Monthly Archives: October 2022

नयी दिल्ली, 9 जनवरी (एजेंसी)प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने रविवार को घोषणा की कि सिखों के 10वें गुरु गोबिंद सिंह के चारों बेटों को श्रद्धांजलि देने के लिए इस साल से 26 दिसंबर को ‘वीर बाल दिवस’ के रूप में मनाया जाएगा। मोदी ने गुरु गोबिंद सिंह के प्रकाश पर्व के अवसर पर यह घोषणा की। उन्होंने ट्वीट किया कि यह ‘साहिबजादों’ के साहस और न्याय स्थापना की उनकी कोशिश को उचित श्रद्धांजलि है। गुरु गोबिंद सिंह के चारों पुत्रों की मुगलों ने हत्या कर दी थी। मोदी ने ट्वीट किया, ‘‘वीर बाल दिवस उसी दिन मनाया जाएगा, जब साहिबजादा जोरावर सिंह जी और साहिबजादा फतेह सिंह जी ने दीवार में जिंदा चिनवा दिए जाने के बाद शहीदी प्राप्त की थी। इन दो महान हस्तियों ने धर्म के महान सिद्धांतों से विचलित होने के बजाय मौत को चुना।’

ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ’ਚ 26 ਦਸੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਮਨਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਵੀਰ ਬਾਲ ਦਿਵਸ

ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ, 9 ਜਨਵਰੀ

ਦਸਵੀਂ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਚਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ’ਚ ਹਰ ਸਾਲ 26 ਦਸੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ‘ਵੀਰ ਬਾਲ ਦਿਵਸ’ ਮਨਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਮੋਦੀ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਇਹ ਐਲਾਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ ਮੌਕੇ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਟਵੀਟ ਕਰਕੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਦਲੇਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਜਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ,‘‘ਵੀਰ ਬਾਲ ਦਿਵਸ ਉਸ ਦਿਨ ਮਨਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਜਿਸ ਦਿਨ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਾ ਜ਼ੋਰਾਵਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਾ ਫਤਹਿ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਊਂਦੇ ਦੀਵਾਰਾਂ ’ਚ ਚਿਣਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮਹਾਨ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਧਰਮ ਤੋਂ ਥਿੜਕਣ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤ ਨੂੰ ਤਰਜੀਹ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਸੀ।’’ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮਾਤਾ ਗੁਜਰੀ, ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਚਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਬਹਾਦਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਚਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਾਕਤ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ੀ ਹੈ। ‘ਉਹ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਅਨਿਆਂ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ ਡਟੇ ਰਹੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਚੱਲਣ ਅਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੀ ਕਲਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ। ਇਹ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਤੋਂ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਲੋਕ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਾਣਨ।’ ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹੁਕਮਰਾਨ ਭਾਜਪਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਤਿੰਨ ਖੇਤੀ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਲਾਗੂ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਸਿੱਖ ਨਾਰਾਜ਼ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਾਨੂੰਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਾਪਸੀ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਹੁਣ ਮੋਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਲਈ ਕਈ ਕਦਮ ਉਠਾ ਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਭਰਮਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। -ਪੀਟੀਆਈ

ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੇ ਇਤਰਾਜ਼ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਇਆ

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ (ਟਨਸ):ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਮੋਦੀ ਵਲੋਂ ਅੱਜ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਪੁਰਬ ਮੌਕੇ ਛੋਟੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ 26 ਦਸੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਵੀਰ ਬਾਲ ਦਿਵਸ ਵਜੋਂ ਮਨਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਅਸਹਿਮਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਈ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਐਲਾਨ ’ਤੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਹਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਮੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਕਦਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਛੋਟੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਲ ਸੰਗਿਆ ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜ ਕੇ ਵੀਰ ਬਾਲ ਦਿਵਸ ਤੱਕ ਸੀਮਤ ਰੱਖਣਾ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਾਵਨਾ ਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਰਵਾਇਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੇਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ।

PTI

Leh, January 13

The Ladakh administration granted Rs 5 lakh each as ex-gratia to the kin of 14 soldiers who were killed in Operation Snow Leopard in Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), officials said on Thursday. As many as 20 Army personnel were killed in the operation while fighting Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh on June 15.

According to the orders issued by the Home Department of Ladakh, kin of 14 soldiers who laid down their lives fighting Chinese aggression in Galwan Valley were given Rs 5 lakh each as ex-gratia. —

L-R) Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mehbooba Mufti

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 6

The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) administration is all set to minimise the strength of the elite Special Security Group (SSG) personnel, who are assigned the task of guarding former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile state, including Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. The elite force as a unit of the J&K Police was created in 2000 to provide security to top politicians in the erstwhile state.

Elite force was created in 2000

• The elite force as a unit of the J&K Police was created in 2000 to provide security to top politicians in the erstwhile state
• The decision will entail withdrawal of security cover of Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti
• Farooq and Azad will continue to be provided NSG cover, while Omar and Mehbooba will continue to have Z-plus security cover while in Jammu and Kashmir

However, Farooq and Azad will continue to be provided the security cover of the National Security Guard, also known as Black Cat commandoes, as both of them are Z-plus protectees. Omar and Mehbooba will continue to have Z-plus security cover while in Jammu and Kashmir, but are likely to have reduced security outside the Union Territory.

Officials said the decision was taken by the Security Review Coordination Committee, a group that oversees the threat perception of important leaders in J

The officials said the SSG would be “right-sized” by reducing the number of the elite force to the “bare minimum”. It would be headed by an officer below the rank of Superintendent of Police as against Director, who is of the rank of Inspector General of Police and above.

Tribune Shorts

Turkey, India and China have purchased the S-400 systems but only companies from Turkey and China have been sanctioned under CAATSA, a US domestic law introduced during the Trump era, India has so far not been acted against

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 13

The US has expressed its dilemma over considering sanctions for India’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defence systems.

“I think we’ve to look at what the balance is… The administration made clear that it is discouraging India from proceeding with the acquisitions of Russian equipment and there are important geostrategic considerations particularly with relationship to China,” said James O’Brien, US President Joe Biden’s nominee as Coordinator for Sanctions Policy over Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

“It’s difficult to compare the two situations – a NATO ally (Turkey) that is breaking with legacy and India, a partner of growing importance, but that has legacy relationships with Russia,” added O’Brien James while speaking before the US Senate at his confirmation hearing for the post.

Turkey, India and China have purchased the S-400 systems but only companies from Turkey and China have been sanctioned under CAATSA, a US domestic law introduced during the Trump era, India has so far not been acted against.

India had signed a $ 5 billion deal in October 2018 with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems though the US administration had warned that such a move may attract sanctions. But in recent times, US Senators have also started flagging India’s purchase of naval warships from Russia.

Asked about the possibility of US sanctions for buying the S-400 missile systems, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in November last year that ,“India pursues an independent foreign policy and its defence acquisitions are guided by its national security interests.’’

The two Senators, Mark Warner and John Cornyn, have said that though India has signed a deal with Russia for the purchase of the S-400 missile system but such transactions were on a decline. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report has noted that, “the Indian military cannot operate effectively without Russian-supplied equipment and will continue to rely on its weapons systems in the near and middle terms”.

When it comes to the crunch, New Delhi may not need the helping hand of the two co-chairs of the India Caucus in the US Senate as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in 2019, “I am reasonably convinced of the powers of my persuasion. It would be my hope that people understand why this transaction is important for us.”

The pass, located at an altitude of 11,649 feet, links Union Territory of Ladakh with the rest of the country

Last winters, the pass was kept open till December 31, which was a record. Tribune photo

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Even as there is no sign of Sino-Indian de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has created a new record by keeping the formidable Zoji La pass on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway open for vehicular traffic in the first week of January.

The pass, located at an altitude of 11,649 feet about 100 km east of Srinagar, links the Union Territory of Ladakh with the rest of the country, and remains closed in winters due to high snow.

The BRO achieved this feat through its frontline projects – Vijayak and Beacon. They are collectively responsible for maintaining the road axis that has strategic implications in addition to the socio-economic well-being of Ladakh.

Last winters, the pass was kept open till December 31, which was a record. This season, BRO silently embarked on a mission to better its own record by reorganising and adding a few more snow clearance detachments and augmenting them with the state-of-the-art snow clearance equipment, according to an official statement issued today.

Beacon and Vijayak projects have been working round the clock in extreme weather conditions to keep the logistic supply line open to Ladakh. Unprecedented number of troops have been deployed in Ladakh over the past about two years to counter Chinese deployments on the other side of the LAC.

There are two road routes to Ladakh — along the Srinagar axis through Jammu and Kashmir and along the Manali axis through Himachal Pradesh. Both these routes become non-operational during winters as several high mountain passes enroute remain closed due to heavy snow. Supplies, equipment and troops are ferried in and out of Ladakh by air in such a situation, which continues till spring when BRO clears the snow.

The administration of Ladakh and the local populace has lauded the efforts of BRO as this additional window reduces the logistic burden on government agencies and also helps the local inhabitants to stock additional rations and supplies to brave the impending harsh winters.

In the first three days of the year 2022, about 178 vehicles have been able to transit through the pass with the collective assistance of the BRO and the local police personnel.

The number is considered significant because with the temperatures plummeting to minus 20 degree centigrade, the road is subject to extreme frosting with blizzard like conditions, which can lead to accidents. Besides snow clearance, the road axis is subjected to maintenance on a daily basis to keep it road worthy.

The 14th round of Corps Commander-level meet that concluded at 10.30 pm on Wednesday after 13 hours was held on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border point

Tribune News Service

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, January 13

Almost 20 months into the military standoff, India and China have yet again failed to agree on resolving all points of friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Edit: In for the long haul

The 14th round of Corps Commander-level meet that concluded at 10.30 pm on Wednesday after 13 hours was held on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border point.

MoD statement says…

• Both sides should follow the guidance provided by state leaders and work for the resolution of remaining issues at the earliest.
• The two sides have agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue.

No blame game

The statements issued this time were not as blunt as those issued after the 13th round of talks on Oct 10, 2021, when they blamed each other for the failure of the talks.

Hot Springs logjam

• No immediate disengagement of troops from Patrolling Point (PP)-15, also known as Hot Springs, said sources.
• Resultantly, Indian forces will stick to their locations and positions at the LAC. Both sides have some 75,000 troops in the sector.

‘Unconstructive’ remarks

Hope certain individuals refrain from making ‘unconstructive’ remarks. China on General’s remarks

Sources told The Tribune there would be no immediate disengagement of troops from Patrolling Point (PP)-15, also known as Hot Springs. Resultantly, Indian forces would stick to their locations and positions at the LAC. Weapons, equipment, tanks, artillery guns and other high technology surveillance systems would also be around. Both sides have some 75,000 troops in the sector.

Twitterati ‘salutes their spirit of service’

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, January 8

Responding to a distress call that a pregnant woman was in urgent need of medical attention, Army personnel carried her to the nearest hospital from a village at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir amid heavy snowfall.

As it was snowing heavily and it became impossible for vehicles to ply, the Army men took it upon themselves to play the role of savior.

They carried the woman on a stretcher for over 6 km to the nearest hospital.

In a tweet, Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said they got a distress call from Ghagar Hill village at LoC in Boniyar for urgent medical assistance to a pregnant woman.

“In heavy snowfall, evacuation team carried the woman on a stretcher for 6.5 km till Salasan and brought her to Primary Health Centre,” it added.

Twitterati was all praise for the Army personnel, with many “saluting their spirit of service”.

Tribune News Service

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, January 12

Taking up a petition filed jointly by 18 officers of the rank of Major General, who were drawing pension that was lower than their juniors, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) today sought an explanation from the Ministry of Defence and the pension disbursing authorities.

“The tribunal’s bench comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Lt Gen PM Hariz today admitted the petition for final adjudication and asked the government and the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Officers) to show cause as to why the petition should not be allowed,” Col Indra Sen Singh (retd), counsel for the petitioners, said.

The officers are claiming parity in pay and pension parity with officers of the rank of Brigadier. The situation has arisen due to the Military Service Pay being introduced in the Sixth and Seventh Central Pay Commission as part of basic pay of officers of the three services up to and including the rank of Brigadier and equivalent ranks in other services. Officers of the rank of Major General and above are not entitled MSP.

Hence, a Major General and equivalent rank officer in the Air Force and Navy, after being promoted to the said rank, get lesser pay than Brigadier and consequently lesser pension after retirement.

Essential items, including winter clothing, distributed

ammu, January 9

Hundreds of migrant labourers were provided cooked food and winter clothing by the Army amid biting cold and heavy snowfall in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a Defence spokesman said on Sunday.

The Army went beyond the call of duty and provided assistance in the form of cooked food to migrant labourers in the Mendhard area, the spokesman said.

Essential items, including winter clothing, gloves and blankets, were also distributed, the spokesman said.

He said Mendhar Gunners had been doing this for the past three days despite bad weather and heavy snowfall.

“They are going to nearby villages and extending helping hand to the villagers,” the spokesman said, adding the humane gesture was highly appreciated by all.

The spokesman said amid third wave of Covid-19, coupled with harsh winters and heavy snowfall, the Army was not only guarding the borders, but also facilitating the citizens.

Separately, the officials said Army troops evacuated patients in Poonch and Ramban districts despite heavy snowfall. The Army is always ready for help, officials added. — PTI

A fitting tribute to the courage of ‘sahibzades’ and their quest for justice, says PM Modi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 9

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the government decision to mark December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons.

Paying rich tributes to the tenth Sikh Guru on the occasion of Parkash Purab on Sunday, the Prime Minister said: “Today, on the auspicious occasion of the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, I am honoured to share that starting this year, 26th December shall be marked as ‘Veer Baal Diwas.’ This is a fitting tribute to the courage of the Sahibzades and their quest for justice.”

The Prime Minister also greeted people on the Parkash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh and said, “His life and message give strength to millions of people. I will always cherish the fact that our government got the opportunity to mark his 350th Parkash Utsav.”

The Prime Minister also shared on Twitter some glimpses from his visit to Patna at that time.

Earlier, the Prime Minister had announced the decision to repeal farm laws on November 19, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.