Monthly Archives: August 2018

Call it violation of rehat maryada, seek Jathedar’s intervention

The discontinuation of the age-old tradition of offering ‘patasha parsad’ and ‘siropa’ in the Golden Temple by the SGPC has irked Sikh activists who sought intervention of Akal Takht.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 30

The discontinuation of the age-old tradition of offering ‘patasha parsad’ and ‘siropa’ in the Golden Temple by the SGPC has irked Sikh activists who sought intervention of Akal Takht.

Like ‘karah parsad’, the ‘patasha parsad’ holds significance in Sikh religion. It is believed at the time of initiation of Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh, the Panj Pyare stood before the Guru for amrit sanchar ceremony. It was then that the Guru’s wife brought ‘patashas’, which were put in an iron bowl and stirred with a two-edged sword by the Guru to make amrit, the nectar of immortality.

As the tradition goes, in order to honour someone, the ‘patasha parsad’ along with ‘siropa’ and ‘sehra’ (garland) is presented after they pay obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum. Generally, when the devotees offer ‘rumala’, the priest offers ‘patasha parsad’ as a special gesture.

The ‘parsad’ is distributed to other gurdwaras too. Unlike the ‘karah parsad’, it is a non-perishable item that can last long and beneficial for devotees who come from far-off places and take it back home for family members. But, for the past few years, the SGPC had started offering ‘pinni parsad’ at the temple for its long shelf life.

Yet, the withdrawal of ‘patasha parsad’ and ‘siropa’ custom has not gone down well with the Damdami Taksal supporters. Spokesperson Prof Sarchand Singh has submitted a letter to Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, urging him to make SGPC restore the practice. “What was the logic behind stopping the Sikh tradition that was prevalent during Guru’s period? The Golden Temple is the supreme religious destination for Sikhs from all over the globe. It was a violation of Sikh rehat maryada and we urge Jathedar to intervene,” he said.

Islamabad, May 30

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that Pakistan would hold talks with India if New Delhi restores the pre-August 5, 2019, status of Jammu and Kashmir.

India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. “If Pakistan revives its relations with India (without the latter restoring the status of Kashmir), it will be similar to turning our back on the Kashmiris,” Khan said during a live questions and answers session with the people.

Khan said if India took back the steps it took on August 5, “then we can definitely hold talks”. — PTI

Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff made an ex-NDA type history today!!

He’s the chief guest for the POP tomorrow and came to NDA this evening. When he went for the customary visit to Sqn, entire Hunter Sqn was assembled in the Sqn parade ground. Admiral then says in typical ex-NDA manner, “let’s do push-ups!” To his question of  “how many?” CSM Hunter answers “As many”

And so… a serving 4 star Admiral, in uniform, gets down on hands and does pushups with his Sqn!!

Mind you, Comdt NDA and other officers present there had to follow suit and join in!!

Nothing can demonstrate the meaning of ‘Ex NDA’ like what the Admiral has shown!!!

Long live NDA and our spirit!!

Sources said the chief was briefed on the operational preparedness and the ongoing operations along the China border by the officials at the Leh air base. The chief was also briefed extensively about the air maintenance operations in support of the Indian Army and the paramilitary troops there, they said.
The Chinese military is holding exercises, which includes its Air Force and Army, close to locations from where they diverted troops towards Indian front last year.
At a time when the Chinese forces are holding exercises at their training areas opposite Eastern Ladakh, Indian Air Force chief RKS Bhadauria today visited Leh to review the operational preparedness of the force deployed there.
Sources said the chief was briefed on the operational preparedness and the ongoing operations along the China border by the officials at the Leh air base.
The chief was also briefed extensively about the air maintenance operations in support of the Indian Army and the paramilitary troops there, they said.
The Air Force has two major bases in Leh and Thoise which help it look after both China and Pakistan border. It has also deployed troops at the forward locations all along the eastern Ladakh sector including the Nyoma advanced landing ground and the air field in Daulat Beg Oldi.
The Chinese military is holding exercises, which includes its Air Force and Army, close to locations from where they diverted troops towards Indian front last year.
The Rafale combat aircraft are also regularly deployed in the sector along with the MiG-29 fighters which have been based there for a long time now.
The Air Force has also flown extensively since last year in support of the Army by helping it get its tanks and infantry combat vehicles at a fast pace.
The Chinooks of the force also helped in quick mobilisation of the troops to the forward areas from Leh and other locations. This year also, the IAF has ensured that the operations in northern areas are not affected due to the engagement in COVID relief work.
“The scale of operations this time is unprecedented. We’ve flown almost 1600 sorties amounting to almost 3200 hrs of flying. We have airlifted almost 14,000 tons of load and about 800 odd liquid medical oxygen containers,” Group Captain, Manish Kumar from IAF headquarters told ANI.

ile photo of Indian and Chinese troops disengaging from the banks of the Pangong lake area in Eastern Ladakh | ANIText Size: A- A+

New Delhi: In a clear and unambiguous message to China, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Friday said there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Gen Naravane said India is dealing with China in a “firm” and “non-escalatory” manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.

It has been more than a year since the military standoff between the two sides erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5 during which there were fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years. They have made limited progress in achieving disengagement at the Pangong lake area while negotiations for similar steps at other points remained deadlocked.

Gen Naravane asserted that the Indian Army is currently holding onto all important areas in the high-altitude region and it has adequate personnel in the form of “reserves” to react to any contingencies.

“We are very clear that no de-escalation can take place before disengagement at all friction points. India and China have signed a number of border agreements which have been unilaterally breached by the People’s Liberation Army(PLA),” Gen Naravane said.

“Though we want peace and tranquillity at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and are open to initiating confidence-building measures, we remain prepared for all contingencies.”

He also said the situation along the northern border is under control and that the coming rounds of military talks with China will focus on restoring the status quo ante of April 2020.

“Indian Army is very clear that no loss of territory or unilateral change in status quo will be permitted. We are dealing with the Chinese in a firm and non-escalatory way, ensuring the sanctity of our claims in eastern Ladakh,” he said.

To a question on when a resolution of the standoff can be expected in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang, the Army Chief said it was difficult to predict the timeline.

“The Indian Army maintains all protocols and agreements between the two countries while the PLA escalated the situation by utilisation of unorthodox weapons and amassing a large number of troops,” he said, in a reference to the Galwan Valley clashes last June.

“Troops are currently holding all important areas and we have adequate troops in the form of ‘reserves’ to react to any contingencies,” the Army Chief added.

India-China ties came under severe strain following the deadly clash at the Galwan valley following which both sides rushed in thousands of additional troops as well as battle tanks and other large weapons to the region.

“The trust levels are bound to be low when a major standoff takes place between two countries leading to casualties on both sides. However, it is always our endeavour that this trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process,” Gen Naravane said.

“As two professional armies, it is imperative that we resolve the situation and make progress to restore trust at the earliest,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of any escalation of tension in the region, Gen Naravane said there has been no infringement by the Chinese side following the agreement on the disengagement in the Pangong lake area and that chances of any untoward incident is low.

He also said the strength of troops on both sides at present are more or less what it was last year and that the Indian Army was aware of what is happening in the region, adding “you cannot be complacent”.

The Chief of Army Staff said the training areas of the PLA located in depth areas at a distance of around 1,000 km from the LAC are also being looked at. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

The military standoff began at multiple friction points on May 5 last year. Both sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake in February as part of an agreement reached following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

The two sides have held 11 rounds of military talks with an aim to ensure disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points. Both the militaries are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.

There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops at the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach at the last round of talks on April 9. The Chinese military is currently conducting a drill at its training areas near the Ladakh region.

Also read: India must more cleverly do to China what Pakistan did to us. But don’t turn LAC into LoC

The Chinese have hinted that India’s active participation in Quad would harm its strategic autonomy. India has to create counter-coercion strategies on land and in the Indian Ocean Region. The priority must be to build credible deterrence from Andaman & Nicobar to Malacca Straits against the Chinese navy. Another area of concern is Chinese build-up in Tibet: a new military base opposite Bhutan; an airport at Yadong opposite Nathu La and new military facilities in Chumbi valley near Sikkim.

Flashpoint: China hasn’t acknowledged unresolved friction areas. PTI

Maj Gen Ashok K Mehta (retd)

Military Commentator

Soon after disengagement from the Pangong Tso Lake in February during which India generously surrendered its vital ground on Chushul heights for the Chinese vacating the Fingers area, it was clear even to the blind that for the PLA, it was the end of disengagement from friction areas, despite commitment to follow up within 48 hours after the 10th round of talks to address other friction areas. Fifty days lapsed before the notional 11th round was held. The PLA had drawn curtains. Editor of Global Times Hu Xijin wrote gratuitously that India should be happy with Chinese withdrawal from Pangong Tso. The PLA added it hoped India could ‘cherish the positive trend in de-escalation’ but did not acknowledge the remaining unresolved friction areas. The statement came from the Western Theatre Command, Chengdu, not the usual MoD in Beijing.

State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi continued to harp on ‘rights and wrongs of last year’s crisis’ (blaming India) adding that the boundary dispute which was left over by history was not the whole story of India-China relationship, suggesting that it needed to be decoupled from bilateral relations. Wang has echoed China’s standard line: both sides are not a threat to each other but an opportunity for development; both should help not undercut each other and intensify cooperation instead of harbouring suspicion. Wang is insisting: “Now that withdrawal in Pangong Tso is over, bilateral ties can resume.”

Besides squandering its trump card on the Kailash range, India’s self-inflicted injuries are couched in denial: “Not an inch of ground has been lost” (COAS General MM Naravane and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh); and “no PLA on Indian territory” (Prime Minister Narendra Modi). The Chinese could not have hoped for a more generous adversary. Their official version of casualties at Galwan was: four Chinese martyred due to action by a foreign army (not India). The altered version was necessary to avoid generating nationalistic feelings.

If India wavered over the PLA intrusions, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar steered its politico-diplomatic posture with a firm and steady hand. He has consistently called for complete disengagement from all friction points — term Restoration of Status Quo Ante (RSQA) May 5 2020, not used — and made clear that peace and tranquillity in border areas is the basis of normal relations. Jaishankar’s international reiteration on this was on May 5 at a Global Dialogue in London: “It is not realistic to have good relations in other domains when there was tension on the border. I can’t have friction, coercion, intimidation and bloodshed on the border and then say, let us have a good relationship…it is not realistic.” The soured relations were overtaken by President Xi Jinping’s first message to Modi in 14 months of providing help during the catastrophic spike in Covid-19 pandemic in India which was followed by Wang’s telephone call on April 30.

One year on, the lessons from Ladakh could be termed as under:

• The Chinese succeeded in intelligence and operational trickery through multiple intrusions from Depsang to Demchok, promulgating the 1959 claim line further west. China has created buffer zones on Indian territory 18 km deep at Depsang and blocked patrolling by occupying Bottleneck and Y-junction. Most significantly, it inveigled India into vacating the critical Chushul heights dominating the Chinese launch pads.
• The primacy of Chinese threat over Pakistan’s has finally been accepted. This has enabled the rebalancing of forces and strategic reserves across the new LAC front and by year-end will likely minimise the Pakistan challenge.
• The Chinese have effectively demonstrated their classic policy of two steps forward, one step back.
• India’s delayed force deployment, non-use of kinetic force sans counter-intrusions failed to obtain the vacation of PLA intrusions like it did in Depsang (2013), Chumar (2014) and Doklam (2017).
• India’s key response has been politico-diplomatic: you (China) cannot have normality in bilateral relations while amassing troops along the border.

The Chinese have raised the stakes: “There has been some wavering and back-pedalling in India’s China’s policy because of which practical cooperation between the two countries has been affected”, hinting that India’s active participation in Quad would harm its coveted strategic autonomy. India has to create counter-coercion strategies on land and in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The priority must be to build credible deterrence in the eastern Indian Ocean from the Andaman and Nicobar chain of islands to Malacca Straits against the Chinese blue water navy already active in IOR. Another area of concern is the Chinese military build-up in Tibet: a new military base opposite Bhutan; an airport at Yadong opposite Nathu La and new military facilities in Chumbi valley near Sikkim. Xi’s grand plan of 2017 of building villages in another country’s territory — these have come up wholesale in Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and Nepal.

Amish Mulmi, in his book All Roads Lead North (2021), mentions Chinese encroachment in September 2020 in Limi valley in Humla, which was confirmed by a Nepali lawmaker but denied by the government.

Last month, in a minor breakthrough, Chinese and Indian policymakers engaged in a Track-II dialogue between Ananta Aspen Centre and the Chinese Reform Forum, Beijing, at New Delhi. Any false hope of restoration of status quo ante May 5 was dispelled by the Chinese interlocutors who provided no explanation for troop mobilisation and indicated no appetite for settling the boundary question which they recommended be best left to the next generation. Some glimmer of hope and dialogue was seen from the future summits of BRICS (India takes over the chair from Moscow in February), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Russia-India-China conclave. India can keep China out of 5-G trials and 55 apps but de-coupling on trade $86.6 billion) is unthinkable as are replacing the existing medical supply chains. China is the only country that has been able to secure itself from the pandemic and will leave India more economic ground to catch up.

The ultimate insult China inflicted on India was ignited last month on Chinese social media by the Political and Legal Affairs Committee linked with the Communist Party of China. The debate mocking India’s mishandling of the pandemic compared it with its own deft management, showing in two parallel images: a rocket launch in China and a cremation ground in India with the caption ‘China lighting a fire, India lighting a fire’.https://5558fbafa69cd6702ea0a4e5af013f77.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

According to General Naravane, the RSQ ante May 5, 2020, will take a long, long time. Jaishankar believes it could go the Sumdorong Chu way which took 10 years and laments that the “1988 consensus has broken down”.

Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said India is dealing with China in a ‘firm’ and ‘non-escalatory’ manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh
NEW DELHI: In a clear and unambiguous message to China, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Friday said there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.
In an exclusive interview to PTI, Gen Naravane said India is dealing with China in a “firm” and “non-escalatory” manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures.
It has been more than a year since the military standoff between the two sides erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5 during which there were fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years.
They have made limited progress in achieving disengagement at the Pangong lake area while negotiations for similar steps at other points remained deadlocked.
Gen Naravane asserted that the Indian Army is currently holding onto all important areas in the high-altitude region and it has adequate personnel in the form of “reserves” to react to any contingencies.
“We are very clear that no de-escalation can take place before disengagement at all friction points. India and China have signed a number of border agreements which have been unilaterally breached by the People’s Liberation Army(PLA),” Gen Naravane said.
“Though we want peace and tranquillity at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and are open to initiating confidence-building measures, we remain prepared for all contingencies.”
He also said the situation along the northern border is under control and that the coming rounds of military talks with China will focus on restoring the status quo ante of April 2020.
“Indian Army is very clear that no loss of territory or unilateral change in status quo will be permitted. We are dealing with the Chinese in a firm and non-escalatory way, ensuring the sanctity of our claims in eastern Ladakh,” he said.
To a question on when a resolution of the standoff can be expected in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang, the Army Chief said it was difficult to predict the timeline.
“The Indian Army maintains all protocols and agreements between the two countries while the PLA escalated the situation by utilisation of unorthodox weapons and amassing a large number of troops,” he said, in a reference to the Galwan Valley clashes last June.
“Troops are currently holding all important areas and we have adequate troops in the form of ‘reserves’ to react to any contingencies,” the Army Chief added.
India-China ties came under severe strain following the deadly clash at the Galwan valley following which both sides rushed in thousands of additional troops as well as battle tanks and other large weapons to the region.
“The trust levels are bound to be low when a major standoff takes place between two countries leading to casualties on both sides. However, it is always our endeavour that this trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process,” Gen Naravane said.
“As two professional armies, it is imperative that we resolve the situation and make progress to restore trust at the earliest,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of any escalation of tension in the region, Gen Naravane said there has been no infringement by the Chinese side following the agreement on the disengagement in the Pangong lake area and that chances of any untoward incident is low.
He also said the strength of troops on both sides at present are more or less what it was last year and that the Indian Army was aware of what is happening in the region, adding “you cannot be complacent”.
The Chief of Army Staff said the training areas of the PLA located in depth areas at a distance of around 1,000 km from the LAC are also being looked at.
Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.
The military standoff began at multiple friction points on May 5 last year.
Both sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake in February as part of an agreement reached following a series of military and diplomatic talks.
The two sides have held 11 rounds of military talks with an aim to ensure disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points.
Both the militaries are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.
There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops at the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach at the last round of talks on April 9.
The Chinese military is currently conducting a drill at its training areas near the Ladakh region.

Elbit’s Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS). | Photo courtesy: Elbit SystemsText Size: A- A+

New Delhi: Nearly 14 years ago, the Ministry of Defence cleared the proposal for a towed artillery gun system under the ‘Buy and Make’ category that was meant to be the backbone of India’s fire assault. A final decision on this is still awaited.

All eyes are now on the second defence negative import list, which is expected to be out soon, to see if the 155mm x 52 caliber towed artillery gun is on it.

Sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint that the list has been submitted but a physical meeting has not taken place due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting to review and clear the decision is now expected next week.

While the artillery gun was there in the first negative list released on 9 August 2020, and the embargo was to kick in from December 2020, the date was was subsequently changed to December 2021.

With the deal yet to be signed, eyes are on whether the cut-off date will remain or extended again.

The reason for extending the date was that while the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is being built, a separate process is also on to get similar guns from the global market and making them in the country under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

This race was primarily between Israel’s Elbit Systems and France’s Nexter, and Elbit’s Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) emerged the winner.

The process for acquiring towed guns began in 2001 as part of the Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, which had been drawn up in 1999. Multiple requests for proposal (RFPs) were issued. In the last RFP, which was issued under the UPA government, only the two companies mentioned above participated, sources said.

Nearly 14 years ago, the Ministry of Defence cleared the proposal for a towed artillery gun system under the ‘Buy and Make’ category that was meant to be the backbone of India’s fire assault.

Also read: Indian Army has new strategies for Pakistan, China: Punitive deterrence, credible deterrence

Elbit emerged cheaper than Nexter

In March 2019, following what was meant to be an exhaustive ‘Field Trial Cum Evaluation Process’ spread over several years, which saw several ups and downs, Elbit Systems was declared the lowest bidder (L1).

The deal was for the supply of 400 guns and indigenous production of the remainder 1,180 guns by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), under a full Transfer of Technology (TOT) process.

Sources in the defence establishment said the price of Elbit Systems’ ATHOS was lower by 40 per cent compared to the price of its competitor — Nexter’s Trajan gun.

Sources in know of the bidding process said the cost per gun, which weighs less than 15 tonnes and has a fully automatic loading system, put forward by Elbit was less than Rs 11 crore per piece. This is also significantly lower than the estimated cost of the ATAGS, which is said to be anywhere between Rs 16-18 crore.

However, since the bid opened in March 2019 and the completion of the cost negotiation process in July that year, a final decision is pending.

In December last year, the Israeli government also wrote a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to push for this deal.

However, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has gone on record to oppose any import plans, saying that its ATAGS was better than ATHOS and is the gun of the future.

Also read: Indian Army will soon get 4 Heron TP drones on lease from Israel, plans to deploy them at LAC

Elbit’s offer

Earlier last year, the Israeli firm also wrote to the Indian defence authorities, stating that in case they prefer to acquire only the first 400 towed guns, the related cost corresponding to TOT can be deducted from the total contract price.

This was due to a line of thinking in the defence establishment that 400 of these guns (for 20 regiments) can be procured from Elbit to “overcome operational voids in the medium artillery in HAA (High Altitude Area) along the northern borders”.

However, sources said the figures in the RFP cannot be changed in the middle of the process.

In the letter, Elbit Systems had offered the TOT for the future 1,180 guns as an option for India, at the same cost as mentioned in the commercial offer made.

Elbit also said it has finalised the approach and strategy to achieve 70 per cent indigenisation within the contract of the first 400 towed guns, starting from the first guns.

The company’s argument was that the ATHOS is tailored to the special requirements of the Indian Army and it has invested tens of millions of dollars in the design and development of the gun in accordance with Army requirements and in the field trials.

The sources said Elbit also promised to supply the guns much earlier than the contract delivery schedule — the first six guns within 10 months from contract signing, and an additional six guns within 14 months.

According to the Israeli firm, all the remaining guns will be delivered according to an accelerated delivery schedule, which will ensure finalisation of the deliveries not later than 54 months from contract signing, instead of the 72 months stipulated in the draft contract.

In its communications with the Indian defence establishment, Elbit said the ATHOS will end up being an indigenous gun — mass produced, assembled and integrated in India.

Highlighting that it has a joint venture (JV) with Indian firm Bharat Forge, the Israeli company said the technology and design will be fully transferred to the JV and OFB, enabling the ATHOS to be mass-produced in India.

Incidentally, Bharat Forge is also involved with the ATGS development along with the Tata Group.

This report has been updated to reflect that the import embargo date for the artillery gun was extended to December 2021. 

(Edited by Amit Upadhyay)

Also read: Only 100 applications in 2 weeks as MoD plans to post retired military doctors on Covid duty

INS Kochi had to pick up hundreds of survivors from the churning waters. This was in night-like conditions amid blinding rain. INS Kolkata too chipped in. It was madness. The ships had to work their propellers with utmost care in a sea littered with desperate humans. Through an unreal night in which ships rose and fell many tens of feet and strong wind played with fates, more than a hundred came on board by morning.

Tested to the hilt: Cyclone Tauktae gave the Navy an opportunity to learn valuable lessons about disaster preparedness. PTI

Commodore G Prakash (retd)

Defence Commentator

The dance of death unleashed by cyclone Tauktae had hardly begun to sink in when cyclone Yaas crashed into our east coast. As we braced for the fury of Yaas, of great inspiration was the incredible rescue the Indian Navy had pulled off from the very heart of Tauktae off Mumbai. The weather and sea conditions that prevailed would make the hardiest seafarer disbelieve even a fraction of the final success achieved. Despite my 35 years in the Navy, with time on board ships, Sea King helicopters, command and control centres and various headquarters, I too find the success stupendous.

For the record, the Navy rode right into the raging cyclone, rescued 188 people, retrieved 70 bodies, gave logistic support to stricken craft and provided professional advice. By sheer chance, I had a ringside view of Tauktae from a 10th-floor flat near Land’s End, Colaba, Mumbai. With howling wind and blinding rain all around, I watched big naval ships and Sea King helicopters with awe, as TV showed glimpses of their deployment. As the winds subsided and the last of our ships got back to harbour, there were accounts from the warriors of the sea in person. Warriors who had risked their lives, warriors who had led their flock literally into a storm.

As Tauktae had swept up the west coast, steadily gathering strength, Indian Navy helicopters had already rescued people off Mangalore and Goa. Prudently, the Western Naval Command prepared for what was to come. They absorbed the copious information that flowed from Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, through the Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) at Gurugram. They ensured that ships, aircraft, personnel, equipment and special stores were ready and took care to see that their assets on land and in harbour remained safe.

The formidable Western Fleet, the strongest force any Two Star Admiral has in this world, was to be at the core of the oncoming effort. In support were the venerable Sea King helicopters with a glorious past in amazing rescues and the powerful P8I aircraft for prolonged surveillance of large sea areas. It was providence that this strong force was available, for no one else in India could have faced what was coming. Hundreds of people working offshore were about to face mortal danger very soon.

The first responder was the 8,000-tonne destroyer, INS Kochi, which sailed out of Mumbai harbour around 11.30 am on May 17. Safely getting out of the harbour itself was a near impossibility. As she let go her ropes that kept her safely tied to the jetty, four strong naval tugs struggled to handle the heavy ship in the 80 to 100 kmph winds that randomly kept changing directions. Her Captain had to choose a burst of high engine power, normally used in open waters, to break out of the confines of the naval dockyard. In the blinding rain that reduced the visibility to night-like conditions, the Captain probably would have laid faith in fervent prayer too. The long channel leading out to sea was littered with civil craft dragging their anchors and getting in the way. INS Kochi weaved through this chaos. An iconic photograph of INS Kolkata, setting out from Mumbai harbour about two hours after Kochi, captures the conditions for posterity. Little would these ships have known that this was probably the easiest thing they and those that followed them were to endure in the next 72 hours.

While the exact events of the following days in the entire area must be chronicled, analysed and investigated, I must pay tribute to the sheer human spirit and some robust systems that held out in the face of extreme adversity.

There was great competence of the ships. INS Kochi, which reached a sinking accommodation barge P305 in the afternoon, had to pick up hundreds of survivors from the churning waters a few hours later. This was in night-like conditions from blinding rain. Real night too closed in soon. INS Kolkata, which too reached the area, chipped in. It was madness. The ships had to work their propellers with utmost care in a sea littered with desperate humans. They would spot a group of survivors, manoeuvre their ship windward of them, and slowly drift in their direction. Getting people on board wasn’t easy. Everything was tried. Experienced marine commandos, professional divers and even non-divers jumped into the mad sea. Nets were used to virtually fish people out of the sea. Through an unreal night in which floating survivors and ships rose and fell many tens of feet and strong wind played with fates, more than a hundred came on board by morning.

The first Sea King helicopter, a multirole 42B, took off from INS Shikra early morning on May 18 in dangerous operating conditions which lay beyond what the manufacturer advices. The Sea King picked up three survivors from near INS Kolkata, supplied the ships with body bags and returned to Mumbai. Two Sea Kings will ultimately go on to save 39 people.

There were also other relief activities going on elsewhere. All this was managed by the 4,000-tonne Indian Navy ships — Talwar, Betwa and Teg — and Beas.

Captains of ships struggle for words to express the enormity of the fortitude they saw around them. Hygienist sailors packed decomposing bodies! Medical officers and staff diligently recorded cues that could help identify bodies later, engineers and their crew who remained below decks in murderous conditions to keep the machinery going, seamen risked their life, chefs cooked in hellish conditions, quartermasters who steered the ships delicately among floating humans, and sailors and officers of every hue, who made the Navy proud with their courage and selflessness. Similarly, it was the collective effort of hundreds of professionals on ground that enabled every Sea King to take to the sky. Senior Operational Staff Officers who lived next to their office phones for four days and senior leadership who gave the most important gift to those on the field, autonomy borne of trust, completed the matrix.

Everything couldn’t have been perfect. While the Navy will assiduously find lessons for future use, the country must plug the holes that exposed hundreds to unnecessary danger. Even with all that, no one can be sure of a disaster-free future. But what we can be sure of is a strong Navy that will deliver, under any circumstance, like nobody else can. Well done, Shano Varuna!

Photo for representation only. PTI

Noida, May 28

A group of farmers protesting against the central farm laws on Friday staged a demonstration at the Jewar toll plaza here, partially disrupting traffic movement on the Yamuna Expressway, according to officials.

The farmers belonging to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) had reached Jewar in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday with an objective to stage the demonstration as part of their plan to carry out similar protests at some other toll plazas in western Uttar Pradesh.

According to police officials, some of the protestors, including a local leader of the group, were taken to the Jewar police station around midnight.

“They were brought to the station for a dialogue. We had requested them to call off the protest and vacate the toll plaza but they were reluctant,” Jewar police station SHO Umesh Singh told PTI.

The protestors went back from the police station after some time and carried on with their demonstration that continued on Friday morning also with them occupying two lanes of the Yamuna Expressway, according to officials.

“The Jewar toll plaza is open for vehicular movement. Only two lanes are blocked because of the farmers’ protest,” a Traffic Police official said.

After observing ‘Black Day’ on May 26, the BKU, which has been demanding the repeal of the three new central farm laws since November 2020, has intensified its protest in parts of Uttar Pradesh since Thursday.

“Members of the farmers’ union are staging protest at five toll plazas in western Uttar Pradesh. These toll plazas are located in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Meerut, Amroha, Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar,” BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said.

Supporters of the BKU, led by Rakesh Tikait, have been camping at Ghazipur on the Delhi-UP border since November 2020 with a demand that the Centre repeal the three farm laws brought in last year. The farmers claim that these laws would hurt their livelihood and leave them at the mercy of corporations.

The government, which has held multiple rounds of official dialogue with the protestors, has maintained that the laws are pro-farmer. PTI