HIND DI CHADAR ::: MARTYRDOM DAY
on Saturday. Ravi kumar/ht
Chandigarh : A two-day Military Carnival commenced at Rajendra Park, Sector 1, near the Chandigarh Club on Saturday.
Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal inaugurated the event which is being held in the run up to the three-day Military Literature Festival which will start on December 13 . He said that the aim is to foster a feeling of patriotism among youngsters while offering insight into the rich ethos and legacy of the Indian Army.
He also lauded the efforts of the defence authorities for attempting to inculcate a sense of nation-building in the youth.
A major attraction of the day were the horse riders of the army, Punjab armed police and students of local city clubs enthralled the audience as they galloped past the fire fence, motorbikes and gypsies during the equestrian show.
Military equipment including quantum sniffer, non-linear juncket detectors, mine detecting set and a 12-seater pneumatic boat employed during wartime were displayed. HTC
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 29
Twenty years after they last met, former IAF officers, who had served on the Packet transport aircraft that had played a crucial military and diplomatic role in the IAF’s early days, got together for a reunion here today.
Over a 100 persons attended the meet. Four officers came from the US to attend the event. Prominent among them were Air Commodore HB Singh (retd), the eldest in the group. Others at the event included Air Marshal BK Pandey, former AOC-in-C, Training Command, Air Marshal AK Goel, who had commanded the Chandigarh Air Force Station as an Air Commodore from 1992 to 1994 and Air Vice-Marshal Harimohan.
The reunion was described as an occasion to sustain and nurture the spirit of comradeship and the joy of working as a team, and also a moment to remember those who had made sacrifices in the line of duty.
The US made C-119 Packet was inducted into the IAF with 12 Squadron, the IAF’s oldest transport squadron, in February, 1954, and over the course of the next 32 years, it flew heads of state across continents, transported dignitaries like the Dalai Lama, ferried enemy generals who had laid down arms and played the all important role of sustaining the armed forces in remote corners of the country.
Packets were also detailed for cross-border assignments and overseas missions. Until supplemented by AN-12s, Packets were the backbone of the IAF transport fleet, tasked with the air maintenance of forward posts. They played a vital role in the 1962 Indo-China war and the 1971 Indo-Pak war. A little known fact about the Packet is that it flew Pakistan’s General AAK Niazi and other prisoner-of-war generals to Nagpur after the end of hostilities.
Lucknow, November 30
Even as Lucknow remains among the 10 most polluted cities in the country, the state government is preparing to cut down 63,799 trees along the Gomti river for the Defence Expo, scheduled to be held in February next year.
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) in a letter, has asked the Lucknow Nagar Nigam to remove the trees from Hanuman Setu to the Nishatganj bridge since various programmes in the Defence Expo will be held here.
The LDA, later in a tweet, said: “Not a single tree will be cut during the Defence Expo Lucknow programme near Gomti River Front; only the ornamental/shrubs may be affected which will be repaired immediately after the expo; giving even better shape than the existing one.”
Lucknow Development Authority@LkoDevAuthorityNot a single tree will be cut during the #DefenceExpoLucknow programme near #GomtiRiverFront; only the ornamental/shrubs may be affected which will be repaired immediately after the expo; giving even better shape than the existing one @AwasthiAwanishK @UPGovt @PrabhuNs_
The LDA has further said that new trees are to be planted after the Expo is over and efforts can also be made to relocate the trees that are removed from the site.
The LDA has sought Rs 59 lakhs from the Nagar Nigam for new plantation in the area.
In his letter, LDA secretary M P Singh has said that they had spent Rs 59.06 lakhs on planting the trees along the Gomti River.
The Nagar Nigam had earlier suggested that the trees could be relocated to another site and new plants could be planted on the river side after the event.
Forest officials, meanwhile, said that relocated of trees and plants in this season was not possible.
“If relocated, the trees will die. The plants and the landscaping along the river will also have to be redone later,” said a senior forest official.
The LDA wants the area to be completely cleared by January 15, 2020 so that the land can be handed over to the organisers.
This is the first time that Lucknow is hosting the Defence Expo in which guests from several countries will be invited to witness the country’s defence power.
The Expo will be held from February 5 to 8 and will showcase latest arms and weapons available with the defence forces. – IANS
The Indian Army had sent a proposal to the Defence Ministry for approval. The ministry, after approving it, further sent it to the Cabinet for clearance, but due to technical reasons it has not been approved and sent back, sources said. “The Army …
The Indian Army had sent a proposal to the Ministry of Defence for approval. The ministry, after approving it, further sent it to the Cabinet for clearance, but due to technical reasons it has not been approved and sent back to the ministry, sources said.
“The Army needs approval for three posts from Cabinet as these are joint secretary level and above posts,” sources said.
As per the restructuring of Indian Army Headquarters, there is a proposal to create a new post of Deputy ..
There is a churn in international politics. In Asia, this decade has witnessed the rise of countries such as India and Vietnam. Japan is seeking to regain its lost influence in the region. But the most dynamic of all these nations is China, which poses a challenge to the existing world order and the primacy of the United States (US).
China’s President Xi Jinping declared as much at the 19th Party Congress in 2017, when he advocated a concept of “community of common destiny of shared values”. In this backdrop, countries are exploring the possibility of new relationships, while assessing the impact of potential changes on their societies, security and values. The US and western nations are apprehensive of China’s challenge. So are China’s neighbours.
India is especially affected — not only by China’s rise — but mainly by its territorial acquisitiveness. Within a few years of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the communist regime in Beijing declined to accept India’s 4,057 km-long border with China and suggested it wants to open negotiations. As China grew in strength, it proceeded to lay claim to large tracts in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Aksai Chin which it had occupied forcibly, and the major portion of Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang. In recent years, China has advanced claims on Ladakh. Incorporated in China’s constitution is the “China Dream”, which includes the “rejuvenation of the great Chinese nation” or, as China explains, the “recovery of territories lost through the imposition of unequal treaties by imperialist foreign powers”. Asked about China’s territorial ambitions and its limits, retired Colonel Liu Mingfu, who is an influential military strategist often quoted by Xi, stated in 2019, that the map used by “the current Chinese government is the clear standard for national sovereignty and territory”.
What is of greater concern for India is the growing collusion between China and its “iron brother” Pakistan, converging on the strategically important larger region of Kashmir comprising Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Gilgit, Baltistan and the Shaksgam Valley. The launch of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with its multitude of projects to be built by Chinese workers with Chinese loans, in addition to lending permanence to Pakistani and Chinese occupation of Indian territory, is giving tangible shape to the fusion of Chinese and Pakistani military power. China’s strategic long-term interests in the Karakoram region and port of Gwadar are evident. China’s support for Pakistan has also become more overt, with Beijing insisting since April 2015 that India should resume talks with Pakistan and resolve the Kashmir issue. It has also argued that Pakistan is a bigger victim of terrorism.
In a bold and decisive move on August 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government unveiled India’s uncompromising stance on issues of sovereignty and territory. After decades of procrastination on the status of Kashmir, the Modi government, at the beginning of its second term, unequivocally asserted that Kashmir is an integral part of India, with no outside element having a role. The earlier policy of diffidence and indecision was replaced with determination. The amendment of the temporary Article 370 in the Constitution was approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, showing that the move had broad-based national support. It showed too that India would act alone when it came to its national interests and national security.
The government’s move has been timely, and comes just before the China-Pakistan nexus begins to more directly threaten Kashmir. India has now begun to mainstream Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country, further consolidating its sovereignty. Stopping Pakistan’s terrorist actions in Kashmir and elsewhere in India, and neutralising the terrorist support infrastructure, comprising separatist elements, are equally urgent threats that need to be thwarted.
Here too, the government took definitive bold measures. Calling Pakistan’s oft-repeated nuclear bluff and responding to a major Pakistan-sponsored terrorist strike on Indian paramilitary personnel, the Indian Army launched surgical strikes against a number of terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Weeks later, amid reports of terrorists assembling at the Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM) terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan, the Indian Air Force carried out precision strikes on the facility. This was soon after Chinese President Xi Jinping had again advised India’s PM to resume talks with Pakistan and resolve the Kashmir issue. India clearly signalled it would not be cowed down either by Pakistan’s nuclear bluff or its friendship with China.
In the shifting scenario, when the US and China are contesting global leadership and the latter is expanding its strategic space, India moved quickly and decisively to ward off two major threats. Such decisiveness and swiftness of action are essential for India to successfully navigate the challenging period ahead. With a clear assessment of threats and boldness, a better future awaits India.
Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat at Northern Command headquarters, Udhampur, on Saturday. Tribune photo
Jammu, November30
Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Saturday visited the Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and urged troops to be alert against any inimical design of the enemy and stay aggressive in their approach.
“The Chief of Army Staff interacted with the troops and conveyed his appreciation to the soldiers for their steadfastness and high morale, which were reflective of their unwavering commitment and selfless dedication to the nation,” a defence spokesperson said.
He said the Army chief “urged the troops to be alert against any inimical design of the enemy and be aggressive in their approach”.
Gen Rawat also lauded “the synergy and cooperation” between the northern command, Air Force, para military forces, civil administration and the central police organizations operating in the region, the spokesperson said.
He said the general exhorted all ranks to continue carrying out their task in a professional manner for creating a secure and peaceful environment for the ‘Awaam’ (people) of Jammu and Kashmir. — PTI
160 participants from 9 countries l Opening at Sultanpur Lodhi l Winning team to get Rs 25L
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 29
The state government will host the special edition of the International Kabaddi Tournament-2019 to mark the 550th Parkash Purb from December 1 at Guru Nanak Stadium, Sultanpur Lodhi.
Sports and Youth Services & NRI Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said the kabaddi extravaganza would be represented by over 160 players from nine countries.
“Eight countries, besides India, which are taking part in the tournament, are Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and US,” the minister said, adding that the Canadian team had got an NOC from the Union Government while the approval to Pakistan team is awaited and hopefully it would be issued soon. The minister announced that the winning team would be given a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh while the runners-up and the team clinching the third position would get Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively.
Divulging the tournament schedule, Rana Gurmit said the opening ceremony would be held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala, on December 1 and the closing ceremony will take place at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district on December 10.
He said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh would be the chief guest at the closing ceremony and distribute prizes to winners. The other matches will be played at Guru Nanak Stadium, Amritsar, on December 3, Guru Ram Das Stadium, Guru Harsahai, Ferozepur, on December 4, Outdoor Sports Stadium, Bathinda, on December 5, Polo Ground, Patiala, on December 6. The minister said the semi finals would be held at Charan Ganga Stadium, Sri Anandpur Sahib, in Roop Nagar district on December 8 and finals would be played at Dera Baba Nanak on December 10.
A Bill which seeks to enhance punishment for illegally possessing and making prohibited arms besides other changes in the six-decade-old Arms Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishen Reddy. As per the Bill, the government proposes to amend Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act, 1959, to give punishment from the usual life term of 14 years to “imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s life” for manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing “prohibited” arms. The minimum punishment under this section will be 14 years. PTI
Photo for representational purpose only.
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 29
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has urged the Centre not to reduce the number of firearms permissible on a licence from three to one in Punjab in view of the sensitive location and troubled history of the state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister sought a review of the proposal of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to amend the Arms Act, 1959, thereby restricting the number of firearms, an official statement said.
He has, however, made it clear that if some states are keen on reducing the number of weapons, they may be allowed to do so without prejudice to other states.
In his letter, the chief minister said he had personally raised the issue with the prime minister during the latter’s recent visit to Punjab for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor.
The Punjab Government was in agreement with most of the proposed amendments but had strong reservations regarding restricting the number of firearms a licensee could possess, he said.
The chief minister stressed that Punjab being a border state and having gone through a long period of terrorist violence, a large number of people possessed more than one firearm and many farmers who reside away from the villages where their agricultural lands/farms were located also possessed firearms for crop protection.
Therefore, he wrote, it was significant to note that only a small fraction of crime was committed using licensed weapons.
These facts, he said, could be independently ascertained as they were within the domain of the MHA.
Amarinder Singh observed that restricting the number of firearms might not be of much help for the control of crime.
On the contrary, a large number of people would be inconvenienced by way of surrender of additional weapons and the farming community would also be deprived of weapons meant for crop protection, he added.
Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 29
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said mere changes in the policy alone will not help revive the economy as a “toxic combination” of deep distrust, pervasive fear and a sense of hopelessness in society is stifling economic activity and, hence, economic growth.
“With an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and low global oil prices, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to catapult India to the next phase of economic development and create new jobs. I urge the Prime Minister to set aside his deep-rooted suspicion of our society and nurse us back to a harmonious, confident and mutually trustworthy society that can revive the spirits and help our economy soar,” he said.
In his valedictory address at the National Economy Conclave organised by the Samruddha Bharat Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies here, Dr Singh spoke of a palpable climate of fear in society.
“Many industrialists tell me they live in fear of harassment by authorities. Bankers are reluctant to make new loans, for fear of retribution. Entrepreneurs are hesitant to put up fresh projects, for fear of failure attributed to ulterior motives. Startups that are an important new engine of economic growth and jobs, seem to live under a shadow of constant surveillance,” he said.
“Policy makers in government and other institutions are scared to speak the truth or engage in intellectually honest policy discussions. There is profound fear and distrust among our various economic participants. Public trust in independent institutions such as the media, judiciary, regulatory authorities, and investigative agencies has been severely eroded,” he said.
He pointed out that India is now a $3 trillion global economic powerhouse driven largely by private enterprise and not a tiny command and control economy that can be bullied and directed at will.
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
New Delhi : Terming the GDP growth rate of 4.5% in the July-September quarter unacceptable and worrisome, former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Friday called upon his successor Narendra Modi to set aside what he called his “deep-rooted suspicion” of society, and also advocated the need to change the current climate of fear to enable the economy to grow robustly again at 8% per annum.
“Mutual trust and self-confidence are the bedrock of societal transformations and transactions that foster economic growth. Our social fabric of trust and confidence is now torn and ruptured. There is a palpable climate of fear in our society today,” he said, delivering his valedictory address at a conference here.
“Many industrialists tell me they live in a fear of harassment by government authorities, bankers are reluctant to make new loans for fear of retribution and entrepreneurs are hesitant to put up fresh projects for fear of failure attributed to ulterior motives. Policymakers in government and other institutions are scared to speak the truth,” Singh said. Singh added that there is no one who can deny the sharp slowdown in India’s economy and its disastrous consequences, particularly for our farmers, youth and the poor.
“The GDP figures released earlier today point the growth rate of our economy in the second quarter of current fiscal year, is as low as 4.5%. This is clearly unacceptable, and the aspirations of our people want that this country should grow at 8-9% per annum…It is my belief that mere changes in economic policy will not help revive the economy. We need to change the current climate in our society from one of fear to one of confidence for our economy to start growing again at 8% per annum,” he said.
He said public trust in independent institutions such as the media, judiciary, regulatory authorities and investigative agencies has been severely eroded. “The root cause of all this is the government’s policy doctrine that seems to suspect every industrialist, banker, policymaker, regulator, entrepreneur and every citizen. The Modi government seems to view everything and everyone through a tainted prism of suspicion and distrust,” he said. For economic growth to revive, he said, it is very important that the government sheds its current doctrine and begins to trust farmers, entrepreneurs and citizens at large.
“With an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and low global oil prices, this is a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity to catapult India to the next phase of economic development and create new jobs for hundreds of millions of our youth. I urge the PM to set aside his deep-rooted suspicion of our society and nurse us back to a harmonious, confident and mutually trustworthy society that help our economy soar,” Singh said.
After the GDP numbers were announced, Gopal Agarwal, the BJP’s spokespeople on economic affairs tweeted, “All d #macroeconomic parameters, which r important 4 economic stability; like #FiscalDeficit #ForeignExchangeReserve #CurrentAccountDeficit #FDI #Inflation in healthy terrain. Concerns like private consumption & govt expenditure hv increased, showing govt measures bearing results.”
