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Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Antehri (Kurukshetra), October 30The last rites of army jawan Mandeep Singh, who was killed by terrorists in Macchil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, were performed here with full state honours on Sunday, even as his family and villagers demanded that Pakistan be given a befitting reply for its repeated misadventures.The jawan’s body, wrapped in the Tricolour, was brought in a bedecked army vehicle to his native village here as a large number of people, including from neighbouring areas, paid their last respects.The martyr whose body was mutilated by the terrorists, was given a gun salute by the army, which sounded the last post.

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Mandeep’s father lit the pyre.Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, senior army officers, and officials from the district administration were present on the occasion.Villagers who kept chanting ‘Shaheed Mandeep Amar Rahe’ also raised anti-Pakistan slogans.The 30-year-old soldier was scheduled to return to his village to celebrate Diwali and for a ceremony in connection with the family’s newly constructed house here, but instead he returned in a coffin, his family and local villagers, all of whom were inconsolable, said.Mandeep’s family and villagers demanded the Centre avenge the sacrifice of soldiers and teach Pakistan a lesson.People of his village said they would not celebrate Diwali as a mark of respect to the martyr’s supreme sacrifice. However, each household had decided to light a ‘diya’ (earthen lamp) in his memory.Mandeep’s sacrifice is the second loss to the district within a week after BSF constable Sushil Kumar, who belonged to Pehowa, was martyred in Jammu district.Antehri is famous as a village of soldiers. Several youths from here are serving in the armed forces.There was anger among the people here over the barbaric incident at the Line of Control in Kashmir as the body of the jawan was mutilated by the terrorists, who were aided by the cover fire by Pakistan army.Mandeep had joined the 17th Sikh regiment as a sepoy in 2008. He had got married in 2014.Consoling the martyr’s family, Khattar while responding to their demand that stern action be taken against Pakistan for harbouring terrorists and its repeated misadventures, said “we will teach them a lesson”.“We will avenge this. Pakistan will be taught a lesson,” Khattar said.He said, “The martyr laid down his life for the nation’s sake. In this hour of grief, we are standing solidly behind the family. We will give whatever assistance they require.”

Meanwhile, interacting with reporters here, Khattar described the killing of soldier Mandeep Singh as a cowardly act by the terrorists.

Khattar said such nefarious designs of evil forces would not succeed.“The martyrdom of Mandeep Singh will inspire many others to protect our motherland,” Khattar said.The Chief Minister said a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh would be given to the next of kin of the martyr.To a question, he said the state government would consider raising a memorial or naming a road after the martyr. “Whatever his family wants, we will consider it,” he said.A pall of gloom descended on Antehri village after the body of the jawan reached here. People thronged the martyr’s house to pay their last respects before the coffin was carried in a bedecked vehicle for the last rites.The Chief Minister and others laid a wreath on the body.Mandeep’s widow Prerna is a head constable with Haryana Police posted at Shahbad Markanda here.Prerna said Pakistan must be taught a lesson for harbouring terrorists. “We cannot see our soldiers dying daily,” she said breaking down.Mandeep was the youngest of three sons of Phool Singh.Singh said the army should be given a free hand to deal with the “nefarious designs” of Pakistan.The martyr’s brother Sandeep said he wanted to join the army to avenge the killing of “our soldiers”.The martyr’s neighbours described him as a “go-getter” who always had a smile on his face.Mandeep’s sacrifice came within a week after Sushil Kumar (47), a BSF constable, was martyred in Jammu district. He also hailed from Kurukshetra district and belonged to Pehowa town.Kumar was killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire, resorting to heavy shelling and firing from automatic weapons in several sectors along the International Border in Jammu district on October 24. With PTI

Antahedi village, the native place of slain soldier Mandeep Singh, who lost his life after an attack near the Line of Control, has mutually decided to skip this year’s Diwali festival, marking it as a tribute to the brave soldier.

The Congress vice president wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

New Delhi, October 29

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned Modi government’s resolve to work for soldiers’ welfare, asking the Prime Minister to first implement the ‘one rank, one pension’ scheme in a meaningful way and redress their pay anomalies and other grievances.The Congress vice president wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he was saddened at the decisions of the government taken in the last few weeks “which are far from reassuring the soldiers and has caused them pain instead”.Steps should be taken to send a message to soldiers on Diwali expressing “our gratitude both in words and in deed”, Rahul said in his letter to the Prime Minister who has launched a campaign through which people can send their Diwali greetings and messages to soldiers guarding the nation’s frontiers to boost their morale.The PM will celebrate this Diwali with ITBP personnel at one of the remotest border posts in Uttarakhand.”Just days after our soldiers conducted the surgical strikes, the disability pension system was converted to a new slab system, that in many instances drastically reduces the pension received by these brave men in case of a disability,” the Congress leader said.”OROP must be implemented in a meaningful way to satisfy ex-servicemen and the anomalies in the 7th Pay Commission must be addressed at the earliest, because soldiers should not have to struggle to claim what is surely due to them on behalf of a grateful nation,” Rahul said, claiming that some decision of the government have “adversely affect the morale of our armed forces”.The Prime Minister had earlier accused Congress of not taking the OROP issue seriously by earmarking a paltry sum of Rs 500 crore for it.Rahul said, “As a responsible democracy we must make sure that the brave soldiers who put their lives on the line for each one of us, feel the love, support and gratitude of 125 crore people.””I therefore urge you Prime Minister to ensure that our soldiers get their due whether it is regarding compensation, disability pension, or parity with civil employees,” he said.Rahul said that the roll out of 7th Pay Commission continues to keep the defence forces at a disadvantage and further exacerbates the disparity between them and civil employees.”As we celebrate Diwali, and rejoice in the victory of light over darkness, let us send this message to our soldiers that our gratitude is expressed both in words and in deed.This is the very least we owe to those who give up their today to secure our tomorrow,” the letter further said. — PTI

The committee on allowances, under 7th Pay Commission, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, may scrap the lowest allowance.

New Delhi, Oct 26: While issuing the notification of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, Narendra Modi government formed a special committee to look into the allowances recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. The special committee is likely to abolish an allowance being given to foot soldiers. The committee on allowances, under 7th Pay Commission, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, may scrap haircut allowance, the lowest of all allowances.

The special committee in its report on allowances under 7th Pay Commission recommended abolition of haircut allowance granted to PBORs of CISF personnel, said a report of IB Times. Security personnel of PBOR or CISF, below officer rank, would get Rs 5 per month for hair cutting. However the special committee recommended the abolition of haircut allowance. The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) and other central government employees’ unions have made no demand regarding the haircut allowance.

This (hair cut) allowance is granted to PBORs of CISF to compensate for the cost of hair cutting, at the rate of  Rs 5 pm. No demands have been received regarding this allowance. The Commission took note of the fact that the amount of this allowance is the lowest among all allowances. This allowance has been subsumed in Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance and, therefore, should be abolished as a separate allowance,” said the special committee in its report. (ALSO READ: 7th Pay Commission: Diwali gift for government employees, Centre likely to hike Dearness Allowance by 2 per cent)

The 7th pay commission had recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances. Allowances had been a major bone of contention amongst majority of the central government employees. The special committee is ready with its report, however the government hasn’t taken final call on it. Crucial announcement regarding allowances under the 7th Pay Commission is expected after today’s Cabinet meeting.

http://www.india.com/news/india/7th-pay-commission-latest-news-this-allowance-is-likely-to-be-scrapped-1618246/

Courtesy: Gurinder Singh Mann

Vikramdeep Johal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

Even as Britain salutes the Sikh contribution to its campaigns in World Wars I and II, a project has set out to achieve total recall of the two Anglo-Sikh Wars, fiercely fought in the 1840s after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death.The project, titled “Battles, Treaties and Relics”, was launched by the Sikh Museum Initiative (SMI) at the Newarke Houses Museum in Leicester recently. The museum is hosting an exhibition of the relics and artefacts of these wars between March and June 2017.Gurinder Singh Mann, a Sikh scholar and the SMI director, says, “A series of battles determined the fate of the Sikh empire, which went head-to-head with the East India Company. It were the Anglo-Sikh wars that brought mutual respect between the two empires.”Several lectures, walking tours and other events are being organised as part of the project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The tours are being conducted in association with historian Rav Singh’s “A little history of the Sikhs” group, says Mann, whose parents migrated from Hoshiarpur to the UK in the 1960s.The Leicester-based SMI plans to use 3D modelling, augmented reality and other new technologies to preserve war-related heritage. The researchers will also focus on the “spoils of war”, primarily Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s golden octagonal throne and the legendary diamond, Kohinoor.

Pitched battles

• First War (1845-46): Comprised the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sabraon. Sikh general Sham Singh Attariwala, who hailed from Attari (in Amritsar district), is renowned for his last stand at the Battle of Sabraon.
• Second War (1848-49): Comprised the battles of Ramnagar, Chillianwala and Gujrat, and the Siege of Multan. The Battle of Chillianwala (in Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan Punjab) was among the bloodiest fought by the East India Company. The Chillianwala memorial is situated at the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
• An Anglo-Sikh war memorial was opened by the Punjab Government in 1976 at Ferozeshah, near Ferozepur. It’s in a state of neglect today, even as new memorials are springing up across the state.

PUNE/NEW DELHI: The fate of an Indian soldier who inadvertently crossed the Line of Control on the day of the surgical strikes remains uncertain, with efforts to bring him back proving fruitless so far. Chandu Chavan, who was serving with 37 Rashtriya Rifles, has been in the custody of the Pakistani army for more than three weeks.

AP FILEChandu Chavan, who was serving with the 37 Rashtriya Rifles, inadvertently crossed the LoC on the day of the surgical strikes.

Army sources said the directorate general of military operations had taken up the issue twice with the Pakistani army but had made no headway in securing Chavan’s release.

“We will continue to make efforts to get him back. It’s not uncommon for soldiers from either side to stray across the LoC and there’s a mechanism to send them back,” said a senior officer.

The 22-year-old soldier’s family has been under tremendous stress since the news broke on September 29 — his grandmother died of a heart attack two days later. His brother Bhushan, who is also in the army and posted in Jamnagar, has taken leave to be with the family that lives in a village near Dhule.

Chavan’s sister-in-law Sheetal said that the government had informed the family that it was making all-out efforts for the soldier’s return. “We have been told that process was going on, which takes minimum 20 days,” she told HT. However, that time has already passed.

“We received two shocks: the incident involving Chandu and then the death of grandmother. Lot of people visited us to express their sympathies but our lives have not been normal,” she said.

Chavan’s parents died when he was two years old and grandmother Lilabai took care of her two grandsons.

“My husband is disturbed. He is not even taking his meals,” Sheetal said.

Top ministers have been in touch with the family and assured that the government was trying its best to bring him back. However, with every passing day, anxiety levels are only increasing.

Chavan had plans to visit his village, Borivihir, around Diwali. Sheetal said, “We had big plans for him and would have finalised his marriage during Diwali.”

Several of Chavan’s relatives are serving the army and the family is proud of its military tradition.

Family members described him as a soft spoken and wellmannered person. “He is a family person. Both brothers are attached to each other as they lost their parents during childhood,” said a family member.

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 15

The 1 Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) conducted week-long activities from October 3 to 8 to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the Indian Air Force.Various events were conducted which included Bara Khana for all personnel and a volleyball match.An oath was administered to all personnel of the Board by Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, Air Officer Commanding. On this occasion, the AOC presented the CAS commendation to Wing Commander BM Lathika for her meritorious service and also appreciated 16 air warriors and civilians for their hard work and contribution towards the board.Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, Air Officer Commanding, felicitated all air warriors, civilians and their families and complimented them for their efforts. He urged all personnel to continue to work hard with the same zeal and devotion and bring laurels to the country. He exhorted all personnel to be prepared for all contingencies.

Washington, October 15

The US has told Pakistan to go after those terrorists who seek and “sometimes find safe haven” in the country and delegitimise all terror groups operating on its soil.

“We continue to urge Pakistan to take action to combat and delegitimise all terrorist groups operating on its soil,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.

“Obviously Pakistan has suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists and violent extremists. We want to help Pakistan confront this terrorist threat, but we also want Pakistan also to go after those terrorists who seek and sometimes find safe haven on Pakistan territory,” he said in response to a question on Friday.

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His remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed and India’s surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29.

Earlier this week, in a clear indication of its support to India’s surgical strikes in PoK, the US said it empathises with the Indian position that it needs to respond militarily to terror threats and dubbed the Uri attack as a “clear case of cross-border terrorism”.

The US had also called for greater cooperation and dialogue between India and Pakistan to bring down the recent tensions and said that they should adopt a “conciliatory approach” to resolve their “contentious issues”. — PTI

Washington, October 13

The US has ruled out any kind of treaty alliance with India, saying the 21^st century is not an era of alliances and a mutual agreeable concept of major defence partner is a very apt description for India.

“The 21^st century is not an era of alliances. It is an era of identifying interest, common values and working together in solving all those problems. I do not think that anyone in the United States Government or the Indian Government has any compulsion at all to form a treaty alliance,” said Peter Lavoy, Senior Director for South Asia at the National Security Council (NSC), White House.

He was responding to a question at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a top American think-tank.

“Why have that shackle (of being a treaty alliance). I think, the friends that benefit from that are probably satisfactory. I would highlight a phrase that should not be underestimates – Major Defence Partner (with India),” he said.

“There was an understanding, growing perception that we have been doing so much together that we have expanded, deepened the boundaries of co-operation. But there was no brand or phrase or some term that qualified what this relationship is about. I think, the mutual agreeable concept of major defence partner is a very apt description,” he said.

“It was largely driven by the extent of deepening co-operation. India achieves success rate of 99 per cent in licenses applied for. That is really astounding. Other kinds of technology is being transferred much more easily and readily than ever before. So there are very significant changes to our own policies and rules and procedures that enabled this defence partnership,” Lavoy said.

Lavoy said even before India places a request for something, the United States is ready and prepared.

“Well before a challenge arises, we are already working with India to try to prevent the things from occurring,” he said.

“Each of the (US) departments has installed in them the critical importance of this partnership and have internalised thinking about India’s interest, thinking about our joint interest as a driving force and how we do business.

That is completely transformational. That was not the case even in the beginning of the Obama Administration,” he said. — PTI

Read more at http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/us-rules-out-treaty-alliance-with-india-says-that-era-is-over/308995.html#Y4gXHjmoVVzKLUmC.99

Malik said he was “very unhappy” when Vajpayee asked to “let go of Pakistan”.

Gen V P Malik in Vadodara on Monday. Source: Bhupendra Rana

Extending “full support” to Indian Army’s surgical strikes along the LoC, General (retd.) V P Malik, who was the Army chief during the Kargil episode, on Monday said the Indian forces were all set to enter the Pakistan-occupied territory in 1999, but they were stopped by the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee following international pressure.

“After the surgical strikes, we don’t have to beg to the international community (to build pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting terror activities against India). We have to tell them that if they (Pakistan) continue to do this, we will have to go to war,” he told the audience while delivering a speech on leadership and motivation during the ongoing Switch Global Expo here.

Later, taking a question from the audience during an interactive session — most questions pertaining to the heightened tension between India and Pakistan — Malik said, “I am not optimistic that Pakistan will change after one surgical strike. We must be prepared for more action from them and more reaction from us.

Taking an exception to the war of words between the ruling BJP and opposition parties Congress and AAP over the surgical strikes, he said, “We have to tell them that when it comes to national security, we must work together. Also, politicians who do not have the knowledge about national security should not speak (on the matter).”

Drawing references to the 1999 Kargil conflict, Malik said the Army was ready to cross the LoC to retaliate the Pakistani incursion, but it was stopped by Vajpayee. Malik said, “On June 2, PM Vajpayee told the Army not to cross the border. The then national security adviser Brajesh Mishra had said in an interview that the Army was told ‘not to cross the border today, but we don’t know about tomorrow’.”

Malik said he was “very unhappy” when Vajpayee asked to “let go of Pakistan”. He said, “It required three long meetings in a single day and a lot of convincing from the then prime minister to make me let them (Pakistan) go. I was unhappy and so were the soldiers. Among the many reasons, one was that the international community pressuring India… another was the general elections (held later that year). In the hindsight, it was a right decision.”