Monthly Archives: August 2018

During a press meet on Saturday, Sitharaman was asked about Hollande’s remark that Reliance Defence was chosen as offset partner by Dassault Aviation because the Indian government had “proposed” its name.

During a press meet on Saturday, Sitharaman was asked about Hollande’s remark that Reliance Defence was chosen as offset partner by Dassault Aviation because the Indian government had “proposed” its name. (Expres photo by Renuka Puri)

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday suggested that former French President Francois Hollande may have made the recent remarks on the Rafale deal to evade questions on allegations raised about his associates receiving funds from a company.

During a press meet on Saturday, Sitharaman was asked about Hollande’s remark that Reliance Defence was chosen as offset partner by Dassault Aviation because the Indian government had “proposed” its name. The minister replied that she would not know if there was any kind of offset-related agreement or understanding between companies.

She said she would know that only when those companies make that claim with bills and other details. “It appears from the media that it is not just one, but there are some 70-80 companies whom Dassault (Aviation) is going with,” she said, asking whether Hollande meant that Dassault had to go with all these 70-80 companies because they were asked to do so.

“I know this matter is now international. It will have an impact on international relations. But here, the former President of France, who himself is — I don’t know whether it is true or not — facing an allegation, it may or may not be true, that his associates have received funds for some purpose…. In such a situation, the (former) President is saying this. Does it mean he just wanted this journalist off his back and therefore he wanted to say something, and he said something different elsewhere later?” Sitharaman said. She added that she will not be in a position to elaborate on that allegation.

Read | Defence Ministry official put on record objections to 36-Rafale deal

The Indian Express had earlier reported that Reliance Entertainment had signed a pact to finance a film by French actor-producer Julie Gayet, partner of Hollande, while India was negotiating the Rafale deal with France, which led to Reliance getting the offset contract from Dassault.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Sitharaman said, “Certainly I find it amusing that everything this former President is doing is being predicted by the president of the Congress party here, yes, well in advance. It’s very interesting.”
Asked about the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) losing the deal, Sitharaman said that the Congress-led UPA failed HAL compared to what the NDA government has done since 2014. She said, “We have ensured them (HAL) Rs 20,000 crore worth orders every year from our side. We are giving them orders. The same HAL was given an order for 40 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) model by UPA. Only eight have been supplied so far.

“We are making efforts to improve their production capacity. After this 40 aircraft, we have given order for 83 LCAs. After they finish it, we have promised that we will order for a much more advanced aircraft. We have also increased their annual production capacity.”

New Delhi, September 28

The government has selected three Lieutenant Generals to hold Army Commander-level ranks. Lt Gen SK Saini will head the Pune-based Southern Command, replacing Lt Gen DR Soni, who superannuates on September 30.

Lt Gen PS Thimayya will head the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) at Shimla. The incumbent Lt Gen MM Naravane has been appointed the Eastern Army Commander at Kolkata.

Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar will head the tri-services CISC (Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee). He will replace Lt Gen SK Dua who retires on October 31. — TNS

Chandigarh: Following the President’s directions to discontinue the use of colonial-era honorifics such as “His Excellency” for addressing dignitaries, the Punjab Governor and the Chief Minister have decided to ensure compliance. As per a fresh set of instructions, the Governor would henceforth be addressed as “Honourable Governor”, while the Chief Minister would be referred to as “Punjab Chief Minister”. Cabinet ministers would simply be addressed as the minister of their respective department. Some Congress leaders are wondering whether the practice of calling Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh “Maharaja Sahib” would continue or not.

Equating doctor with God

Muktsar: A board placed outside the Government Veterinary Polyclinic at Badal village reads: “Our doctor is just like God. If someone in this hospital asks you to buy medicine from a particular chemist, he is doing it for commission.” The hospital seems keen to stick to the Hippocratic oath, but only time will tell to what extent it will succeed.

Artiste takes political turn

Gurdaspur: Film artistes usually test the political waters during the Assembly and parliamentary elections. However, Arjun Partap Singh (25), an alumnus of Lawrence School, Sanawar, took the plunge in the zila parishad polls and was elected unopposed from Cheema. Arjun, son of Congress MLA Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa, worked as an assistant director to Prabhu Deva in ‘Singh is Bliing’. He is set to make his acting debut in ‘Band of Maharajas.’ Now, he is in the reckoning for the post of chairman of the Gurdaspur zila parishad. Arjun, who has completed a degree in business administration from a UK-based university, says if he is appointed to the top post, he will leave Bollywood and instead turn to Pollywood so that he can devote more time to his constituency.

Akali MLA ‘guides’ you to his house

Patiala: Sanaur MLA Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, who has been allotted a government bungalow in the heart of the city, still feels the need to guide his supporters to his residence. The SAD leader has put up flex boards with his photos on electricity and telephone poles. Harinderpal is the son of Akali MP Prem Singh Chandumajra. “The opposition MLA apparently wants to make his presence felt in the neighbourhood,” a resident said.

FM turns up on time, public doesn’t 

Bathinda: Ministers and other politicians usually arrive late for rallies or other functions. However, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal is an exception. Recently, during campaigning for the zila parishad and block samiti elections, he reached Kotli village in Mansa district on the dot at 9 am for a public meeting. In contrast, people took their own sweet time to turn up. When they arrived an hour or two later, they were surprised to see the minister already there. They were overheard saying: “Mantri time da bada pakka hai, hor tan ghanta ghanta late aunde ne (the minister is very punctual, unlike others).”

No EVMs, voters struggle with paper ballot

Jalandhar: Having got used to polling through EVMs, voters seem to be finding it hard to use the traditional paper ballot. As many as 5 per cent of the votes for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in the district were found invalid by the counting staff. In some booths, the number of invalid votes was even higher than those polled by candidates or NOTA (none of the above).

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 21

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and senior Army officials are expected to inaugurate newly renovated Shaheed Nand Singh Chowk, which is popularly known as Fauji Chowk, in the city on September 24.

Although, no official announcement has been made yet, officials of the administration have claimed about their visit.

SSP Dr Nanak Singh and Army officers have visited the chowk to see the ongoing renovation work. A meeting was also held regarding the function. Workers have been told to complete the renovation work before September 24.

The chowk has been beautified and renovated by the Army. Even two anti-aircraft guns have been installed at the chowk near the statue of Shaheed Nand Singh.

These guns were used during the war in 1971. Their range is up to three km.

Naib Subedar Nand Singh had bravely fought with the Japanese in the Burma war before India’s independence and this brave soldier of the Sikh regiment was honoured with Victoria Cross. Later, in 1947, he took upon enemies at Srinagar, but died while fighting after a bullet hit him.

For his bravery, he was honoured Maha Vir Chakra. Later, a statue was installed in the city in his remembrance.

For the past many years, various organisations have been demanding beautification of the chowk.

SSP Dr Nanak Singh said the Indian Army was organising the inauguration function for Shaheed Nand Singh chowk.

He has stated that as the spot is in the heart of the city and witnesses heavy traffic during the day, they have decided to divert the traffic to other roads till 2 pm on September 24 so that people don’t face any problem.

The traffic coming from the Mansa side, which has to go to Dabwali, Malout, Badal, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot and Barnala would go towards ITI Chowk to engineering college, then Ring Road and Kanhaiya Chowk.

The traffic coming from the Goniana side, which has to go towards Mansa, Dabwali, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Badal would towards Ring Road from Kanhaiya Chowk and would not enter the city.

Traffic going towards Barnala and Rampura would go from ITI Chowk to Model Town, 100-ft road, Bibiwala road and North Estate.

Traffic coming to the city from Goniana and Rampura would enter from the Rose Garden side and move towards the Improvement Trust or Mann petrol pump and then enter the city.

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18

Former Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday reiterated the Congress demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe in the Rafale jet deal and accused Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of leveling false allegations on him in the matter.

Antony said the BJP Government had jeopardised national security by being unable to procure the Rafale aircraft in time despite citing emergency purchase for the April 10, 2015 direct deal with the French Government.

He also said Sitharaman had tarnished the reputation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited nationally and internationally by saying it did not have the ability to manufacture 108 Rafale jets in India.

On Sitharaman’s previous charge that Antony had delayed the procurement of the jets despite the deal being ready in UPA times, the former Defence Minister said the accusation was “unfair”.

“The Finance Ministry at the time had objections to the life cycle cost approach concept, which was new and I told them to take the matter to the Cabinet Committee on Security. A senior BJP member also wrote to me at the time and I as minister acted with responsibility by referring the issue to the CCS,” Antony said at a press conference today.

He accused Nirmala Sitharaman of suppression of facts and said BJP’s claim that 36 jets negotiated with the French government in 2015 were cheaper was false.

“If the deal was indeed cheaper why did the BJP Government not negotiate for all 126 aircraft and why only 36?” asked Antony.

He then said the Modi Government had claimed emergency purchased as the reason behind scrapping the UPA time deal and negotiating a new deal.

“The first aircraft will be delivered by September 2019 and the 36 jets by September 2020. All the 126 aircraft are not arriving before 2030. So where is the urgency clause now?” Antony asked.

He also accused the Government of undermining the prestige of HAL by saying it cannot make the aircraft in India.

“If there is any firm that can make the aircraft it is HAL,” Antony said.

Asked by The Tribune whether the Congress planned to move the Central Vigilance Commission against the Rafle deal, Antony said the first demand of the party was the JPC.

The Congress added that at an appropriate time it will also petition the CVC and CAG to fulfill their “constitutional obligation of looking into the Rafale deal on their own”.

Jammu, September 18

A BSF jawan, who went missing from a forward area along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu on Tuesday morning, was found dead later in the day, officials in Delhi said. Head Constable Narinder Singh of 176 Battalion is suspected to have been hit by a sniper shot from across the border when troops were clearing the ‘sarkanda’ grass ahead of their post in RS Pura.

“The body was found by a search party,” a senior official said. A flag meeting was held between BSF and Pakistan Rangers. Ram Avtar, IG, Jammu Frontier, too visited the area but did not speak with the media.

A source in the local administration told The Tribune that the Head Constable was driving a tractor when he was targeted. The incident comes within 24 hours of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the Makwal border outpost. Rajnath had warned there was no change in Pakistan’s attitude towards India. — TNS

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 2

The Army on Sunday paid tributes to Late Sepoy Shive Kumar, who was killed in a gunfight in Bandipore on Saturday.

In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantonment, Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Chinar Corps General Officer Commanding Lt Gen AK Bhatt and all ranks paid homage to the slain soldier on behalf of a proud nation, a defence spokesman said.

Sepoy Shivey Kumar sustained bullet injuries during the fierce operation in Danna Forests of Bandipora district in which three militants were killed. He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital, but he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

The 32-year old soldier had joined the Army in 2005. He belonged to Karoor village of Kishtwar Tehsil in Doda district. He is survived by his wife, three children and parents.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 28

Reminding the three Armed Forces about the importance of operating “jointly”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked topmost military commanders of the country to bring about integration and jointness in operations. Modi was addressing the combined commanders’ conference at Jodhpur this afternoon.

Discussions are on within the three Forces on having a “theatre command” structure.

This is being opposed from within, especially by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The US has long followed such a structure and China has recently adopted it. A “theatre command” envisages integration of all military assets — Army, IAF and Navy — under one commander.

At present, the three Forces operate with separate strategies under separate commanders at each regional command. The only existing operational unified command is at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the assets of the Army, Navy and IAF are placed under a Vice-Admiral.

Earlier, PM Modi visited the Konark War Memorial at Jodhpur.