Current Events :
With reference to ‘When Parliament should have spoken as one’; the writer has rightly stated that a parliamentary resolution indicating a united stand among all political parties on cross-border terrorism would have sent a strong message to Pakistan. The lawmakers, by and large, stuck to the usual rhetoric. The most important issue that the ruling dispensation tried to bypass was the security or intelligence lapses at an important tourist spot like Pahalgam. Unanimity on any matter was unfortunately missing in Parliament.
Focus on embarrassing the govt
Apropos of ‘When Parliament should have spoken as one’; after the much-sought-after debate on Op Sindoor was held, it emerged that the Opposition’s insistence on the debate was aimed more at embarrassing the ruling dispensation than to address the issues of terrorism and national security. The Opposition had the right to ask the government about the details of the military operation. However, it was unbecoming of some Congress leaders to doubt if the Pahalgam terrorists were from Pakistan. Whatever be the differences between the Opposition and the ruling party, we should stand united on non-negotiable matters like national security.
HMS Nagra, Faridabad
Exchange of barbs in Parliament
The debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha should have been spurred serious introspection and national resolve. It sadly turned out to be a routine and superficial exchange. It appeared as though both sides were merely reading out news reports instead of doing a serious analysis. The ruling party, rather than addressing the issue with sincerity, was busy digging out old incidents to counter criticism. On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition failed to explain the points he had raised himself at the outset — lack of willpower and a free hand to the armed forces. National security and the morale of the security forces should be given priority over political one-upmanship.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday emphasised the collective resolve to eliminate terrorism and dismantle terror networks that pose a threat to national security and development.
He was interacting with the officers attending the Higher Command Course-54 at Army War College, Mhow.The Lieutenant Governor addressed the officers and faculty members of Army War College at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar and discussed contemporary geo-political and geo-strategic issues, besides counter-terrorism strategy and whole-of-government approach to dismantle terror ecosystem.
“I congratulate and thank the outstanding officers of the three services for keeping all citizens safe and safeguarding the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. We must vow to eliminate every terrorist and terrorist organisation that threatens our safety, security and prosperity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He also shared a range of key reforms and initiatives taken by the J&K administration and security apparatus in the past few years to ensure inclusive development, peace and prosperity.
Lt Gen Harjeet Singh Sahi, Commandant, Army War College, faculty members and senior officers of the Security Forces were present.
Over 26,000 personnel pledge to donate their organs
The Army was conferred the Special Award for Promotion of Organ Donation and Pledging by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) on Saturday for creating a national record wherein during a single campaign, over 26,000 personnel pledged to donate their organs.
“The award was presented to the medical teams from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, at the 15th Organ Donation Day function held in New Delhi.
Functioning under the Directorate General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NOTTO is the apex organisation responsible for implementing the National Organ Transplant Program. It provides an efficient and organised system of organ procurement and distribution in the country.
In the Indian Armed Forces, organ donation started in the late 2000s and is coordinated by the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA) at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi.
Over the years, military hospitals have developed expertise in harvesting and transplanting heart, liver, kidneys and lungs, besides carrying out other similar medical procedures related to cornea and tissues.
The C-295 is set to replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the IAF
India’s ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik along with senior officials from Indian Air Force poses for a group picture while receiving the last of the 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft at the Airbus Defence and Space assembly line in Seville in Spain. PTI PhotoAdvertisement
India on Saturday received the last of its 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain, marking an important milestone in strengthening its defence capabilities, the Indian Embassy in Spain said.
The C-295, a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology, is set to replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the IAF.
Indian Ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik, along with senior Indian Air Force officials, received the last of the 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft at the Airbus Defence and Space assembly line in Seville, the Indian mission posted on social media.
“The delivery, two months ahead of schedule, marks an important milestone in strengthening India’s defence capabilities,” it added.
The aircraft, with a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, is a versatile and efficient tactical transport aircraft.
India signed a contract with Airbus Defence & Space, Spain, for acquisition of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft for IAF in Sep 2021.
Under the C-295 programme, a total of 56 aircraft are to be delivered, of which 16 were to be delivered directly by Airbus from Spain, and the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India.
Spain fulfilled that commitment on Saturday by handing over the last of the 16 aircraft.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, had jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara, Gujarat, in October last year.
TASL is responsible for making these 40 aircraft in India.
This facility becomes the first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India.
It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem from the manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.
Apart from Tatas, leading defence public sector units such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, as well as private Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will contribute to this programme.
The overnight encounter began after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest area at Akhal in the south Kashmir district
Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday, officials said.
The overnight encounter began after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest area at Akhal in the south Kashmir district, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there.
After an initial exchange of fire between the two sides on Friday evening, the operation was halted for the night, the officials said.The cordon was strengthened, and additional reinforcements were rushed to the area.
Firing resumed on Saturday morning, during which two terrorists were killed, the officials said.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists are being ascertained, they added, noting that the operation is still underway.
The house of Indian Navy jawan Suram Singh damaged by soil erosion after the Jabbar rivulet changed course at Khadehtar village in Danni panchayat of Nurpur.
After six years of relentless struggle, Suram Singh, a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the Indian Navy and resident of Khadehtar village in Danni gram panchayat, has lost more than 60 kanal of fertile agricultural land and his pucca house to soil erosion caused by a massive landslide — a disaster worsened by bureaucratic apathy and delayed administrative response.
Suram Singh’s ordeal began in August 2019, when a landslide near his residence altered the course of the Jabbar rivulet, turning it towards his farmland and house. Since then, he has been witnessing progressive erosion of his land and orchards. The recent three days of relentless rainfall proved devastating, causing his house to collapse and forcing his family to take shelter in a neighbour’s home.
While serving in the Indian Navy, Singh had invested around Rs 40 lakh of his hard-earned savings to build a house in his native village. However, the landslide dramatically changed his life. “After the rivulet changed course, I immediately approached the local administration. The then Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Nurpur SDM and even former MLA Rakesh Pathania visited the site and acknowledged the threat to my property. I was assured of help, including alternative land allotment for constructing a new house, but nothing materialised,” he told The Tribune.
During his deputation to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in 2019 under the Jai Ram Thakur government, Singh managed to prompt action from the state government. Following his second reminder, government officials identified land for rehabilitation and began the process for exchange of his 25 kanal of damaged land. He collected all necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and completed the formalities, after which a file was submitted to the Revenue Department through the Kangra DC.
But despite following up personally at the Secretary Revenue Department in February last year, Singh says the file remains untouched. “After waiting for more than three years, my file is still gathering dust. I have now lost everything — my house, my land and my hope,” he said with anguish. He has now appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure land allotment in lieu of what he has lost.
Nurpur SDM Arun Sharma, who recently took charge, confirmed that Singh’s family had been shifted to a safer location and that the matter had been escalated to higher authorities. “All possible assistance will be provided to the affected family,” he said.
He said another family in Tika Nagrota, belonging to Nek Ram, was temporarily relocated to a government school building on Saturday, following similar threats from landslides in the area.
Considered the eyes and ears of the security forces in J&K, efforts are on to build bridges afresh with Gujjars and Bakerwals to undo a sense of alienation that may have set in
Anti-diabetes, psychiatric medicines to cost less
n a move to boost affordability, the government on Saturday fixed retail prices of a range of essential drugs.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers notified the move through a detailed order covering 35 medicines marketed by top pharmaceutical companies.
The notification aims to ensure affordable access to essential medicines through price regulation by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
The pricing decision was made under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013, specifically exercising powers under paragraphs 5, 11 and 15 in conjunction with government orders dated May 30, 2013, and November 11, 2022.
The formulations which will now cost less span a wide range of therapeutic categories including anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, antibiotic, anti-diabetic and psychiatric drugs.
Among the key formulations covered by the price control order are fixed-dose combinations of Aceclofenac, Paracetamol and Trypsin Chymotrypsin, Amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate, Atorvastatin combinations and newer oral anti-diabetic combinations like Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin and Metformin.
The price of one Aceclofenac-Paracetamol-Trypsin Chymotrypsin tablet manufactured by Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and marketed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has now been fixed at Rs 13, while the same formulation marketed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals is now priced at Rs 15.01.
Similarly, a tablet containing Atorvastatin 40 mg and Clopidogrel 75 mg, widely used for cardiovascular conditions, is priced at Rs 25.61.
Oral suspensions for pediatric use —Cefixime and Paracetamol combinations —have also been included, along with critical medications like Cholecalciferol drops for Vitamin D supplementation and Diclofenac Injection, which has been priced at Rs 31.77 per ml.
The NPPA clarified that the prices fixed were exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which may be added if applicable. Manufacturers are required to comply with all statutory requirements, issue updated price lists in Form–V through the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS) and submit the same to the NPPA and state drug controllers.
The government order said retailers and dealers must display these updated price lists prominently in their premises as per paragraph 24 of the DPCO, 2013.
The authority also noted that failure to comply with the notified prices may attract penal provisions under the DPCO, 2013, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, including recovery of overcharged amounts with interest.
Any prior price orders issued for the specified formulations and manufacturers stand superseded by this latest notification. The pricing order is expected to bring greater transparency and affordability in drug pricing for consumers across India, officials said.
Aceclofenac, Paracetamol & Trypsin Chymotrypsin tablets (Made by M/s Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and marketed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories) — 1 tablet to cost Rs 13; Cadilla version to cost Rs 15
Amoxycillin & Potassium Clavulanate oral suspension used to treat bacterial infections (Zydus Healthcare) — One ml priced at Rs 3.32
Atorvastatin & Clopidogrel tablets to prevent heart attacks and strokes — 1 tablet for Rs 25.61
Atorvastatin & Ezetimibe tablets used together to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides — 10 mg to 40 mg (Pure and Cure Healthcare) priced from Rs 19.86 to Rs 30.47
Atorvastatin, Clopidogrel and Aspirin Capsules prevention of heart attack (Synoken Pharma) — 1 capsule for Rs 5.88
Bilastine & Montelukast tablet — 1 pill to cost Rs 22.78
Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin & Metformin Hydrochloride tablets (Exemed Pharmaceuticals) — 1 tablet for Rs 16.50
