Monthly Archives: August 2018

Respected Noble citizens of Bharat,
Jai Hind.
It was thanks to Shri BS Yediyurappa, the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, who on 6 July 2008 on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore, on culmination of ‘March for Justice’ by Military Veterans, most graciously announced the setting up of a National Military Memorial at Bangalore, near the Raj Bhawan.
Credit must also go in equal measure to Shri Rajiv Chandrasekhar, presently the dynamic Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, who in July 2008, as MP (Rajya Sabha) from Karnataka, played a crucial role in the setting up of the National Military Memorial at Bangalore, for he was close to Shri BS Yediyurappa; and was able to convince the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka of the need to set up a National Military Memorial at Bangalore.
The Foundation Stone for the National Military Memorial at Bangalore was laid on 10 Feb 2009 by Shri Rameshwar Thakur, the then Governor of Karnataka; and soon the construction of the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, began. Unfortunately, with frequent changes in Govt in the State, the progress on setting up the the National Military Memorial at Bangalore, went into a limbo. A classic example is that of the ‘Veera Gallu’, a 66 feet tall monolithic granite Stupa representing the noble souls of 22000 brave soldiers who laid down their lives in various wars the country has fought since Independence and in Counter-Insurgency Operations in J&K and in the States in the North-East.
Though the ‘Veera Gallu’ had been carved, cut & chiseled and ready as early as in 2015; it took four years for the State Govt to conclude a contract to finally move the Veera Gallu from the Quarry site to the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, in 2019. The Veera Gallu having been installed at National Military Memorial, Bangalore, in 2019, it has taken another four years on the part of the State Govt to think of having the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, inaugurated. Finally, the Govt of Karnataka decided to have the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, inaugurated at 5.30 PM on 14 Feb 2023 by laying of wreaths at the Veera Gallu by Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri and other Dignitaries.
A gathering of over 100 Ex-Servicemen and a dozen Veer Naaris, ie. widows of Soldiers who have laid down their lives for the Country, whose husband’s names stand etched on the granite slabs in the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, had assembled for the event at the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, as early as 3.30 PM on 14 Feb 2023, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri of India. It was around 3.30 PM when the Director, Karnataka Rajya Sainik Welfare & Resettlement announced that the inaugural function has been cancelled by the State Govt, as Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri would not be coming as planned.
What a shame. It is agreed that Politicians and Ministers are a busy lot. But for Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri having agreed to inaugurate the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, at 5.30 PM on 14 Feb 2023; and NOT turn up is unpardonable. It is an act of sacrilege. This act of Shri Rajnath Singh in not turning up at the inaugural function is a reflection of the mindset of Politicians in India who have scant or no regard or respect for:

1. Soldiers who lay down their lives for the Country;
2. Ex-Servicemen who have given their prime of their youth to the Nation; and
3. Widows of Soldiers who have laid down their lives for the Country in Wars and in Counter-Insurgency Operations in J&K and in the States of the North-East.
   Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri by failing to turn up at the inaugural function at the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, has:
4. Not only insulted the Veera Gallu representing the Noble Souls & memory of 22000 Soldiers who laid down their lives for the Country; but has also, belittled their sacrifice.
5. Insulted the Ex-Servicemen and Veer Naaris who had gathered at the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, awaiting his arrival.
   One ought not to forget that, it was the same Shri Rajnath Singh, who in his earlier avatar as the Home Minister, had ordered the goons of Delhi Police to launch a brutal lathi charge on Ex-Servicemen aged 75-85 years who were on ‘Fast for Justice’ at the Jantar Mantar on 14 Aug 2015. The goons of Delhi Police not only assaulted the aged Ex-Servicemen; but also tore their shirts by plucking their Medals proudly worn by them on their shirts. One has never witnessed such brutality on Ex-Servicemen, ever before. One must congratulate the Modi Govt for exhibiting such care & concern for Ex-Servicemen.
   We, the Military Veterans Karnataka, have decided not to attend any inaugural function at the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, in case Shri Rajnath Singh decides to come again to inaugurate the National Military Memorial, Bangalore.
   Regards,
   Col Rajan
   Convenor,
   Military Veterans Karnataka
   PS: Please find below a video clip of my expression of anger & anguish once it was announced that Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, would not be coming and the inaugural function is cancelled

click to open vedio below

col Rajan Vedio

Tribune News Service

Vijay Mohan 

Chandigarh, February 15 

Jalandhar in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana are among eight cities across the country where dedicated hospitals for defence veterans are proposed to be established under the aegis of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). 

Both the states have a large population of ex-servicemen. The strength of registered ex-servicemen in Punjab is 3,27,212, according to data placed in Parliament by the Ministry of Defence on February 3. Haryana has 1,66,279 registered ex-servicemen.  

The other places where veterans’ hospitals are expected to come up are New Delhi, Dehradun, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jalandhar and Dehradun. These hospitals will be established with private partnership with funding under corporate social responsibility initiatives. 

Under the scheme, 200-300-bed hospitals will come up. The infrastructure would be developed and the facilities managed and operated by private agencies on defence land. Civilian patients may also be catered to at these hospitals. 

Launched in 2003, the ECHS provides cashless medical treatment to ex-servicemen, their entitled dependents and some other entitled categories through a nationwide network of polyclinics run by it along with a large number of empanelled private hospitals and diagnostic facilities. 

It has a subscriber base of over 45 lakh beneficiaries across the country, which includes spouses and in some cases wards or parents of ex-servicemen. The hospitals are being set up in places that have a significant ex-servicemen population and adequate support base in the form of private medicare facilities is available. 

ECHS has, in the past, faced problems of funding and availability of medicines at polyclinics. At times, the budgetary allocation by the central government has been less than the projections. There have also been issues relating to bills submitted by empanelled hospitals.

The Defence Budget for 2023-24, however, registers a notable increase of 52 per cent in the allotment for ECHS, with allocation of Rs 5,431.56 crore against Rs 3,582.51 crore in 2022-23. 

For serving Armed Forces personnel and their dependents, a vast and structured medicare establishment under the Directorate General of Medical Services exists, ranging from medical inspection rooms providing basic treatment at the unit level up to tertiary hospitals at the national level.

Prior to the ECHS coming up, ex-servicemen were availing treatment at military hospitals. ECHS was conceived to reduce the workload on service hospitals and also to provide medical facilities to ex-servicemen at more convenient places.

Tamil Nadu Police arrested a DMK councillor and his aides for beating a soldier of the Indian Army to death in Krishnagiri. The soldier and the DMK councillor had a tiff over washing clothes near a water tank.

Prabhakaran, who was severely wounded in the attack, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital yesterday. 

By Pramod Madhav: A 33-year-old soldier of the Indian Army was beaten to death by a DMK councillor and his aides following a dispute over washing clothes near a water tank in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri.

On February 8, the soldier identified as Prabhu and DMK member Chinnasamy got into a heated exchange over washing clothes near a tank in the Pochampalli area. Chinnasamy, the councillor, along with nine men then allegedly attacked Prabhu and his brother Prabhakaran that night.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-soldier-beaten-to-death-by-dmk-councillor-others-in-tamil-nadu-2335088-2023-02-15

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 15

In a major push to counter Chinese manoeuvres on the border, the government today sanctioned a proposal to hire 9,400 personnel to raise seven new battalions for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a force that guards the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Cabinet also approved a new operational base for the ITBP and the construction of the 4.1-km Shinkun La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road to provide all-weather connectivity to the frontier areas of Ladakh. Briefing the media, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said the decision on the new battalions was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the PM.

The ITBP, having a strength of 90,000 personnel, was raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Chinese aggression and it is tasked with guarding the 3,488-km-long LAC. The force is working along with the Army even as the Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a standoff in Ladakh since 2020.

The minister said the new sanctioned strength would be utilised for manning 47 new border posts and a dozen ‘staging camps’ or bases to be created along the frontier, largely in Arunachal Pradesh, which were sanctioned in 2020. Thakur said the battalions and the headquarters were expected to be put in place by 2025-26.

The minister said Rs 1,808.15 crore was estimated to be spent for land acquisition, creation of office and residential buildings, as non-recurring expenditure and a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 963.68 crore would be done under the salaries and rations head for the fresh manpower.

A senior official said 47 new border posts would lead to a 26% increase in the strength of these bases while 9,400 more personnel would enhance the strength by 10%. The force has 176 border posts at the LAC currently.

Thakur said Shinkun La tunnel would be completed by December 2025 at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore.

Tribune News Service

Bengaluru, February 15

India on Wednesday announced an increase in the allocation for weapon procurement from domestic sources.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing an audience at Aero India-2023, said 75 per cent of the defence capital procurement budget had been earmarked for domestic industry in the 2023-24 fiscal. This is up from 68 per cent in the present fiscal.

Capital outlay pertaining to modernisation and infrastructure development for the next fiscal is Rs 1.63 lakh crore. This allocation has two components — procurement of weapons and infrastructure.

“Weapons worth Rs 1 lakh crore will be procured from domestic sources. This will make up about 75 per cent of the procurement next fiscal. As a result, import dependency will be minimised,” the minister said, adding the Indian industry needed to come forward with more enthusiasm.

Turkey Earthquake When digging, they found the body of a father in a bent position, how shocked the diggers were when they faced the fact that under the body appeared a child who was still alive thanks to being protected from the rubble by the father’s body… What a sacrifice of parent.. . A true valentine 🙏🏻 Parents are first and foremost VALENTINE. Along with expression of love for our spouse , let us also acknowledge love of our family and friends, and celebrate Valentine’s day in true sense

CLICK TO WATCH VEDIOS

vedo of child

ARMY HOSPITAL IN TURKEY

:Lt Gen BS Raju, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM VCOAS, posted as Army Cdr South West Comd with instr to assume on 01 Mar 23.

Lt Gen MVS Kumar, AVSM, YSM**, VSM, DCOAS (Strat) prom to the rank of Army Cdr and posted as VCOAS with instr to assume on 01 Mar 23.

Lt Gen NS Rajasubramani, AVSM, SM, VSM, COS HQ NC prom to the rank of Army Cdr and posted as Army Cdr Cent Comd with instr to assume on 01 Mar 23.

For info please.

Beijing, February 15

China said on Wednesday it will take measures against US entities related to the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the American East Coast.

At a daily briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave no details and did not identify the targets of the measures.

China says the balloon was a unmanned weather airship that was accidentally blown off course and accuses the US of overreacting in bringing it down with a missile fired from an F-22 fighter jet.

Since the February 4 downing of the balloon, the United States has sanctioned six Chinese entities it said are linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs.

The US House of Representatives subsequently voted unanimously to condemn China for a “brazen violation” of US sovereignty and efforts to “deceive the international community through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also canceled a visit to Beijing that many hoped would stabilise ties that have cratered amid disputes over trade, human rights, Taiwan and China’s claim to the South China Sea.

While China denies the balloon was a military asset, it has yet to say what government department or company was responsible.

After initially expressing regret over the balloon’s entry into US airspace, China has returned spying accusations against Washington, alongside its threats of retaliation.

“China firmly opposes this and will take countermeasures in accordance with the law against the relevant US entities that undermine China’s sovereignty and security,” Wang said at Wednesday’s briefing.

China will “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and its legitimate rights and interests,” Wang said.

Also on Wednesday, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said the Chinese balloon’s intrusion was part of a pattern of aggressive behaviour by Beijing.

Emanuel noted China’s recent beaming of military-grade laser on a Philippine coast guard patrol vessel, the harassment of US planes by Chinese jets and China’s opening of illegal police stations in the US, Ireland and other countries.

“The balloon to me is not an isolated incident,” Emanuel said.

If China wants to be a respected member of the international community, “then you act appropriately to certain basic premises. that is you don’t open police stations in other countries ignorant of their laws as if your laws don’t have any boundaries,” he said.

“This is not exactly the qualities and characteristics of the good neighbour policy,” the ambassador said, referring to China’s outreach to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Tuesday, Japan’s Defence Ministry said at least three flying objects spotted in Japanese airspace since 2019 were strongly believed to have been Chinese spy balloons. It said it has protested and requested explanations from Beijing.

Senior lawmakers in Japan’s governing party on Wednesday said they were considering expanding the Self Defence Force law to also include violations of Japanese airspace by foreign balloons. AP

Bhawna Garg, Deputy Director-General of the UIDAI, during the district monitoring committee meeting in Amritsar on Wednesday. Tribune photo
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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 15

Bhawna Garg, Deputy Director-General of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), said it was mandatory to update Aadhaar cards issued 10 years ago.

Addressing the officials during a meeting of the district monitoring committee held here today, she said it was mandatory to update Aadhaar cards. She asked the officials concerned to check whether the Aadhaar card was genuine or fake through the QR code app. Among others, the meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh Sudan and officials of various departments at the District Administrative Complex.

She, along with the DC, reviewed the Aadhaar registration for those falling in the age group of 0-5 and 6-15 years in the district. She said if the Aadhaar card was found fake after checking through the QR code app, a case of forgery should be registered against the person immediately.

She asked the officials to enrol Aadhaar of newborn children at health institutions in the district. Since biometrics of newborn children was not mandatory, registration must be done at the time of birth only. She asked district education officers present in the meeting to expedite 100 per cent registration of children in the age group of 6-15 years. She said if any child in the 0-5 age group was already enrolled for Aadhaar, its biometrics should also be updated once it reaches five.

She stated that non-resident Indians, who have Indian passports, should get the Aadhaar registration by filing Form No. 23. Those Indians who have foreign passports could get the Aadhaar registration on the basis of the address where they have been staying for the past 180 days.

Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh Sudan said Aadhaar enrolment campaign for children in the age group of 0-5 and 5-15 years would be intensified in the district. There were 179 Aadhaar registration kits (machines) in the district and assistance of the police would be taken to make Aadhaar cards of people above the age of 18 years. He said the facility of generating Aadhaar card was available at 41 Sewa Kendras in the district and a counter is reserved for disabled and elderly persons there from 3 pm to 5 pm every Saturday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Urban Development Amandeep Kaur, District Education Officer Elementary Rajesh Sharma, District Education Officer Secondary Jugraj Singh, District Programme Officer Manjinder Singh, Lead Bank Manager Pritam Singh were among those present on the occasion.

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, February 15

Taking exception to the Maharashtra Governor commenting on formation of government in the state, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Governor should not enter the political arena.

“How can the Governor be heard to say all this on the formation of government between Shiv Sena and BJP? How can the Governor say this? We are only saying the Governor should not enter the political (arena)…,” a five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said during a hearing on constitutional issues arising out of the recent political crisis in Maharashtra.

The comment from the Bench came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra Governor, said the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Shena formed a government with those against whom the party fought in the Assembly election. Mehta clarified that he was only pointing out facts to facilitate a constitutionally correct decision.

“There was a pre-poll alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena. As Kihoto Hollohan’s judgement explains, when you go before a voter, you don’t go as an individual but as a representative with your shared belief or agenda. The voter doesn’t vote for individuals, but for ideology of the party,” Mehta argued.

Terming the constitutional questions arising out of the recent political crisis in Maharashtra as “tough”, the Bench, which also included Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, said they have “very serious” ramifications for the polity.

PIL for framing ‘period leave’ rules

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to take up on February 24 a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre and states/UTs to frame rules for menstrual pain leave for girl students and working women.

SC agrees to hear plea for probe against Adani Group