death”.According to the order, Colonel Bains might have been angry with the resident and he parked his car in front of Yadav’s. Colonel Bains slapped Yadav who was brought dead, indicating that he died on the spot. The Judge thus dismissed the bail plea of the Colonel. His application for class B facilities in jail will be taken up on Friday. The 48-year-old Mohali resident was arrested on September 2 and booked for murder after the family of Praveen Yadav alleged that he had been “beaten to death”.