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A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, is likely to pronounce verdicts on three review petitions. File photo

New Delhi, November 13

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on Thursday its verdict on petitions seeking a review of its judgment giving a clean chit to the Modi government in the Rafale fighter jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation.

On May 10, the apex court had reserved the decision on the pleas, including one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, seeking a re-examination of its findings that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, is likely to pronounce verdicts on three review petitions filed by the trio, lawyer Vineet Dhandha and Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker Sanjay Singh.

On December 14, 2018, the apex court dismissed the petitions seeking an investigation into the alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal. PTI

Anirudh Gupta
Ferozepur, November 23

The existing memorials in this border town are in a sorry state even though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is granting handsome grants to build new memorials.
Last week, the CM announced Rs 76 crore for Jang-e-Azadi memorial at Kartarpur in Jalandhar, War Memorial and Bhagwan Balmiki Memorial in Amritsar. Two days ago, the CM announced another Rs 25 crores for the construction of three memorials in Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Kartarpur.
The move has not gone down well with the Congress party that alleges that the SAD is spending tax payers’ money to woo voters for the upcoming Assembly elections.
“Instead of focusing on the upkeep of the existing memorials, the government is planning to set up many more similar structures,” said Parminder Singh, Congress MLA.
Local residents alleged the government had also failed to develop various historical sites, including the National Martyrs Memorial, Hussaniwala, Anglo Sikh War Memorial, the secret hideout of Bhagat Singh, in the town.
A few months ago, the Chief Minister announced to release Rs 13.5 crore for the development of the Hussainiwala Memorial, but the project is stuck in red tape. Under the plan, the government was to build an auditorium and install a light and sound system.
Residents allege instead of allocating these funds, another museum had been announced in the memory of Bhai Mardana. Nearly 0.72 acres of prime commercial land had been allocated for the project.
Even the historic Anglo-Sikh War Museum constructed in memory of valiant Sikh soldiers, who died during the Anglo-Sikh Wars of 1845-46 continues to remain neglected in the absence of adequate manpower and resources. This memorial is located on the banks of twin canals on NH-95, where the two Anglo-Sikh wars were fought in nearby villages of Sabraon, Mudki and Ferozeshah.
During her visit a few months ago, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi had also complained about the poor upkeep of this memorial which was dedicated to the nation by her late husband Sanjay Gandhi in 1976. The other Anglo-Sikh War memorials in Mudki, Ferozshah, Mishriwala and Sabraon are also dilapidated.
Moreover, the secret hideout of Shahid Bhagat Singh and his comrades in the city has not been granted heritage status so far. Residents demand that the structure be converted into a memorial.

More than 200 youths from Jammu and Kashmir turned up in Srinagar fort the two-day recruitment rally by the Indian Army.

The recruitment rally commenced here on Thursday for inducting candidates into the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JKLI) regiment is being held at the JKLI Centre at Rangath in Srinagar.

“The recruitment rally is scheduled for October 3 and 4. This rally is part of the overall process to select 2780 recruits for the JKLI regiment,” SR Sharma, Commandant, JKLI regiment said.

Tribune News Service
Patiala, November 14

Local residents bid a tearful adieu to Captain Ashwani Kumar (26), who died in an avalanche on Siachen glacier yesterday. The body was brought to Ashwani’s residence in Shanti Nagar in Patiala today. People from all walks of life attended his funeral at the Veerji Cremation Ground. Army officials escorted Singh’s coffin to the ground and gave a rifle salute during the ceremony. The officer’s parents were inconsolable as they had also lost their eldest son to a disease a few years ago.
Born on August 27, 1989, Capt Ashwani Kumar did his MBBS from Government Medical College, Patiala, and was commissioned into the Army on January 6. He was serving with 3 Ladakh Scouts.
Col BS Virk, District Sainik Welfare Officer, Patiala, said the accident occurred when Captain Ashwani, along with his unit, was marching near Manjeet post.

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Chandigarh, November 11

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday had a five-minute bus ride with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on way to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara during which the two discussed cricket and Singh recalled how Khan’s uncle played cricket for Patiala and India under his father’s captaincy in 1934-35.

Singh, who was part of the first ‘jatha’ that went to pay obeisance at historic Gurdwara, shared the five-minute bus ride with Khan after he was received by the Pakistan premier and his foreign minister at the Zero Point of the International Border of the Kartarpur corridor.

Kartarpur Corridor was the focal point of the connect between Imran Khan, who was also Pakistan cricket team’s captain once, and Amarinder Singh when they met on Saturday, said an official statement from the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office.

“But there was another, equally interesting, subject of common interest they discovered and talked about during the short bus ride from the Pak side of the Zero Line to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara,” the statement added.

“Cricket, of course, is always a common thread between every Indian and Pakistani,” the statement said.

“It bonds as well as it fires passions between the two sides. But this bus ride was one of bonding, with Captain Amarinder Singh helping Imran (Khan) discover a special connect between their families, even though the two had not met before and did not know each other personally,” it said.

During the short journey, Singh told Khan that he had seen the Pakistani prime minister play in his cricketing days.

The cricketing connect, however, went deeper, the chief minister recalled.

“During his conversation with Imran, Captain Amarinder told the latter that his uncle, Jahangir Khan had played for Patiala, along with Mohd Nisar, Lala Amarnath, fast bowler Amar Singh and the two Ali batsmen (Wazir Ali and Amir Ali).

“These seven players were part of the team captained by Captain Amarinder’s father, Maharaja Yadvinder Singh (the ruler of the erstwhile Patiala state) in 1934-35, for India and for Patiala – a fascinating bit of information that Imran enjoyed hearing from the Chief Minister”.

Imran Khan’s uncle Jahangir Khan was married to Pakistan PM’s maternal aunt Mubarak and was a cricketer during the British era, the statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said, putting the historical links in perspective.

“The bus ride lasted less than five minutes, but, thanks to the cricket, it was enough to break the ice between Imran and Captain Amarinder,” it said.

Incidentally, Amarinder Singh shared the bus ride with Pakistan PM along with his bete-noire and former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu. Also present on the bus was Pakistan’s foreign minister.

Amarinder hoped “the journey through Kartarpur Corridor, which culminated for him in the realisation of a cherished dream, would continue in the future to build a stronger connect between the two countries – one that is as powerful as cricket,” which he hoped the two sides will try to play in the true spirit of the sport in future.

The Punjab chief minister was part of the first batch of over 550 Indian pilgrims who entered Pakistan through the Kartarpur corridor, which was thrown open days ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev on November 12.

The corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Indian section of the Kartarpur Corridor and flagged of the first group of pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

The portion of the Corridor falling on the Pakistani side was thrown open by the neighbouring nation’s Prime Minister Imran Khan. PTI

During his recent visit to Russia, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is reported to have discussed the lease of an Akula class nuclear submarine to India. Meanwhile, the Kalvari submarine started harbour trials in Mumbai this month. Suddenly, there seems to be a lot of movement on the submarine front.
Submarines are of two types: conventional and nuclear. Conventional submarines (SSK) use a diesel-electric engine as their power source, and have to surface daily to get oxygen for fuel combustion. Nuclear submarines are powered by a nuclear reactor, and they can continue to function submerged for months without having to surface.
submarine, submarine, submarine indian navy, indian navy, indian navy submarine, india news, latest news
The nuclear powered attack submarines (SSN) are different from those that carry ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads (SSBN) — the latter have a bigger size and more stealth features. Capable of staying underwater undetected for long periods, SSBNs are supposed to be the best guarantor of a second strike capability in a nuclear exchange.But the SSKs score over the SSNs and SSBNs in littoral waters where effectiveness in relatively shallow water is a critical requirement. SSKs are optimised for stealth, and their weapons and sensors provide for effective operations close to the shore, both in offensive and defensive roles. A navy thus needs a mix of SSKs, SSNs and SSBNs in its fleet. A force level of three to five SSBNs, six SSNs and 20 SSKs is required for the Indian Navy to fulfill its mandate of a blue water navy. The guiding principle of submarines is to have one on patrol, one on transit to patrol and one in harbour for maintenance. For adequate strategic deterrence, one SSBN should be underwater at any given time, needing a minimum of three SSBNs in the fleet. The three aircraft carrier battle groups, as envisaged for potent force projection and expeditionary capacity, will need two SSNs each. Assuming a 60 per cent operational availability, 12 out of 20 SSKs will be available for both the coasts, the minimum required for India to maintain a credible tactical and operational presence in the littoral. The Navy currently has no SSBNs — under construction INS Arihant is undergoing sea trials — and one SSN, a Russian Akula class submarine taken on lease in 2012 for 10 years. The Navy has only 13 SSKs: nine Sindhughosh class (Russian Kilo class) and four Shishumar class (German Type 209) submarines. The first eight Sindhughosh class SSKs were acquired from the Soviet Union between 1986 and 1991, while the ninth and tenth were acquired from Russia in 1999 and 2000 respectively. The tenth submarine, INS Sindhushastra was the first Indian submarine to be fitted with the Torpedo Tube launched anti-ship Klub missile. The ninth submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, was lost in an accident in Mumbai in 2013. The first two of the four Shishumar class submarines were acquired from HDW in Germany in 1986. The remaining two were built in India under licence at Mazagon Docks Ltd, Mumbai: INS Shalki in 1992 and INS Shankul in 1994. The saga of India’s submarine acquisition has been one of fits and starts, resulting in the waxing and waning of capability. In 1957, the Defence Minister requested Lord Mountbatten, then the First Sea Lord, to provide India a target submarine which could be the oldest and cheapest available. It didn’t materialize. In 1959, the Navy asked the UK for three operational submarines, but it refused the soft credit terms sought by India.

The Navy’s submarine arm finally came into being on 8 December 1967 with the commissioning of INS Kalvari, a Foxtrot class (Type 641) submarine, at Riga in the Soviet Union. Eight submarines were acquired from the Soviet Union between 1967 and 1974 — four till 1969, which participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. All of them have been decommissioned now. The Navy first gained experience in operating technologically complex nuclear submarines when it leased a Charlie-I class SSN from the Soviet Union between 1988 and 1991. In 2006, India and Russia signed an MoU for the lease of two Akula class SSNs for a period of 10 years. India got the first one in 2012, and if Parrikar’s negotiations succeed, the second one could reach India by 2017. India’s indigenously built SSBN, INS Arihant is undergoing sea trials, following which it will be inducted into service. Two other SSBNs, S-3 and S-4, are under construction now, and plans for a much bigger S-5 submarine have also been approved. When it comes to conventional submarines, the Navy’s problems are not due to lack of a plan. A ‘30-Year Plan for Indigenous Submarine Construction’ was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in early 1999. This plan envisaged the development of two production lines on which six submarines apiece — christened Project 75 and Project 75 (I) — would be built in collaboration with two separate foreign submarine builders. The Navy would, in the meantime, develop an indigenous submarine design which would then produce 12 SSKs on these two production lines. By 2030, the Navy would then have about 24 modern SSKs. The six Scorpene submarines being made at MDL are under Project 75 — INS Kalvari which went for harbour trials recently is the first one, and will be inducted by 2017. The balance five will then be inducted by 2021. No contracts were issued under Project 75 (I), which was amended in 2010 by the DAC to allow two SSKs to be purchased on outright basis, and four to be made in India. This was done under pressure from the then Navy chief, considering the alarming state of SSKs. Late last year, the DAC chaired by Parrikar reverted to the original plan with all six 75(I) being produced under Make in India. A committee formed to examine the existing shipyards and shortlist them submitted its report in eight weeks but no decision has been taken so far. Furthermore, the 12 indigenous SSKs to be produced under the second phase of the 30 year plan have been amended to six SSKs and six SSNs in a decision taken this year by the DAC. With only 13 SSKs in its fleet, and 10 of them of pre-1990 vintage, the government has decided to go for a refit of four Sindhughosh and two Shishumar submarines to extend their life. Even with extended life, the SSKs will suffer from performance degradation during operations. India’s maritime neighbourhood has navies with increasing submarine and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. China currently has 5 SSNs, 4 SSBNs and 53 SSKs, while Pakistan is acquiring 8 submarines from China. – See more at:

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tankers that are plagued by maintenance problems and more refuellers are required to stay prepared to counter China in the eastern sector.

After two failed attempts to induct new tankers during the last 12 years, the Indian Air Force is (IAF) preparing to begin a fresh hunt for new-generation mid-air refuelling planes to extend the reach of its fighter jets, two senior IAF officers said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.

The official process to buy tankers is expected to begin within two months with the IAF seeking acceptance of necessity (AoN) from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) — the defence ministry’s apex procurement body — to take the proposal forward, said one of the officers cited above.

Under India’s defence procurement rules, the AoN by the council (headed by the defence minister) is the first step towards buying a weapon or platform. “We plan to seek the AoN for six new tankers in November-December. It will clear the way for sending request for proposals (RFPs) to foreign military contractors,” the second officer said. The refuellers could cost more than $2 billion.

The IAF currently operates a fleet of six Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tankers that are plagued by maintenance problems and more refuellers are required to stay prepared to counter China in the eastern sector.

According to an August 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report, the desired serviceability of the Il-78 fleet should be 70% by IAF’s own standards but it stood at 49% during 2010-16 — barely half of the planes were available for missions at any given time.

Experts said it was imperative for the IAF to strengthen its refuelling capabilities to allow fighter jets to stay airborne longer.

“Flight refuelling aircraft are vital combat enablers. The IAF has just six, and two previous attempts at procurement faltered due to lack of funds, despite an aircraft being shortlisted both times. We have lost more than 10 years. Hopefully, wiser counsel will prevail this time,” said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

This will be the third tender for air-to-air refuelling planes since 2007, with Il-78 and Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) offered by European aerospace company EADS, competing in the previous contests that failed to end up as contracts due to price complications.

American (Boeing KC-46A), Russian (Il-78) and European (A330 MRTT) military contractors are expected to compete for the upcoming tender, industry executives said. Israel Aerospace Industries’ Bedek Aviation Group could also participate in the contest with its Boeing 767-200 multi-mission tanker transport –a conversion of the Boeing aircraft by Bedek Aviation.

In August 2017, the national auditor found that the refuelling pods of the Il-78s were dogged by failures and the tanker’s airworthiness was questionable. The comprehensive audit of the tanker fleet also revealed that tanking them up on the ground was a problem, dedicated refuelling corridors were missing and there weren’t enough hangars for the aircraft.

Jalandhar, November 10
112 Infantry Battalion (TA) Dogra will organise a recruitment rally for Soldier General Duty and Clerk (Staff Duty) at Dogra Ground, Jalandhar Cantonment, from November 25-30.
This rally is being held on large scale in Jalandhar as candidates from various parts from North India will take part. The Army spokesperson said candidates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh will take part in this rally. He said, “The candidates from Punjab will be screened on November 25 while the candidates from Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh will be screened on November 26. Candidates from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir will be screened on November 27.” He said, “The preference will be given to good shooters, computer literate, vehicle mechanic, sportsmen and musicians.”—TNS

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Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Shikhaar Masiahan(Gurdaspur), November 9

It could not have got any bigger than this as the two warring nations finally joined hands to ensure that the 4-km-long cross-border corridor to the Kartarpur shrine, located across the wire fencing, got operational after Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally dedicated it to the public at a rally held here, 8 km away from the passage, amid the chanting of hymns.

Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Integrated Check Post and flagged off the first jatha (batch) of pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.

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Modi said  with today’s inauguration, a seven-decade-old demand of the Sikhs now stood fulfilled. The PM was fulsome in his praise of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“Mein wazir-e-azam Imran Khan Niazi ka abhaari hun jinhone hame yeh raasta diya.” (I am indebted to PM Imran Khan for having given us this passage). After the Punjab Government cancelled its part of the festivities, apparently not wanting to send the protocol for a toss, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh joined the PM, Governor VP Singh Badnore, former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Puri, MPs Sunny Deol and Sukhbir Singh Badal on the dais. The stage was managed jointly by the SAD and the SGPC.

Badal said that for 18 long years, from Baisakhi 2001 till 2018, come rain, sunshine or sleet, late Akali leader Kuldeep Singh Wadala organised monthly prayer meetings at the Zero Line, urging the Almighty to pave a passage to the bordering country which would ensure that his Sikh brethren could pay obeisance at the very place where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent the last 18 years of his life.

Badal reminded the gathering that Wadala died in June 2018 and 17 months later the corridor sprang to life.

To commemorate his memory, the Punjab Government has named one of the roads leading to the corridor as Kuldeep Singh Wadala Marg.

“This is a just tribute to the man who made all this possible,” said Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.

Interestingly, Capt Amarinder stuck to his stand on the corridor, which he has been viewing with scepticism, as he warned the neighbouring country against “misusing the passage to carry out its nefarious designs.”

At one point, Badal took everybody, including the PM, by surprise when he said Punjabi farmers were suffering as they were not being paid adequate MSP for wheat and paddy.

Capt warns Pakistan

Let me tell Pakistan that we, Punjabis, are not wearing bangles. The corridor should not be utilised by Pakistan for any other purpose other than what it is meant for Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM

PM Modi thanks Imran for Kartarpur; Khan harps on Jammu &Kashmir

Kartarpur corridor: Over 500 devotees cross over to Pak on inauguration day

Gautam Dheer
chandigarh, DHNS

Defence minister

THE CORE ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. THE COMMISSION WILL LOOK INTO PROBLEMS IF ANY. THIS IS A DEMOCRACY, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND. WE HAVE FULFILLED THE MAIN DEMAND, BUT WE CAN’T SATISFY EVERYONE… THEIR MAIN DEMAND FOR SAME PENSION FOR SAME RANK HAS BEEN GIVEN. REST IS EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD DECLARED [ON SEPTEMBER 5].