Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 27

Asserting that the secular foundations of Constitution would continue to stand firm, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said he would protect one and all, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

He said the nation’s unity was inviolable, notwithstanding the discordant voices being raised in the current scenario.

Pointing out that the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly (on CAA) was there for all to see, he said the state would not allow the country’s secular fabric to be destroyed at any cost.

On the occasion, he unfurled the Tricolour and a took the salute at a parade.

For the first time this year, the Republic Day celebrations in the state witnessed a display by the Special Operations Group, constituted by the Chief Minister to combat terrorism, infiltration, hijacking and other sensitive threat situations.

He said the state had attracted an unprecedented investment of Rs57,735 crore in the last over two years. He said efforts to bring in new industrial units would continue, in order to tackle unemployment, which he termed as the biggest challenge faced by the state. He said under the “Ghar Ghar Rozgar te Karobaar Scheme”, 11 lakh jobs had been given to unemployed youth in the state.

Emphasising the need for quality education, the CM announced that 19 new IITs would be established in the state, along with new medical colleges in Mohali, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.

He stressed the need to conserve water, the level of which had come down to less than 13 MAF as 73 per cent of it was being used for irrigation. He said he hoped that the Punjab Water Resources (Management & Regulation) Act would help address the problem of the depleting water table.

Fatehgarh Sahib: The state government will ensure 50-per cent reservation for women in the coming local bodies’ elections, said Minister for Local Bodies Brahm Mohindra at the district-level Republic Day function here on Sunday. Besides, an open university on the name of Guru Nanak will be set up in Patiala.

On the occasion, he laid foundation stones for two bridges to be constructed on the Sirhind choe at the cost of Rs2.2 crore and launched a water supply project for Sirhind at a cost of Rs8.83 crore.

Barnala: Sundar Sham Arora, Minister of Industry and Commerce, unfurled the National Flag at Baba Kala Maher Stadium here on Sunday. He said it was an occasion when one was reminded of freedom fighters’ dreams about the future of India, besides giving the opportunity to look into one’s overall performance.

Patiala: Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla presided over the Republic Day function at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Complex here. He remembered martyrs on the occasion and paid tributes to them. About the distribution of mobile phones to youth, which was one of the key pre-poll promises of the Congress, he said, “Some technical glitches are to be addressed, which will take only a few days. That is why the scheme could not be launched on Republic Day.” He inspected the parade and the contingents of the police, Home Guards, Scouts and NCC presented salutation during the march past.

New Delhi, January 27

The government on Monday signed an accord with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), one of the dreaded insurgent groups of Assam, providing political and economic bonanza sans a separate state or Union Territory.

The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), which has been spearheading a movement for a Bodoland state since 1972, and another group called United Bodo People’s Organisation were also signatories to the accord.

In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the tripartite agreement was signed by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, top leadership of the four factions of the NDFB, ABSU, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Satyendra Garg and Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

The home minister described the agreement as “historic” and it will bring permanent solution to the decades old problems of the Bodo people.

“This agreement will facilitate all round development of the Bodo areas, their language and culture will be protected without compromising the territorial integrity of Assam,” he said.

The home minister said due to the violence perpetrated by the Bodo militants, over 4,000 people lost their lives in the past few decades.

Shah said no stone would be left unturned for the development of Assam and the North-eastern region.

The Assam chief minister said after the pact, different communities in the state will be able to live with harmony.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the pact will bring comprehensive solution to the Bodo issue.

“It is a historical accord,” he said.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said as per the accord, 1,550 militants belonging to the NDFB lay down their arms on January 30, an economic programme of Rs 1,500 crore will be implemented in the next three years with equal contribution of Rs 750 crore each from the Central and state governments.

The existing structure of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will be strengthened with more powers and its seats will be expanded from 40 to 60, he said.

A commission will be set up for inclusion of Bodo dominated villages in the BTC and exclusion of those where Bodos are not in majority.

This was the third Bodo accord to be signed in last 27 years when the violent movement for a separate Bodoland state claimed hundreds of lives, destruction of public and private properties.

The first Bodo accord was signed with the All Bodo Students Union in 1993, leading to creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.

In 2003, the second Bodo accord was signed with the militant group Bodo Liberation Tigers, leading to formation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts of Assam—Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri—called Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).

The name of the BTC will be changed to Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

The BTC currently has control over 30 subjects like education, forests, horticulture but no jurisdiction over the police, revenue and general administration departments, which are controlled by the Assam Government.

The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

The demand for a separate state for the Bodos has been going on in Assam for about five decades and several Bodo overground and militant groups raising it leading to agitations, protests, violence and many deaths. — PTI

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 23

Accomplishing an ambitious mission on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a 40-day, four-nation and 4,000-km cycling expedition of Jalandhar-based Col Sarfaraz Singh and his team of three experts concluded at Singapore on Thursday.

It was in Singapore that Bose laid the foundation stone of the Indian National Army memorial during on June 8, 1945. So, completion of the tour today is significant, said Col Sarafaraz’s father and former hockey Olympian Col Balbir Singh (retd).

Col Balbir said: “My son has gone on the expedition with three teammates, Saurav, Mithin and Amit. Sarafaraz and his team have become the first and the only Indians to cycle from Manipur to Singapore, via Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. They rode along the coastlines of the Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Thailand, Strait of Malacca and Singapore Strait. The passage included difficult terrains and thick jungles. They also crossed the famous bridge on the Kwai river in Myanmar and Georgetown in Penang Island of Mayasia. In Thailand, Ambassador Suchitra Durai flagged off their expedition.”

An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Col Sarfaraz Singh is the fourth generation officer in the Indian Army. He has a vast experience of scaling prominent peaks, including Mt Everest and Mt Kilimanjaro. He is also among the few mountaineers from the country who reached the base of Mt Nyegyi Kansang from Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh.

Col Sarafaraz conducted the first-ever rafting expedition on the untamed and challenging Kameng river of Arunachal Pradesh. He also led and cycled the first high altitude expedition from Bomdila to Bumla pass, covering a total distance of 300 km.

Col Sarfaraz, who is from the elite Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army and has commanded its 6 Para unit, took over as the first director and principal of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in February 2017. He is not just a mountaineer but also a sky diver, combat free faller, river rafting specialist and a certified scuba rescue diver.

Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 23

On his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Thursday reviewed security and operational readiness along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region.

The Army Chief, along with Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, also called on Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and discussed the prevailing security situation. Murmu was appreciative of the synergy between the Army, other security forces and the civil administration in maintaining law and order.

At the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur, the General was briefed by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on the LoC situation and also in the hinterland. The Army Chief was appreciative of the efforts put in by the Northern Command to meet the challenges posed by inimical elements.

Gen Naravane also visited troopers on the LoC to review operational readiness of the units of White Knight Corps. He was briefed and updated by Lt General Harsha Gupta, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps, and commanders on ground. He interacted with soldiers and lauded them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism.

The need to remain prepared for all contingencies was also reinforced by Chief of Army Staff during his interaction with the troopers. “General Manoj Mukund Naravane commended the standard operating procedures institutionalised to ensure safe and secure environment and mission readiness of the troops. He conveyed his satisfaction on the people-friendly measures undertaken in quick timeframe,” an Army spokesperson said.

Srinagar, January 25

On Republic Day, Lt General KJS Dhillon has been awarded the prestigious Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) in recognition of his tenure as Chinar Corps Commander.

“His tenure saw a number terrorist leaders getting killed, bringing peace to the Valley,” an Army statement said.

Working in complete harmony and synergy with other security forces, intelligence agencies and in coordination with civilian administration, he contributed in maintaining peace in the Valley, especially post August 5 , 2019.

Last year, Lt Gen Dhillon reached out to mothers via “Operation MAA”, engaging them for the return of the youths who had joined terrorist outfits. — TNS