Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 23

The ex-servicemen wing of the SAD on Monday asked the Punjab Government to immediately stop the “exploitation” of ex-servicemen and pay them remunerative salaries on the basis of the Haryana government’s pattern.

In a statement here, SAD ex-servicemen wing president Gurjinder Singh Sidhu said it was shocking that PESCO (Punjab Ex-Servicemen Settlement Corporation) was exploiting ex-servicemen by taking huge amounts from the government as well as private players, but giving them a pittance as salary.

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tankers that are plagued by maintenance problems and more refuellers are required to stay prepared to counter China in the eastern sector.

After two failed attempts to induct new tankers during the last 12 years, the Indian Air Force is (IAF) preparing to begin a fresh hunt for new-generation mid-air refuelling planes to extend the reach of its fighter jets, two senior IAF officers said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.

The official process to buy tankers is expected to begin within two months with the IAF seeking acceptance of necessity (AoN) from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) — the defence ministry’s apex procurement body — to take the proposal forward, said one of the officers cited above.

Under India’s defence procurement rules, the AoN by the council (headed by the defence minister) is the first step towards buying a weapon or platform. “We plan to seek the AoN for six new tankers in November-December. It will clear the way for sending request for proposals (RFPs) to foreign military contractors,” the second officer said. The refuellers could cost more than $2 billion.

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tankers that are plagued by maintenance problems and more refuellers are required to stay prepared to counter China in the eastern sector.

According to an August 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report, the desired serviceability of the Il-78 fleet should be 70% by IAF’s own standards but it stood at 49% during 2010-16 — barely half of the planes were available for missions at any given time.

Experts said it was imperative for the IAF to strengthen its refuelling capabilities to allow fighter jets to stay airborne longer.

“Flight refuelling aircraft are vital combat enablers. The IAF has just six, and two previous attempts at procurement faltered due to lack of funds, despite an aircraft being shortlisted both times. We have lost more than 10 years. Hopefully, wiser counsel will prevail this time,” said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

This will be the third tender for air-to-air refuelling planes since 2007, with Il-78 and Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) offered by European aerospace company EADS, competing in the previous contests that failed to end up as contracts due to price complications.

American (Boeing KC-46A), Russian (Il-78) and European (A330 MRTT) military contractors are expected to compete for the upcoming tender, industry executives said. Israel Aerospace Industries’ Bedek Aviation Group could also participate in the contest with its Boeing 767-200 multi-mission tanker transport –a conversion of the Boeing aircraft by Bedek Aviation.

In August 2017, the national auditor found that the refuelling pods of the Il-78s were dogged by failures and the tanker’s airworthiness was questionable. The comprehensive audit of the tanker fleet also revealed that tanking them up on the ground was a problem, dedicated refuelling corridors were missing and there weren’t enough hangars for the aircraft.

Our Correspondent

Abohar, September 23

Representatives of various NGOs and some former Central and state government officials offered floral tributes at the Major Surinder Prasad memorial on Monday.

Wife of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Lalita Shastri, inaugurated the memorial here in 1967. It was recently renovated by the Engineers Association with the help of Lions Club leader Naresh Khurana. Colonel (retd) Dilbagh Singh who participated in the 1965 and 1971 wars was also present to pay his tributes.

Chairman of Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch and former Sub-Divisional Magistrate BL Sikka said Surinder Prasad was the only son of former MLA and veteran Gandhian freedom fighter Master Teg Ram.

Alumnus of the local Municipal Board High School and DAV College, Jalandhar, Surinder Prasad was commissioned into 19 Maratha Light Infantry on December 17, 1961.

Manch president Gurcharan Singh Gill said in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, his battalion was given the responsibility of recapturing Thatti Jaimal village in the Khemkaran sector. As a company commander he succumbed to injuries sustained due to heavy shelling by the enemy. He was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously.

A prayer meeting was also held at the Samadhi Sthal in Major Surinder Park here.

Capt says won’t quit politics till Punjab restored to its number one position and is cured of all ills

As the Congress regime in Punjab completes two and a half years in office, The Tribune correspondent Sanjeev Singh Bariana talks to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on a host of issues, including the promises that have been fulfilled and what are the government’s priorities for the remaining term.

You had promised to wipe out the drug menace within four weeks, but the state is still grappling with it.

I had said I will break the backbone of the drug business within a few weeks and I have done that. This is evident from the data available in public domain. Our special investigation team (SIT) has filed 31,081 cases against drug suppliers and 38,117 persons have been arrested so far. Over 12,000 have been put behind bars and our teams have secured at least 3,600 convictions. Efforts are on to root out the problem completely.

Halfway into the current term, drugs continue to be the biggest problem afflicting Punjab. 

Punjab continues to be a big market for drugs and alarmingly, the drug habits of youth have changed too. Instead of traditional ‘bhang’ and opium, youth are now hooked to synthetic drugs. There are several supply lines, including from Pakistan and neighbouring states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, which has compounded the problem. Then there is supply from other countries too.

Do you think the drug menace can ever be rooted out?

At the 29th Northern Zonal Council meeting earlier this month, we asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately formulate a national drug policy. In the earlier meeting of the Chief Ministers in July, we had agreed upon to set up a joint group to eradicate the menace. We are moving ahead… Also, as pointed out earlier, before curbing the supply, we must cure addiction.

Sacrilege of religious text during the previous SAD-BJP regime in 2015 continues to be the Achilles’ heel of your government. Why was the CBI asked to re-probe the case when the SIT was already on the job?

There is no confusion in our commitment to unravel the truth. The Punjab Assembly decided to take back the case from the CBI after it couldn’t make any headway for three years after being assigned the probe by the previous SAD-BJP regime. We constituted a SIT and it took up related cases, including those involving officers. After we heard about the CBI closure report being taken up in the court, we realised the case may be closed in case the court accepted the report. So, the Director of Bureau of Investigation Parbodh Kumar filed the letter showing inadequacy in the CBI report, which forced the central agency to say it will reinvestigate the cases.

It is said that the illegal sand and liquor mafia continues to rule the roost despite change in regime. There are also reports of some Congress leaders being involved.

I am aware about the involvement of politicians, some even from our own party. I don’t deny the existence of sand mafia and am also apprised of the collection of ‘goonda’ tax. We are faced with the problem of liquor mafia sending their supplies from adjoining states. We are actively working on these issues. Following a clearance in a case stuck up in the court, we were recently able to auction sand mines worth Rs 306 crore (compared to Rs 5 crore earlier). So, we are hopeful things will improve drastically once people get easier sand supply.

Teams are being deployed on supply routes of liquor from adjoining states to check smuggling.

Punjabis can’t ride on government luxury buses on important routes, including the one to Indira Gandhi International Airport, as the routes are dominated by private transporters.

I am aware about the problem. I am also aware of the allegations against our government that it is purposely ignoring illegal transport businesses, particularly those owned by the Badal family. The allegations are baseless. The matter is pending in the Punjab and Haryana and High Court. We won the case once, but the affected parties immediately approached the court again and were granted stay. The tragedy is that we cannot have a timetable on certain routes under the current situation. The court, probably, needs to have a hurried look into the crucial issue facing the state so that we can act.

You recently said that the state government had fulfilled 60 per cent of its pre-poll promises. But the Opposition disagrees. 

We have been able to deliver on a majority of promises concerning good governance. We have given loan waivers worth Rs 4,600 crore to farmers. Our job fairs have been a major success and around seven lakh youth have got employment. Around 40,000 have got government jobs and another 19,000 will be recruited soon.

What about the remaining issues?

We inherited empty coffers from the SAD-BJP government. Our share of taxes through the GST is also not coming in regularly. Instead of scheduled three months, we get it after four months. If the money inflow is right, a lot of problems concerning public welfare can be taken care of.

How do you see the ‘Howdy, Modi’ programme in the US? 

I got to know from newspapers about the good response that Prime Minister Narendra Modi received in the US.

How are your government’s relations with the Centre? 

Despite former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley being my opponent during the last Lok Sabha election (2014), I had very good working ties with him. Whenever we approached him with any problem facing the state,

he would always help. The Centre does hear us out.

Will you contest the next elections?

As I have said earlier, I cannot think of quitting as long as Punjab people need me. When I took over as the Chief Minister for my second term in 2017, I promised to wipe tears from the eyes of each and every person in the state. And I will not give up till I have done that. Punjab and its people suffered for 10 years under the SAD-BJP rule. It is my commitment that I will wipe even the memories of those dark years and restore the state’s No. 1 position. If that means contesting the next Assembly polls and leading the state for another term (maybe even more), so be it, as long as I have the physical and mental capabilities to work for the people.

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 22

Despite ban on most Pakistan channels, residents of Jammu and Kashmir are receiving all such channels on a free-to-air dish available easily in the market.

Ever since the abrogation of Article 370, demand for the dish has grown manifold as the authorities have imposed restrictions on local cable operators from transmitting certain channels allegedly spreading vicious propaganda to instigate people. A free-to-air dish launched last year had been popular among subscribers as they received all Indian channels, excluding few paid channels, on one-time payment. However, a bigger dish launched a few months ago has been lapped up by subscribers in the Valley and Muslim-dominated districts of Jammu region as it beams Pakistan channels.

“There is little demand in Jammu city, but people from Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri come looking for the dish, as it is in short supply in their area. Dealers from these districts and the Valley procure it directly from Delhi,” said a Jammu dealer.

Islamabad, September 24

Pakistan on Tuesday rejected as “completely baseless” the Indian Army chief’s statement on the reactivation of terror camp in Balakot that was destroyed by the Indian armed forces through a surgical strike earlier this year.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat in Chennai on Monday said that Pakistan had reactivated the Balakot terror camp recently and about 500 infiltrators were waiting to sneak into India.

The response to the terror camp getting functional again might go beyond India’s previous response by way of an air strike in February, he told reporters at the Officers Training Academy in the Tamil Nadu capital.

The Indian Army chief’s statement on the reactivation of terror camp in Balakot is “completely baseless”, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The allegation of “infiltration” from Pakistan reflected “a desperate attempt” by India to divert international attention from the “humanitarian crisis” in Jammu and Kashmir, it said, adding that New Delhi would not “succeed in misleading the world community through these diversionary tactics”.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India on August 5 revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into union territories. PTI

Houston, September 22 

However, there are some more unresolved issues. We have outlined issues that the NRI Sikh community and Sikh Community in large is enduring and request you to address these issues in near future,” the memorandum said.

 

I had an excellent interaction with the Sikh Community in Houston. I am delighted to see their passion towards India’s development!

 Among the prominent members of the 50-member delegation were Satpal Singh Khalsa from New Mexico, eminent Sikh businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal from Milwaukee, Rachpal Singh from Indiana and Jaswinder Singh from Illinois.

The memorandum thanked the prime minister for bringing to justice some of the perpetrators of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

“We request you to ensure that justice prevails, and Sikhs in India get justice and dignity which is their right under the constitution of India,” it said.

Gen. Bipin Rawat

COAS

Indian Army

Respected sir,

Let me begin with congratulating you on holding your prestigious office. It may not be unreasonable to say that you must have worked really hard in your service towards our beloved country. You must have been as dedicated as any farmer is to his field, probably even more. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. Both you and the farmers are sons of soil, whose lives are devoted to the motherland. You dedicated your life to serving our beloved country. I cannot even fathom the number of sacrifices you must have made to honour the call of duty. Well, thank you so much for everything.

However, today I am constrained to write this letter to you. I believe that as one of the citizens of our beloved country (because that is what connects your office to me) I can write to you in distress. I have seen your pictures on various social media platforms, interacting with families of your larger family of our Armed Forces. That is when I thought that I could write to you because of your commitment towards your service, which is so evident from the pictures.

I have never done this before and therefore allow me room for a few errors too, which are purely unintentional. I have never written to any other COAS; you stand apart so much. Imagine, just imagine, a commoner in India can think of approaching you on a public platform in a situation of distress. The trust that you’ve built for yourself just speaks for itself.

Sir, when I was in school and later in college, I listened to and read stories about Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, whom we all so fondly remember as our “Sam Bahadur”. It is very difficult to explain how he is so “ours” even today and that too when most of us never met him. His stories are awe-inspiring and I am sure that you remember most of those stories. After all it is that honourable legacy that you have been called to shoulder, because you hold today one of the most respected offices. It would be difficult to disagree that if our Sam Bahadur heard this, he would say that it is not just one man but all the men in uniform—the soldiers, officers and jawans alike—who make this institution what it is. Who make it respected almost to the degree of being revered.

Sir, I may be inexperienced and may not be as knowledgeable as you are. That is an absurd comparison on my part. However, with whatever little experience I have, I understand that with greater power comes even greater responsibility. And the ability, rather sensibility, to exercise restraint is one of the non-negotiable aspects of that responsibility. That is so pretty much irrespective of the context.

In this regard, I feel extremely distressed by your absolutely unprovoked statements that are doing the rounds these days. You will always know more than me but even then I can sense a blatant lack of responsibility in your statements on the latest turn of events in the Valley. You have been making statements saying, “If the adversary has to activate LoC, that is his choice.”

There are two other statements attributed to you, that are very provoking in nature and that too without anybody provoking you. In fact it kind of disturbs me to even quote them here. Links to them are here and here for your ready reference.

These statements are devoid of the degree of rationality and responsibility that comes with the office you hold today. We are not talking about a cricket match, that a provocation like that is harmless. Unfortunately it appears that these unprovoked “warnings” were intended to provoke. And I hope I am absolutely wrong here.

Sir, courage does not align with jingoism. There is as much courage in exercising restraint for the greater good as lies in fighting a rightful battle. We live in times when our beloved country must only work towards solutions through peaceful means. This being our first choice, it should be expressed through our words and backed by such actions.

Preparedness to defend ourselves, should the need arise, that is something different. It is not the same as telling somebody again and again that, ‘Hey, I am prepared, remember I am prepared, dare you, I am prepared.’ This is plain and simple provocation. I find it very disturbing to see all this coming from you.

It is never a wrong think for any adult to pause, take stock and reassess. You may have done it many times. Please do reassess once again to check if these statements stem from a false machismo than the degree of maturity required. I believe that in delicate situations, restraint and maturity will save coming generations.

Sir, would it be wrong to assume that just like the rest of us, even you were heartbroken, disgusted and extremely ashamed of those fellow citizens/netizens who viciously trolled Mita Santra, the wife of one of our slain CRPF jawans whom we lost to the dastardly attack in Pulwama in February.

Mita was trolled for not wanting war and her firm belief that “war is never a solution”. She was trolled by jingoistic Indians. Armchair self-proclaimed patriots questioned her integrity and love for her family. This was barely a few days after her life had changed forever.

In this distressing and very difficult situation, may I request you to kindly exercise your discretion in making public statements a little more judiciously. Because with power, you have also been bestowed with greater responsibility. Would it also be possible to keep some good distance from politics and politicians alike? After all, it is our beloved Sam Bahadur’s legacy and you would remember that he had the courage to speak truth to power and say ‘no’ when required, even putting his service at stake. I am guessing that during his time, there was nothing called a “career” in the Army and it was actually a “service” to the beloved nation.

Sir, I stumbled upon one of Manekshaw’s lectures on YouTube and it turned out to be a real gem. It would be wrong to assume that you have not seen it yet. But considering you are all over the media, taking out time to pause, think and reassess is very difficult. Here is a link for your ready reference. I would urge you to please make time to watch it. Maybe your watching it would help our beloved country and each one of us, individually and collectively, and future generations will be indebted.

I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration and hope we shall see more maturity and restraint in your statements and absolutely no provocation, even unintentional.

Sir, congratulations once again. I read that you are being considered for the proposed post of Chief of Defence Staff. Even greater power—very high degree of responsibility.

In anticipation,

Yours truly,

Shruti, a helpless citizen of our sovereign socialist, secular, democratic republic.

Shruti Lokre is Mumbai-based lawyer. Views are personal.

PUNJAB Police have busted a terror module involving the use of drones to drop arms in the state. The arms were dropped near Khalra village in Tarn Taran district and were ostensibly meant for terrorists in Punjab and also Kashmir that is currently witnessing a lockdown after the abrogation of Article 370. The police suspect it to be the handiwork of the ISI and the probe has been handed over to the NIA. The use of drones is reminiscent of the case in 1995 in which a Latvian aircraft was used to drop arms at Purulia in West Bengal. With a nearly 550-km-long border with Pakistan, Punjab is a target for terror outfits. The state has known peace now, but attempts have been made to test it, like at Dinanagar in 2015 and Pathankot in 2016. Its border with Jammu and Kashmir makes it an option for terror groups to use it as a launch pad.

The border, even in Punjab, is a difficult terrain, especially the riverine area. While the Indian side has lights and Cobra fencing through which electricity currents pass after sunset, no such arrangement is visible on the Pakistan side, dotted with tall elephant grass, a cover used to smuggle in drugs and other contraband. The rivers swollen because of floods make surveillance difficult. At many places, farming is done till the last inch, and checking infiltration can be tough. The seizure was preceded by reports saying that Pakistan had reactivated the Balakot terror facility, the Army Chief confirming it a day later in Chennai, and US President Donald Trump warning of Islamist terror in his meeting with PM Modi in Houston. All this goes on even as India and Pakistan prepare for opening the Kartarpur corridor.

A border state, Punjab has known the pain of Partition and the insurgency. That it lost a CM along with tens of thousands of others is the sacrifice it made to bring back peace without which there can be no progress. The Punjab Police should be complimented for nipping trouble in the bud.