Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 5

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tonight said she would reconsider the cap on the education expenses of children of martyrs.Speaking in Ahmedabad, she said fee capping was part of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The Cabinet took a call on it. “I will go back and reconsider it,” she said. Terming it a sentimental issue, she said, “Our government is never against soldiers.”(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Tribune was the first to report the matter in its edition dated December 1.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already asked for details in this regard and is expected to sort out the matter. In September, the Department of Ex-servicemen in the MoD decided to cap the fee at Rs 10,000 per month, impacting around 3,200 students in schools, colleges and professional institutions.The forces raised an objection on October 10, but the ministry turned it down. Now, the forces, under the banner of the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (a body of three service chiefs), have sought removal of the cap.A letter by the committee says “these personnel made the supreme sacrifice for the country and the provision of educational concessions to their wards is a small gesture to recognise their commitment to the defence of the country”. The committee has sought a review of the government decision.Under the scheme, rolled out in 1972, the tuition fee of children of martyrs or those disabled in action is paid by the ministry.The scheme to bear the cost of education of children of martyrs was announced in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 1971—two days after the Pakistani forces surrendered to the Indian forces at Dacca (now known as Dhaka).

Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala at the residence of Sepoy Pargat Singh in Ramba village of Karnal district on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 27

Leader of the Opposition Abhay Chautala today visited the house of Sepoy Pargat Singh, who was killed during a ceasefire violation in Keri sector of Rajouri district (J&K) on Saturday.Pargat had dual responsibilities — one towards the nation and second towards his family, the INLD leader said, adding that as Pargat was the sole breadwinner of the family, the government should provide all facilities to his family.Abhay was accompanied by party general secretary Brij Sharma, former Gharaunda MLA Narendra Sangwan, district INLD president Yashveer Rana and former youth district president Gurdev Ramba.He demanded of the government to make facilitate the admission of Pargat’s son Yuvraj Singh to an academy, so that he could get good education. “Yuvraj wants to serve the country like his father.”Earlier, while addressing a public meeting in Dadupur village, Abhay served an ultimatum on the state and the Central governments to construct remaining part of the SYL canal by February 23, failing which he said the INLD would organise a rally in New Delhi on March 7 to decide the future course of action.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. File

Jaipur, December 22

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday said peace talks with Pakistan can take place only when it stops supporting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Given its actions, it doesn’t appear that Pakistan really wants peace, the Army Chief added.

He was in the Thar desert in the western sector to witness the ‘Hamesha Vijayee’ exercise conducted by the Southern Command close to the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan.

Rawat said Pakistan should stop supporting terrorists.

“Only then can we say that peace talks should take place,” he told reporters in the exercise area near Barmer.

“We also want that relations should be better but given what kind of actions there are (from their side) and terrorism is spreading in Jammu and Kashmir, it doesn’t appear that they really want peace,” Rawat said.

Asked about China’s rising presence and influence in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Army Chief said India is also taking its steps while keeping security aspects in mind.

“The way they are taking steps, we are also taking our steps while keeping our security perspective in mind,” he said.

Rawat said the Army, paramilitary forces and the Jammu and Kashmir police have been taking actions against militants in Jammu and Kashmir successfully and the action will continue.

His comments come a day after Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India would like good relations with Pakistan provided Islamabad takes action against terror groups.

“It is important for Pakistan to understand our core concern, which is terrorism. We have time and again asked them to take action against terrorists who are operating from their soil. This is something they (Pakistan) will have to handle if they are serious in cultivating this friendship,” Kumar said.

The assertions follow Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa pledging his support for better ties.

According to media reports, Bajwa has said he will support any initiative of the civilian government to resolve issues with India through talks. PTI

Gen SK Saini, GOC, 9 Corps, with Governor NN Vohra in Jammu.

Jammu, December 20

Lt Gen SK Saini, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 9 Corps, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan and briefed him about the security situation in the area of responsibility of his command.The Governor discussed with General Saini issues relating to the continuing Pakistani attempts to infiltrate terrorists across the International Border. He also stressed the importance of the state police enforcing heightened surveillance in the entire hinterland on a sustained basis. — TNS

Flying Officers Pratibha (left) and Shivangi Singh

Hyderabad, December 16

Over 100 officers, including two women fighter pilots, were commissioned in the Air Force today during the Combined Graduation Parade of Pilots and Ground Duty Officers at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, near here.An official statement said the event marked the passing out of 105 flight cadets as flying officers, including two women fighter pilots—Flying Officers Shivangi Singh and Pratibha, of a total of 15 women who joined the elite cadre of IAF officers.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The occasion also marked the passing out of the 200th pilot’s course of IAF officers. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba was the chief guest at the parade. He conferred the President’s Commission to the graduating Flight Cadets who successfully completed their basic and professional training. — IANS

Meaningful discussions, sonorous bands, cultural artifacts and avid visitors made the concluding day of the first Military Literature Festival a glittering affair

Pages from The Tribune archives being viewed by avid youngsters.

Amarjot Kaur

From discussions on Saragarhi Samvad and battles fought from 1818 to 1837, including the Battle of Peshawar, Jamrud, Multan, and Kashmir, to discussions on Anglo-Sikh wars, 1971 and 1965’s Indo-Pak war, military animals, national security strategy and ongoing conflicts, Chandigarh’s first Military Literature Festival kept introducing firebrands to the bonfire of thought-provoking dialogues by the Sukhna Lake at the Lake Club on Saturday.Besides military leaders, authors, writers, and thinkers, who added to the literary part of the festival, five book stalls, among 30 other booths selling artefacts and handicrafts, contributed to the cultural side of the three-day festival.Regaling the visitors with Kullu and Kashmiri shawls, Hoshiarpur’s famous wood inlay work, UP’s handloom cotton bed-sheets and covers, and Jaipur’s traditional jewellery, the last day of the festival witnessed a footfall of over 2,000 people, including National Cadet Corps, and school students. With daris, cushion covers, and table mats on display, Manuj Kamboj from SabTera Foundation says, “We are an NGO for women empowerment based in Khuda Ali Sher, near PGI, and these are items made by SabTera Livelihood programme by underprivileged women.”What catches our attention the most is the Pipe Band from the 11 Madras regiment. “This band was established on July 1, 1980. I have been a part of it since 20 years now and have over 100 tunes to play at the festival,” says band major BV Anathan. 

amarjot@tribunemail.com

INVITATION FOR MILITARY LITERATURE FESTIVAL: 2017

Military literature festival is scheduled to be held at chandigarh Lake Club from 7^th  to  9^th December 2017. This is an initiative of His Excellency the Governor of the Punjab, Shri V P S Badnore and the Honourable chief minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, in association / coordination with the Indian Armed Forces, to create public awareness about elite armed forces among the citizens/future generation.

 Well known personalities who have been invited and will be sharing their views /experiences with the public are authors, veterans, war decorated heroes, publishers, musicians, artists, journalists, war correspondents, poets, film makers, research fellows, leaders in technology and manufacturing, architect, craftsmen, industrialists.

 In addition to the panel discussions, the other attractive activities are Akash Ganga Sky Divers team, Brave Hearts Motorcycle ride, Equitation Tattoo, Para Motor shows, Daredevils Motorcycle displays and Military music by Military bands. The Subjects will range from National security, wars, conflicts, battlefield, heroism and life of military family thus providing a wholesome and enriching exchange of discussions and dialogue & ideas.

Apart from above, there will be books, arts and handicraft exhibitions, magic shows, puppet shows, the vibrant and lively Bhangra and Giddha troupes and an armament display of the latest army weaponry.

 On behalf of the government of Punjab, I invite you and all officials of your organisation, along with families / friends to participate / witness this historical event, and to pass the baton of legacy bravery, valour and sacrifices of the sons of soil to the future generations/children. Students of Schools/Colleges/Universities are most welcome.

 Confirmation may be sent via email to     

                      festcoordinator.mlf@gmail.com

    OR telephonically on —9877860269

 Military literature festival:PGME

Event              Date                      Venue

The military literature festival 08 And 09 December

FOR REGISTRATION OPEN SITE

HTTP://WWW.MILITARYLITERATUREFESTIVAL.COM

Politics should be used to nourish and enrich the unity of the country. By remaining wedded to our multiple identities and by remaining tuned to the Constitution and not to any shrine or place of worship, we can defend the Idea of India.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi at the Somnath temple in Gujarat on Wednesday. PTI

Satya Narayana Sahu
Former Press Secretary to President KR NarayananRahul Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath temple on Wednesday and the alleged entry of his name in the register meant for non-Hindus has predictably caused a row. It came to imply that he is not a Hindu. Photographs of him wearing a sacred thread were flashed to prove his credibility as a Hindu. Efforts were made to demonstrate that his religion is Hinduism and the entry of his name in the register meant for non-Hindus is a political mischief. It is strange that the immediate identity of somebody gets highlighted just to score a political point and appeal to voters. Let us take two examples from history where our leaders refused to be defined  by their religious identity alone:1. In 1965, just before the invasion of Pakistan on India, the BBC in a radio broadcast stated that the Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri being a Hindu would attack Pakistan which is a Islamic Republic. Immediately, Prime Minister Shastri issued a statement in which he dismissed the BBC portrayal of his identity as PM of India in terms of Hindu religion as mischievous and asserted that he became the Prime Minister of India not because of Hinduism but because people of all faiths chose him for the post. He then referred to the secular character of India and the office of the Prime Minister. He argued that India did not stand for only one religion and he being the Prime Minister, and not a Hindu, would defend India the idea of which could not be reduced to one religion. It is a remarkable lesson which teaches us to stand above religion.2. Another shining example of going beyond religious identity was shown by none other than Mahatma Gandhi when he declined to meet Jinnah who insisted that he should come to see him as a representative of the Hindus. Gandhiji wrote a piece on the issue and he defined his identity beyond Hinduism. He said that he hailed from Gujarat and, therefore, he had a Gujarati identity which was coextensive with his Indian identity. Then he further expanded his Gujarati and Indian identity by saying that these Gujarati and Indian identities coexisted with his planetary identity. Stretching further and broadening all those identities, Mahatma Gandhi said that he was of the cosmos and so his Gujarati, Indian and planetary identities coexisted with his cosmic identity. These refreshing examples of leadership teach us to go beyond immediate identity by including manifold identities which define every individual. Professor Amartya Sen, in his book Identity and Violence, and in one of his speeches “Indian Identity” had cautioned that if one identity of an individual is privileged over other identities, it would lead to distortion and imbalance of multiple identities which an individual has and which define his overall identity. Such a process of privileging one identity over other identities would necessarily lead to narrowness of mind which, in turn, would spread violence and venom, cashing festering sores across the whole body polity. 

Glorious legacy

Politics, which is a necessary attribute of parliamentary democracy, has to be used to nourish and enrich the unity of our country. By remaining wedded to the multiple identities which we have and by remaining tuned to the Constitution and not to any shrine or place of worship, we can defend the Idea of India. Rahul’s visit to Somnath temple or the visit of anybody to any shrine should be seen from the perspective of the Mahatma who juxtaposed his Hindu identity with his planetary and cosmic identities. Such a harmonious approach is indispensable to harmonise our identities to use politics to foster harmony and understanding in society and stand up for the Idea of India.The Mahatma said he did not want India to be wholly Hindu, wholly Islamic or wholly Christian but wholly tolerant with all its religions coexisting side by side and flourishing. He also said that to define nationalism as Hindu nationalism or Islamic nationalism is a libel on nationalism. Exactly the same composite dimension of nationalism was given by Swami Vivekananda when he said that he wanted India to have a Vedantic brain and Islamic body. Dr BR Ambedkar described attempts to establish the Hindu Rashtra as “arrant non-sense”. In no phase of India’s history was the identity of India defined by the religious identity of the rulers. When Sardar Patel wanted to use government funds to reconstruct the Somnath temple, Mahatma Gandhi advised to create a trust and appeal the people to contribute money for that purpose. Sardar Patel paid heed to this voice of sanity  and desisted from using the funds of the Government for conducting religious work. In doing so, Sardar Patel was setting a splendid example of keeping the State apparatus away from religion and temple construction activities. It is gratifying to note that that narrative of Gandhi’s advice to Sardar Patel and the later’s acceptance of it is part of the light and sound show event being conducted every evening in the sacred premises of the temple for the pilgrims who visit the shrine. Such a glorious legacy to go beyond religious identity in public life and politics and not to use the State for religious purposes is the defining feature of our Republic. It is every Indian’s duty to uphold this legacy which is the basic structure of the Constitution. The leadership must remain tuned to this legacy to uphold the Idea of India or in the words of the former President of India, the late KR Narayanan, the ideals of Indiatva in contrast to Hindutva.Mahatma Gandhi’s exampleIn the pre-independent India, once when Mahatma Gandhi was requested to dedicate the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Delhi, which is popularly known as the Birla temple, he initially refused to do so. However, he was persuaded to come and do the honours as Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya who was supposed to do it could not come to Delhi because of his other engagements. Gandhiji, while doing so, delivered a speech and said that by visiting a temple, a devotee should pray to get strength to respect faiths of others and fight against the practice of untouchability which plagued Hinduism.

(Views are personal)