7th Military Lit Festival (MLF) being held at Lake Sports Complex, Sukhna Lake Chd 02 – 03 Dec 2023. Festival showcases contribution armed forces in national security.
7th Military Lit Festival (MLF) being held at Lake Sports Complex, Sukhna Lake Chd 02 – 03 Dec 2023. Festival showcases contribution armed forces in national security.
Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | Former Engineer-In-Chief and BRO DG Lieutenant General Harpal Singh (Retd) says “Everything went according to the plan. PM Modi was constantly monitoring the rescue work. All departments of the Government of India were involved in the operation…We were the happiest when we saw the workers coming out on their own feet. They were extremely happy…”
ट्टानों को चीर सुरक्षित आये सभी 41 श्रमवीर | रेस्क्यू से जुडी सभी ज़रूरी जानकारी के लिए आज तक ने की ले. ज. (रि) हरपाल सिंह से #exclusive बातचीत
Bravo to 201 Engr Regt for their superb work in making the vertical tunnel in record time. Delighted that all 41 trapped workers were quickly and safely evacuated🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 And kudos to the NDRF all the various organizations that concurrently and cooperatively worked to achieve successful evacuation.👍👍👍🙏
Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Jawans of 201 Engineering Regiment to helped with manual drilling
Uttarkashi, November 29
Feroze Qureshi and Monu Kumar, experts in the rat-hole mining technique, were the first to meet the 41 labourers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand after they cleared the last bit of the rubble inside the structure.
All the 41 workers were rescued on Tuesday evening after 17 days of a multi-agency operation conducted by the central and state governments.
Qureshi from Delhi and Kumar from Uttar Pradesh were part of a 12-member team of rat-hole mining technique experts who were called on Sunday to do the drilling after an American auger machine came across hurdles while clearing the rubble.
“They (the labourers) could hear us when we reached the last portion of the rubble. Soon after removing the rubble, we got down to the other side,” Qureshi, a resident of Delhi’s Khajoori Khas, told PTI.
“The labourers thanked and hugged me. They also lifted me on their shoulders,” he said, adding that he was happier than the rescued workers.
Qureshi is an employee of the Delhi-based Rockwell Enterprises and an expert in tunnelling work.
“They (the labourers) gave me almonds and asked my name. Soon, our other colleagues joined us and we were there for about half an hour,” Kumar, a resident of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, said.
He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel went inside the tunnel after them. “We came back only after the NDRF personnel arrived,” Kumar said.
“We are very happy that we were part of this historic operation,” he added.
The leader of the 12-member team from Rockwell Enterprises, Wakeel Hassan, said he was approached for help by a company involved in the rescue operation four days ago.
“The work got delayed while removing the portion of the auger from the rubble. We started at 3 pm on Monday and finished the work at 6 pm on Tuesday,” Hassan said, adding, “We had said the work would be finished in 24 to 36 hours and that is what we did.” He also said they did not charge any money for taking part in the rescue operation.
Mumbai, November 28
A 20-year-old woman undergoing Agniveer training in the Indian Navy allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room at INS Hamla in Mumbai, police said on Tuesday.
The woman, hailing from Kerala, was undergoing training at the INS Hamla in Malwani area in the western suburb of Malad, an official said.
She allegedly hanged herself in her hostel room on Monday morning, he said.
While no suicide note was recovered, it appears the woman took the extreme step due to personal reasons, the official said.
The woman had been training at the facility for the 15 days after completing her basic training, he said.
The police have registered an accidental death report and an investigation is under way, the official added.
Agniveers are soldiers recruited by the armed forces under the Agnipath scheme, which was introduced in 2022.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said the Uttarkhand government made the proposal for the takeover of teh airstrips to the Armed Forces. (File photo)
The Indian Air Force is considering taking over three airstrips in Uttarakhand to strengthen its operational capabilities in Uttarakhand, said Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Saturday.
The three airstrips include Pithoragarh in the Kumaon Hills and, Dharasu and Gauchar in the Garhwal Hills.
General Anil Chauhan said the landing strips were made on the state government’s land and it wanted the Armed Forces to take over the property. This will not help provide strategic use of the airstrips but also help in improving air connectivity for the locals in the area, he added.
A woman hailing from Kerala undergoing Agniveer training allegedly died by suicide at a Navy hostel in Mumbai, news agencies reported citing police on Tuesday. According to Mumbai police, the deceased was identified as 20-year-old Aparna Nair who took the extreme step at the INS Hamla in Malwani area in the western suburb of Malad.
“The incident took place while Aparna was undergoing training on the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Attack,” news agency ANI quoted an officer as saying.
Shortly after receiving the information, Navy doctors were called to check up on the woman. Thereupon after conducting the examination of the woman, the doctors declared her dead, said police.
The Malwani Police in Mumbai has registered a case under the accidental death report (ADR) and have started the investigation, ANI reported.
While no suicide note was recovered from the spot, it appears the woman took the extreme step due to personal reasons, news agency PTI reported citing an official.
The woman had been training at the facility for the last 15 days after completing her basic training, the official said.
Editorial by Inder Raj Ahluwalia
“Ek Onkar Satnam”.
Three magic words that mean ‘there is but one God, whose name is Truth’. This simple concept was the springboard of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, the guru who was also the repository and propagator of myriad revolutionary ideas, concepts, beliefs and practices. His life impacted society as never before, and remarkably, are to totally relevant today.
While philosophers like John Knox, Martin Luther, and John Wesley were influencing the Western world, Guru Nanak was quietly preaching a new, unique and inspiring gospel in the Indian sub-continent.
The Guru’s destiny was stamped in his childhood itself. While other children indulged in sports, fun and frolic, he chose isolation and meditation, singing in praise of God Almighty. Displaying extraordinary traits, he slept little, ate frugally, and spoke sparingly. No fakir or sadhu left his home empty-handed.
He had a stint as a cattle-grazer; had a cobra use his hood to shade his face from the sun; practiced ‘sachcha sauda’ (good bargain), by distributing rations among the poor; had a divine visitation while bathing in the Beni River; travelled extensively; prayed at a mosque; listened to people of all faiths and cultures; read extensively about Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam; and affected several miracles. Significantly, he applied logic to what he encountered.
Guru Nanak Dev placed truth and God above all religious ceremonies and manifestations. He preached and taught ‘Do Nama Smarana’, (Love and be devoted to God, and enjoy the bliss of union with Him).
He proclaimed and espoused theories that shaped human thinking. He addressed issues that impacted on society and contemporary existence. He challenged the Indian caste system, and endorsed women’s rights. He promoted education for all men, women and children by introducing the Gurmukhi script of the Adi Granth, which became accessible to everyone. He believed that integrity, respect and trust between different communities engendered dignity for everyone.
The Guru’s philosophy is manifest in his three fundamental principles: ‘Kirt Karni’ (working for a living); ‘Naam Japna’ (remembering God); and ‘Vand Chakna’ (sharing one’s possessions with the needy). These were the cornerstone of his philosophy, and the guiding principles of Sikhs.
His greatest contribution to mankind was the teaching of the ‘Science of the Word’ (Naam), which forms the subject – matter of the Adi Granth which was composed and compiled by the Sikh Gurus. It proclaims that personal realization of God, and hence salvation, was attained by communion with the ‘Word’ (Shabad).
Guru Nanak was the most widely travelled man of his age, devoting twenty-five years of his life to visiting numerous places in and out of India, in his five major tours (Udasis) of the world from 1500 to 1524. He travelled because he wanted the regeneration of humanity to create a better world. He felt he was God’s messenger of goodwill, spreading the gospel of truth, heavenly love, peace and joy. His travels threw up revolutionary ideas and reformed people everywhere.
He was also arguably the world’s first activist, environmentalist, and conservationist, extolling the value of water and vegetation. He was the first major spiritual leader to proclaim that women should be respected and not persecuted.
He was definitely among the world’s first and foremost secularists, proclaiming famously, “I am neither a Hindu, nor a Muslim. We are all children of God”. He spent his life trying to create a bridge between Hindus and Muslims.
He was the creator of ‘langar’, wherein food is served free to everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or status. The langar constantly served in thousands of Gurdwaras worldwide, feeding millions, owes its existence to him. Availability of langar provided a huge boost during the covid pandemic.
His travels over, Guru Nanak settled down to a simple life at Kartarpur. His daily routine started at dawn when he awoke, bathed and recited the sacred hymns. At daybreak, he addressed a congregation of Sikhs. After this he worked in the fields.
Guru Nanak’s wisdom and benevolence earned him everyone’s love and respect. On his death in Kartarpur in 1539, both Hindus and Muslims placed flowers over his body. The site is immortalized by a tomb and temple built over the Muslims’ and Hindus’ flowers, respectively.
Guru Nanak was among the modern era’s greatest philosophers and teachers. He reached exceptional heights of spiritual enlightenment, and his teachings have paralleled those in the Bible and other holy scriptures.
Today, the world is acknowledging Guru Nanak’s glorious, invaluable legacy, philosophy and divinity, left behind for humanity. It promotes generosity and communal harmony, and provides a healing touch to our fractured, turbulent society.
The world owes him a debt of gratitude beyond compare.
Seoul, November 28
South Korea has postponed the planned launch of its first military spy satellite set for this Thursday, officials said, days after rival North Korea claimed to put its own spy satellite into orbit for the first time.
Under a contract with SpaceX, South Korea is to launch five spy satellites by 2025, and its first launch using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket had been scheduled to take place at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in the United States (US).
The South Korean Defence Ministry said in a brief statement on Tuesday that the launch was delayed due to weather conditions. Ministry officials said that the launch was tentatively rescheduled for this Saturday but it wasn’t a fixed date.
South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and partially resorts to US spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea.
After two launch failures earlier this year, North Korea said it successfully placed its ‘Malligyong-1’ spy satellite into orbit on November 21. South Korea said it has confirmed that the satellite entered orbit, but said it needs more time to verify whether it is working properly.
North Korea said, on Tuesday, leader Kim Jong Un reviewed imagery taken by the Malligyong-1 satellite of the White House and the Pentagon in Washington and US aircraft carriers at a navy base and a shipyard in Virginia. North Korea earlier said the satellite also transmitted photos of US military facilities in Guam and Hawaii and key sites in South Korea.
North Korea hasn’t yet released those satellite photos. Outside experts remain sceptical about whether the North Korean satellite can send high-resolution imagery and perform proper military reconnaissance.
The North Korean launch invited strong condemnations from South Korea, the US, Japan, and others. It violated United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban any satellite lift-offs by North Korea because they are considered disguised tests of the country’s long-range missile technology.
Kim has said spy satellites would allow his country to better monitor its rivals and enhance the precision-strike capability of its nuclear-capable missiles.
The satellite launch flamed animosities between the rival Koreas, with both nations taking steps to breach their previous military agreement meant to ease frontline military tensions.
Spy satellites were among the high-tech weapon systems that Kim has publicly vowed to introduce. Since last year, North Korea has conducted about 100 ballistic missile tests in part of efforts to modernize its arsenal of weapons targeting South Korea and the US.
In response, South Korea and the US have expanded their military training and enhanced ‘regular visibility’ of US strategic assets such as aircraft carriers, nuclear-capable bombers, and a nuclear-armed submarine to the Korean Peninsula.
New Delhi, November 28
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stoked a controversy as he compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Mahatma Gandhi while speaking at a function in Mumbai on Monday, receiving sharp criticism from the Congress.
Dhankar described Gandhi as the ‘mahapurush’ of the last century and Modi as the ‘yugpurush’ of this century.
“I want to tell you one thing. The mahapurush (great man) of the last century was Mahatma Gandhi. Narendra Modi is the yugpurush (man of the era) of this century,” he said, while addressing an event commemorating the birth anniversary celebrations of Jain mystic and philosopher, Shrimad Rajchandra
Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticised the Vice President for his comments, in a post on X, saying, “He has crossed all limits of sycophancy.”
“If you compare (Modi) with Mahatma, it’s shameful, Sir. We all know there is a limit to sycophancy; now you have crossed that limit, and to be in your chair and position and to be a sycophant does not add value, Sir. With respect,” the Congress MP wrote while tagging a clip of Dhankhar’s speech.
Satya Prakash
New Delhi, November 28
Noting that it didn’t want to keep the pot boiling over dead bodies, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Manipur Government to ensure dignified burial/cremation of 175 bodies kept in mortuaries by December 11 “without any interference by any party”.
A three-judge Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said either the next of kin of the deceased persons can claim the bodies or the State of Manipur will go ahead and perform the last rites at nine sites identified for the purpose as per the municipal laws.
“We don’t want to keep pot boiling over dead bodies,” said the Bench which also included Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra.
The Bench passed the order bearing in mind the fact that violence has taken place in the state since May 2023, it would not be proper to further keep the bodies in mortuaries in Imphal and Churachandpur.
The Bench ordered the state government to intimidate the next of kin about the nine sites on or before next Monday.
Regarding identified but not claimed bodies, it said, “the State shall issue a communication on or before Monday (December 4) intimating that they are permitted to carry out last rites in one of the nine sites in the next one week (by December 11).”
Allowing the State Government to perform burial/cremation with religious rites of all unidentified bodies, the top court directed the District Collector concerned to ensure law and order during the last rites.
It asked the Manipur Government to issue a public notice regarding identified but not claimed bodies and allowed it to conduct their last rites after a week, if the bodies remained unclaimed.
In view of the fact that criminal investigations were underway, the Bench said in the event DNA samples had not been drawn from the bodies at the time of autopsy, DNA samples shall be taken before burial/cremation.
It asked the Manipur government to facilitate the relatives to access the bodies for identification and performance of last rites.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cited Justice Gita Mittal Committee report to point out that NGOs were not allowing families to claim bodies for performing last rites.
Mass burial/cremation could lead to fresh tensions, Mehta said, adding NGOs were threatening the families coming forward to take bodies for burial.
As senior advocate Colin Gonsalves insisted on mass burial as per tribal rites, the Bench took exception to it, “The whole idea seems to keep the pot boiling on dead bodies… Why do you create obstruction?” the CJI commented.
The Bench set a timeline for burial/cremation of identified and claimed, identified but not claimed and unidentified bodies.
Despite repeated demands, the Bench didn’t allow sharing of the Committee’s report with the petitioners.
Gonsalves accused the Manipur Government of leaking the report to the media even before it was pursued by the court.
Citing the committee’s report, the Bench said there were 175 recorded deaths. Out of 169 identified bodies 81 had been claimed and 88 remained unclaimed while six bodies had not been identified.
The hearing witnessed acrimonious scenes with Mehta questioning Gonsalves’ locus standi and the latter accusing him of trying to bully the petitioners.
