IMA Commandant Lt Gen SK Jha presents awards to medal winners in Dehradun on Thursday. Tribune photo

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 7

Commandant of the Indian Military Academy Lt Gen SK Jha today said the Bangladesh army chief’s visit to the academy would improve the relations between both countries.Chief of the Bangladesh army General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq will review the passing-out parade to be held at the IMA on Saturday. He will be accompanied by his wife Shoma Huq.Lt Gen Jha asserted that Bangladesh was India’s close neighbour and the two countries share a 4,900-km boundary. “Both nations have great diplomatic ties and conducted joint military exercises in the recent past,” he said.He pointed out that the IMA had invited heads of the SAARC nations as reviewing officers for its passing-out parades in the past.“The army chiefs of Afghanistan and Nepal have reviewed the parade in the past and it is a matter of great honour that Bangladesh army chief will be at the IMA to review the parade this time,” Lt Gen Jha said.Referring to the training at the academy, he said stress was being laid on turning Gentlemen Cadets from scholastic warriors to techno warriors without compromising on physical aspect of the training.On proposed underpass along the Chakrata road, which divides two campuses of the IMA, the Commandant said the proposal was in the final stage. He asserted that an underpass would help in strengthening security arrangements at the IMA.

Gyan Dev Ahuja, BJP MLA

Jaipur, December 25

Rajasthan’s ruling BJP MLA Gyan Dev Ahuja has said if anyone indulged in cow smuggling or slaughter, he would be killed. Ahuja’s threat came in response to an alleged cow smuggling incident in Alwar district on Saturday.Not stranger to controversial statements, Ahuja had previously claimed that the premier Jawaharlal Nehru University was a hub of sex and drugs rackets, where 3,000 used condoms and 2,000 liquor bottles were found daily. On Saturday, an alleged cow smuggler was caught, while two of his associates managed to escape in the Ramgarh area of the district, which often witnesses violence by cow vigilante groups.The man caught was allegedly beaten by local residents. However, Ahuja claimed the accused was injured after the vehicle in which he was allegedly smuggling cows overturned.“Three men were smuggling cows. When police chased them, they tried to escape through narrow lanes of a village and the vehicle overturned leaving one of the smugglers injured. Two others managed to escape,” the Ramgarh legislator claimed.He said people resented cow smuggling and slaughter. “There is anger among people against cow smugglers because they smuggle cows, because they open fire at police when they try to stop them. They also take roads through villages in Alwar to escape to Haryana and pelt villagers with stones,” he said.Ahuja said there had been a sudden spurt in incidents of cow smuggling of late. — PTI

New Delhi, December 21

The issue of Ministry of Defence having capped educational expenses of children of martyrs or those disabled in action was raised in the Lok Sabha today by MP from Chandigarh Kirron Kher.Speaking during Zero Hour, the MP sought immediate reversal of the decision saying “the cap will be a dis-service to the people who died for the motherland”. “Please restore the fee and remove the cap,” Kher demanded saying it’s about the future of the children.Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and General VK Singh (retd), now a minister in the Narendra Modi-led government, have already made similar demands to lift the cap.The educational expenses and hostel fee had been capped by the MoD at Rs 10,000 per month, impacting some 3,200 students in schools, colleges and professional institutions. This will result in a meagre saving of less than Rs 5 crore per annum.The Tribune was the first to report the issue in its edition dated December 1. The orders came into force on July 1 this year. Since then, the ministry has received several requests for continuing with the old system, which had no such ceiling. — TNS

Remove cap on education reimbursement to martyred soldiers’ kids: Kirron to Centre

Cold wave conditions are likely to continue till December 22, says Met. PTI file

Srinagar, December 18

Severe cold wave continued in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday as Kargil in Ladakh region froze at minus 14.5 degrees, recording the lowest minimum temperature this season.

“Present cold wave conditions are likely to continue till December 22,” a Met Department official said. Leh recorded minus 11 as the night’s lowest temperature.

The mercury dipped further as the people in the Valley geared for the traditional 40-day period of harsh winter known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ which starts on December 21 and ends on January 30.

During this period, snowfall in the hills replenishes the perennial water reservoirs of Kashmir which sustain the various rivers, streams, springs, lakes and other water bodies during the summer months here.

The minimum temperature was minus 1.8 in Srinagar, minus 5.3 in Pahalgam and minus 6 in Gulmarg.

In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded 7.7, Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra 9.5, Batote 5.1, Bannihal minus 0.2, Bhaderwah 0.9 and Udhampur 4.9 degrees Celsius. — IANS

REMEMBERING HEROS ON VIJAY DIWAS

चंडीगढ़, 16 दिसंबर (ट्रिन्यू)

पाकिस्तान से सन 1971 के युद्ध की ऐतिहासिक जीत की याद में चंडीमंदिर स्थित वेस्टर्न कमांड के हेड क्वार्टर में शनिवार को विजय दिवस सैनिक सम्मान के साथ मनाया गया। जनरल आफिसर कमांडिंग इन चीफ लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल सुरेंद्र सिंह ने शहीदों का श्रद्धांजलि दी। समारोह में बड़ी संख्या में अधिकारी व अन्य रैंक के कर्मचारी उपस्थित थे। ब्रिगेडियर कुलदीप सिंह चांदपुरी, लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल जीएस सिहोत्रा, एयर मार्शल एमएम सिंह और एचएस धालीवाल सहित कई सेवानिवृत्त अधिकारी भी इस अवसर पर उपस्थित थे।  एक अन्य समारोह में परमवीर चक्र विजेता सैकेंड लेफ्टिनेंट अरुण खेत्रपाल के परिजनाें ने चंडीमंदिर में लगी उनकी प्रतिमा पर श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित किये। 16 दिसंबर, 1971 काे पाकिस्तानी सेना कमांडर लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल अमीर अब्दुल्ला खान नियाजी और 93000 सैनिकों ने भारतीय सेना और मुक्ति वाहिनी के संयुक्त बलों के कमांडर लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल जगजीत सिंह अरोड़ा के समक्ष आत्मसमर्पण का दिया था।

ਖੇਤਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿੱਧ
ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, 16 ਦਸੰਬਰ

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ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਹੋਣ ’ਤੇ ਮਾਨ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਲੜੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ  ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀਆਂ ਦੇਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।’ ਇਹ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਜਨਰਲ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਟੀਐੱਸ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਬਾਈਪਾਸ ਨੇੜੇ ਸਥਿਤ ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਾਰ ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ’ਚ ਵਿਜੈ ਦਿਵਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕਰਵਾਏ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਹ ਦਿਵਸ 1971 ਦੀ ਭਾਰਤ-ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਜੰਗ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਅਤੇ ਜਿੱਤ ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਨਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕੀ ਕੰਪਲੈਕਸ ’ਚ ਫਲਾਈਂਗ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਨਿਰਮਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਬੁੱਤ ’ਤੇ ਫੁੱਲ ਮਲਾਵਾਂ ਭੇਟ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ।
ਸਮਾਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸ਼ੇਰਗਿੱਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੇਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਤਾਕਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਕਈ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ ਲੜੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ, ਜੋ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਵੀਰਤਾ ਦਾ ਸਬੂਤ ਹਨ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੜਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਨ। ਇੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਬੱਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਗੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੀਆਂ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਸਜ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਕੱਟਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਾਲ 1971 ਦੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਦੇ ਸਿੱਟੇ ਵਜੋਂ ਹੀ ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਖਿੱਤੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਦੀ ਬਹਾਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ 1971 ਦੀ ਭਾਰਤ-ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਜੰਗ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀਆਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪਾਏ ਗਏ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕੀਤੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਲੋਕ ਹਿੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਭਲਾਈ ਸਕੀਮਾਂ/ਯੋਜਨਾਵਾਂ ਲੋੜਵੰਦ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਕੋਲ ਪੁੱਜਣ ਤੱਕ ਪੂਰੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਹੀ ‘ਗਾਰਡੀਅਨਜ਼ ਆਫ਼ ਗਵਰਨੈਂਸ’ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਤਹਿਤ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਲੰਟੀਅਰ (ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀ) ਭਰਤੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਲੋਕ ਹਿੱਤ ਯੋਜਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਮੀਨੀ ਹਕੀਕਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਸਮੇਂ-ਸਮੇਂ ’ਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਭੇਜਿਆ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਓਵਰਆਲ ਰੈਂਕਿੰਗ 19ਵੇਂ ਸਥਾਨ ’ਤੇ ਚਲੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਸਥਾਨ ’ਤੇ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
ਸਮਾਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਪੈਸਕੋ ਦੇ ਸੀਐੱਮਡੀ ਮੇਜਰ ਜਨਰਲ ਐੱਸਪੀਐੱਸ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ, ਵਧੀਕ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ (ਜ) ਇਕਬਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਜੰਗੀ ਵਿਧਵਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਸਕੂਲੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਗਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪ੍ਰਦੀਪ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਅਗਰਵਾਲ, ਅਮਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ (ਜ), ਕਰਨਲ ਐੱਚਐੱਸ ਕਾਹਲੋਂ, ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਸੈਨਿਕ ਭਲਾਈ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਜਸਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੋਪਾਰਾਏ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ ਹੋਰ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ।

VIJAY DIVAS COMMEMORATION IN LUDHIANA. Wreath laying  at Flt Lt Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon  PVC statue and a get together of about 600 ESM and 200  school students at War Museum. Interesting fact narrated by Lt Gen T S Shergill that all the Div Commanders in LIBERATION of Bangladesh were from Punjab.  4 Inf Div Maj Gen  M S Brar, 9 Inf Div Maj Gen Dalbir  Singh,  20 Mtn Div Maj Gen  Lachman Singh Lehl, GOC 101 Comn Zone Maj Gen Gurbux Singh Gill and later Maj Gen Gandharv Nagra. All under Lt Gen JS Aurora.

The Chamba veterans’ cricket team.

Chamba, December 8

A one-day goodwill cricket match will be played between senior citizens of Chamba and Hamirpur on December 24 at the National Stadium Nadaun The team consists of Major SC Nayyar (Captain), Dr. Sunit Puri, Naresh Puri, Pawan Amrol, Anil Kumar, Khurshid, Surender Bhandari, Roshan, Kishan Singh, Yadu China, Rajinder Bakshi, Surender, Baldev Pathania, Rattan and Narendra Malhotra. — OC

“In the good old days, the norm was that women and politics were never discussed in the forces. However, these subjects were gradually “inching” their way into the discourse and this should be avoided,” the army chief said.New Delhi: Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said that the “norm in the good old days” was to never discuss women, politics in the forces and that it should be avoided.

“The military should be somehow kept out of politics. Of late, we have been seeing that politicisation of the military has been taking place. I think we operate in a very secular environment. We have a very vibrant democracy where the military should stay far away from the polity,” he said.Rawat was speaking at an event organised by the United Service Institution.

In the “good old days”, the norm was that women and politics were never discussed in the forces, he said. However, these subjects were gradually “inching” their way into the discourse and this should be avoided, the army chief added.

“Whenever (any) issue (of) linking any military establishment or military personnel where political entity comes in then… that is best avoided,” he said.

The army chief declined to elaborate on the statement.

The defence forces, he asserted, do best when they don’t meddle in the political affairs of the nation.

Responding to criticism over the Army being asked to build foot overbridges following the stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone railway station in October, Rawat said there is a charter of aid to civilians under which the armed forces help out in times of crises like floods and earthquakes.

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is also chairman of the powerful chiefs of staff committee (CoSC), has taken up the issue of capping educational assistance with the defence ministry, he said.

There has been some resentment in the three services of the armed forces over the defence ministry’s decision to cap the educational assistance it gives to children of martyrs or those disabled in action at Rs 10,000 per month.

Rawat added that there was a “misunderstanding” on the issue and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had assured that addressing the problem was a priority, Rawat added.

The Army chief also noted that there was radicalisation among the youth by terror outfits and the issue was being addressed.