Harjit Sajjan

Ottawa, May 2

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rebuffed resignation calls for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan over his comments on a 2006 offensive against the Taliban.Sajjan, a decorated former military intelligence officer, erroneously claimed before the Indian think-tank Observer Research Foundation last month to have been the “architect” of Canada’s largest military operation since the 1950s, known as Operation Medusa.It delivered a blow to the Taliban, loosening its grip on Kandahar province, but at a cost — a dozen Canadian and 14 British soldiers died.Trudeau and his embattled Minister endured a withering question-period offensive as Opposition MPs accused Sajjan of “stolen valour” for overstating his role in planning Operation Medusa.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Opposition parties trained their sights squarely on Sajjan, who apologised again in the House of Commons.Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose called it a “cardinal sin” in military circles for stealing valour of others. Trudeau, however, seemed unmoved. “The Minister made a mistake,” the PM said repeatedly. “He acknowledged his responsibility and apologised; that’s what Canadians expect.”Sajjan, on his part, repeated his apology. What he  didn’t do is explain his “mistake”, which Ambrose noted he’d made twice — once in 2015 and again two weeks ago. “It’s not an error when you keep repeating the lie,” New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair said. — Agencies

Congress MLA Pargat Singh greets Union Minister Gen VK Singh (retd) in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 21

Taking a dig at former Army chief two terms senior to him, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh (retd) today said that he personally felt that Gen JJ Singh (retd) should not have contested the state Assembly elections.“Having already served as a Governor, there was no need for him to vie for an MLA’s post. I went through media reports which indicated that the campaign was not good and was rather abusive. There were posts on social media calling him Jamanat Japt Singh,” said the former Army chief, who was here to take part in a “digi dhan mela”.On 39 people missing in Iraq for nearly two years, General Singh said: “So far, there has been no indication. We are still hopeful. We know which area they are in. But we cannot divulge more details as it may harm the process.”

NK Kalia. File photo

Palampur, May 2

Condemning Pakistan Army’s barbaric act of mutilating the bodies of two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Krishna Ghati sector, NK Kalia, father of Kargil braveheart Capt Saurabh Kalia, on Tuesday stated that even after committing such crimes they (Islamabad) proudly denied it saying they didn’t commit such acts.“This kind of act is very common by Pakistan; they don’t feel sad or have a heart of not doing it. Even after committing such crimes they proudly deny it saying they don’t do such acts,” he said.

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He said that to put a stop to this, the government and the Army should take strict action, or India would lose more of her sons in many more ceasefires.On Monday, the Pakistani soldiers along with their Border Action Team (BAT), which include trained border inhabitants, launched a joint attack.They first fired rockets and followed this up with firing from automatic weapons, near Kranti Post located in Poonch’s Krishna Ghati sector around 8.30 am.The Pakistanis then crossed the LoC, entered 200 metres into the Indian territory, and attacked a joint patrol of the Army and Border Security Force (BSF), heading towards a nearby post.Defence Minister Arun Jaitley termed the mutilation a “reprehensible and an inhuman act” and said such acts didn’t take place even “during war, let alone during peace”. The attack triggered a major exchange of fire on the LoC and Indian troops resorted to small-arms fire and mortar-shelling, said an Army official.The Pakistan Army denied the alleged ceasefire violation or the mutilation of bodies. ANI

Capt Amarinder Singh (left) along with Lt Gen T S Shergill (right) during his new book release in December 2014 at Chandigarh. Tribune file

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20

Lt Gen Tajinder Singh Shergill (retd), a war veteran and close associate of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, is set to be appointed as senior adviser in the office of the Punjab Chief Minister, signaling the start of process by the CM to make political appointments.A former chairman of Punjab Public Service Commission during the previous Capt Amarinder Singh government, Lt Gen Shergill has been closely associated in the election campaign of Amarinder. He has also co-authored a book ‘The Monsoon War” with Capt Amarinder Singh.Sources in the government said though the CM has given formal approval to the first political appointment, the formal orders are expected in a day or two.Ex-CS Lakhanpal to head Expenditure Reforms CommissionSources said former chief secretary KR Lakhanpal is tipped to head the Expenditure Reforms Commission.The commission, approved in the first Cabinet meeting, has been mandated to examine all government expenditures to ensure prudence and efficiency in spending by various department and other organisations funded by the government over the next two months.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 30

Finding widespread misuse of training grants allocated to army units in the Western Command, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has called for urgent corrective measures to be taken for checking financial irregularities and procedural lapses.A report circulated to various establishments by the Controller General of Defence Accounts last week has revealed that contrary to instructions from Army Headquarters, majority of units have utilised Annual Training Grants (ATG) and Technical Training and Instructional Equipment Grants (TTIEG) for procurement of unauthorised items, defeating the very purpose for which they were allocated.These grants are meant for activities like training camps, manoeuvres, tactical exercises, conferences and courses, fabrication and maintenance of instructional equipment and procurement of training stores. The major portion of these grants, however, were spent on purchasing items like air conditioners, TV sets, furniture and furnishings, garments, computer peripherals and sports equipment.  The annual allotment of TTIEG for Western Command in 2015 and 2016 was Rs 19.48 crore and Rs 30.31 crore, out of which over 15 per cent and 9 per cent respectively, remained unspent. For ATG, the allocations for 2015 and 2016 were Rs 25.13 crore and Rs 16.77 crore, out of which 47 per cent and 12 per cent remained unspent.The report also pointed out that in a considerable number of cases, quotations were obtained from suppliers not directly dealing with the items procured. A Special Forces unit procured various types of garments, bags, gloves etc from vendors dealing in electronic equipment, furniture and stationery. Further, different suppliers had the same telephone printed on their quotations.Procuring items repeatedly in smaller quantities spread over a period to bring the expenditure within the financial powers of lower sanctioning authorities and rush of expenditure towards the end of the fiscal are other objections raised in the report.

FRAGILE: Any outright takeover by the Taliban will lead to another protracted civil war.

THERE are some positive signs and many negative portents of a Russian-American détente in world politics appearing through the eight-week period of the Donald Trump presidency. I2n the frenetic rush of current history, we fail to take note of nascent processes, only to grasp with hindsight that the kaleidoscope had inclined ever so slightly, causing a shift in the symmetrical pattern. To be sure, the security of the Greater Middle East — arc stretching from the Levant to Central Asia’s steppes — hinges on the extent to which US-Russia cooperation becomes possible. However, any new policy direction toward Russia on the part of the Trump administration can only crystallise at a glacial pace.Syria beckons the future of US-Russia détente. Politics is a seamless web. Progress anywhere makes progress everywhere more likely. Any Russian-American cooperation to fight terrorism in Syria may inevitably “spill over” to Iraq — and, almost unavoidably, to Libya — and, perhaps even to Yemen. Can Afghanistan be far behind?Trump has shown sensible aversion toward committing good money to kick-start a dubious second “surge” in Afghanistan – this time around, without a timeline, until the war is won. He underscored in his address to the US Congress recently that the $6 trillion Washington spent in the Middle Eastern wars was bad money wasted, which could have rebuilt America twice over. It stands to reason why Trump is taking time to announce US’ new Afghan strategy, despite persistent urgings from the military that the stalemate in the war may still be broken, if only with a final push.Indeed, the most desirable outcome in the Afghan war that is realistically possible today will be a power-sharing arrangement in Kabul that accommodates the Taliban in a spirit of reconciliation. No one doubts that the Taliban is an authentic Afghan movement. Russia is a stakeholder in preventing ISIS cadres fleeing Syria and Iraq from flocking to Afghanistan. President Vladimir Putin recently undertook a tour of frontline states in Central Asia where Russian bases are in standby mode. Russia keeps contacts with the Taliban and is improving relations with Pakistan. China too has had contacts with the Taliban and wields considerable influence on Pakistan. Vital Chinese interests are at stake. The ISIS recently threatened to create rivers of blood in Xinjiang.Meanwhile, a bold idea is struggling to be born in the regional and international discourses — trilateral US-Russia-China cooperation and coordination to resolve regional and international problems. It has figured with increasing frequency in the Russian and Chinese discourses, which cannot be coincidental. It has Trump as the audience. The Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi fuelled this idea at a press conference recently on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress in Beijing: “In the new era, the China-US-Russia relationship should not be a ‘seesaw’ game. The three countries should work with, rather than against, one another and pursue win-win, rather than zero-sum, outcomes.”A US-Russia-China joint effort is just what is needed to end the Afghan war and create a new regime in Kabul that gives due role to the Taliban in the governance of their country. This is no longer a zero-sum game. Any outright takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan will lead to another protracted civil war and it can be apocalyptic in outcome, resulting in the withering away of the Afghan state, and anarchical conditions posing long-term threats to outlying regions. Equally, given the hugely controversial record of western hegemony over Muslim Middle East, which engendered a deep sense of humiliation in the Muslim psyche, open-ended US military presence in Afghanistan will provoke resistance and, in turn,  strengthen the extremist Islamist groups in the region. In immediate terms, no one knows how to salvage the government in Kabul, which was a creation of the Barack Obama administration. The fragmentation of Afghan polity is touching the terminal stage, and, alas, Trump has proclaimed his profound distaste for ‘nation-building’ anywhere expect in America itself.On the other hand, the Taliban takeover in Kabul and ensuing anarchical conditions in Afghanistan will put intolerable strains on Pakistan’s own resources and deflect it from the unique opportunities that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor offers it to make good as a prosperous country. To be sure, if the Taliban continues with its war of attrition against foreign forces and begin advancing from the countryside into the urban centres in a conceivable future, it may become futile to try to stop the insurgents on their track. After that, what? Pakistan lacks the means to bankroll a Taliban regime.On the other hand, a few thousand additional western troops cannot break the current stalemate. Are there any volunteers to undertake a “surge” of 50-1,00,000 troops and wage an open-ended campaign without a timeline — and, yet, victory far from assured? Clearly, big powers have a crucial role to encourage Pakistan to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. What needs to be worked out is the calibration of the legitimate interests of Pakistan, while ending the Afghan war — quintessentially, a government in Kabul that remains sensitive toward Pakistan’s concerns and interests.However, for that to happen, a grand bargain is needed at both the regional and international level. At its core, there is a complex three-way entanglement at the regional level involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, which provides fodder to the hydra-headed beast of terrorism. All three countries are in denial mode. Unless they can be brought within a single tent and made to cohabitate peacefully as benign neighbours and responsible regional states, peace will elude Afghanistan. The big powers can play an influential role here. Unless there is a holistic approach toward “reset” of the complicated regional calculus, endeavours such as the Afghan-Pakistan meet in London last Wednesday, brokered by the UK with US concurrence, to address terrorism problem in bilateral terms cannot produce enduring results.On the contrary, a big-power effort remains predicated on their readiness to work together. Russia and China, which have huge stakes in regional security, are eager to work with the Trump administration to stabilise Afghanistan, but indications are that Pentagon prefers to handle the war the John Wayne way. Alas, this “lone-ranger” mentality may serve the corporate interests of the US military-industrial complex, but it can only spell doom for peace and stability in the region. The onus is on Trump to read out the script to the Pentagon. Will he? Trump’s summit meeting in April with Chinese President Xi Jinping offers the opportunity to initiate a historic concert of big powers over Afghanistan.The writer is a former ambassador

Chandigarh, April 30

Chandigarh, along with four other cities in the country, will get a new fuel price every day starting tomorrow.Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Udaipur, Jamshedpur and Puducherry have been chosen as part of a pilot project which will see petrol and diesel being sold with a daily price change.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)This is a pilot project of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). The revised prices will be conveyed by oil companies to the dealers by 8 pm and will be revised from midnight. The revised prices will also be displayed at pumps. — TNS 

Current rate For May 1Petrol Rs 68.74 Rs 67.67 Diesel Rs 58.04 Rs 57.76

Govt to come out with White Paper on state’s finances

Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister

Sarbjit Dhaliwal &

Ruchika M Khanna

‘Fa.uj peechhe hati, aur kuain mein zehar chhod gayi..’ This is how newly inducted Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal reacted after being briefed about the state’s economy by officers. No wonder his immediate response is to issue a White Paper on the matter; order a third-party audit into the past three years of government expenditure; and provide a booster shot to the state’s sagging finances.What Manpreet has inherited from the Akali-BJP government is a debt burden of Rs 1.78 lakh crore, pending unpaid bills to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore and a whopping revenue deficit of Rs 8,000 crore. In the coming fiscal, when he will present the Budget proposals, he will have to maintain a fine balance between curtailing expenditure, revving up revenue and shouldering the government’s welfare-related responsibilities (the promised sops). The state’s total debt servicing is expected to be Rs 6,000 crore  more than what the state can borrow.But Manpreet loves challenges, and is willing to take the new one head-on. “They have sinned… Badal saab and his government. The state’s taxes have been looted in the past 10 years. They had a very short-sighted vision to rule… nothing has been left for the next generation… Sukhbir Singh Badal has never read any book other than a cheque book,” he says, targeting his estranged cousin and SAD president.“We will have to start from scratch to rebuild Punjab’s economy. We are working on a three-pronged strategy: Increase the year-on-year revenue by Rs 10,000 crore (enough to meet the party’s poll promises); attract investment from big industrial houses, which will lead to more buoyancy in taxes; and cut down on government expenditure drastically,” he says.To increase revenue, especially when the GST rollout is expected from July onwards, the government is looking at incorporating features of the excise policy of states where the liquor sale is done through government undertakings. “We will study the Tamil Nadu model and may emulate it. I will also look at the model of West Bengal, which has become an economically healthy state in the past few years, even though it was considered a debt-stressed state along with Punjab and Kerala,” he says.In the coming days, the Congress government plans to launch a major drive to draw investment to the state. The state may soon see HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited — that runs the Bathinda refinery — invest Rs 22,000 crore to set up downstream petrochemical industry.Government expenditure, too, will be cut drastically. “We might close down all loss-making government undertakings that are a burden on the exchequer,” says Manpreet, reiterating that he has the backing of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on these issues.He says talks will be initiated with the Centre to reduce the interest rate on the loan of Rs 30,000 crore that the state has taken to settle its legacy food credit account, which could help the government save Rs 1,200 crore in interest repayment. Manpreet will also propose that all MLAs take a cut of Rs 1,000 per month in salary as a symbolic gesture to curtail expenditure.Manpreet says he will bring a vote-on-account for three months during the Assembly session beginning on March 24, while the regular budget is expected to be presented in May. As the head of the Congress manifesto committee, which promised several sops to the people, he says the document is sacrosanct and all promises will be fulfilled. “These were made not out of populism but to kickstart the economy,” he says, adding that farm subsidy will continue.

Will cooperate with govt on drugs: AAP

Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today offered to cooperate with the Amarinder-led state government for a drug-free Punjab.Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka met the Chief Minister today and offered cooperation on the government’s war against drugs. In a statement, he said everybody in Punjab knew who were behind the drug supply racket and the CM should act against those elements.A day after confrontation with the Congress on the alleged ill-treatment of AAP MLAs during the oath-taking ceremony, Phoolka had a cordial meeting with the CM today. Reminding Amarinder about his oath he took in Bathinda to rid the state of drugs in four weeks after coming to power, Phoolka said the countdown for the task had started.“I am sure that Amarinder will fulfill his promise and curb the drug trade by April 16 (30 days) and send all drug peddlers in Punjab to jail,” he said.The leader, meanwhile, said all party MLAs and leaders would shun the VIP culture and won’t use red beacon on their vehicles. He said the AAP MLAs would claim only necessary perks, which would be needed to perform their duties towards the people.Ex-DGP ready to chip inAmritsar: Former DGP (Prisons) Shashi Kant has offered assistance to the CM for tackling the drug menace. He stated that his department had submitted a list with the state government in 2007, mentioning the names of top politicians and officers who were linked to the drug trade. “I urge Capt Amarinder to trace the list,” he said, stressing the need to set up an anti-narcotics commission. TNS

AAP does a U-turn on security, vehicles

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to have taken a U-turn on its pre-poll promise of “ending the VIP culture”.When some of the Congress leaders have refused to accept the official car or security, most of the 20 AAP MLAs have accepted the two facilities.Sources said the matter was discussed in the party’s legislature meeting on Thursday evening. It was decided that the decision of accepting or refusing the official vehicle and security should be left to the MLA.The AAP legislators’ choice contradicts party’s promise made in its election manifesto. “No AAP MLA, minister, MP or any other senior leader will use vehicles with hooters and red beacon lights,” it read.The manifesto also said the “VIP culture will be ended by cutting down personal security by 95 per cent”.Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP chief whip, confirmed that most of the party MLAs had accepted security as well as the vehicle. He justified the decision by saying that in light of the law and order situation in Punjab, an MLA could not survive without security. On official vehicle, he said most of the legislators were economically weaker and did not own cars. “Everybody can’t be like Manpreet Badal,” he said.Going against the spirit of “aam aadmi” most of the AAP MLAs are reluctant to accept ordinary cars. Instead, they have asked for better ones.Barnala MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said he was given a Maruti Gypsy, which he refused to accept. “Gypsy is of no use to me, so I have asked for Toyota Innova,” he said, adding that he received a call from the police for security, but he refused.The others who refused to accept security include Bhadaur MLA Pirmal Singh and Mehal Kalan MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori. The two, however, have accepted the official vehicle. Pirmal Singh said that since he did not own a car, he had requested for the official vehicle. “I will accept whichever car the government offers,” he said.Most MLAs accept official car, gunmenWith most of AAP’s 20 MLAs opting for official vehicle and security, their choice contradicts party’s promise made in its election manifesto. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP chief whip, justified the move, citing law and order situation in Punjab. On official vehicle, he says most legislators do not own cars.Shun VIP culture, Phoolka tells govtSenior AAP leader and Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka on Friday reminded Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of the Congress’ pre-poll promise of ending the “VIP culture”. “He and his ministers should avoid the use of red beacon atop their official vehicles,” he said. “People of Punjab suffered because of the ‘VIP culture’ adopted by high-headed SAD-BJP leaders. Now, the time is ripe for the Congress to fulfil its promise,” Phoolka said. The Dakha MLA said no party leader and MLA would have red beacon atop their vehicles and would claim perks necessary to perform their duty.

Cabinet to take call on power tariff today

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

In the first Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow, the Congress government will issue a consent letter to the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) for fixing the new power tariff after it is decided how to rationalise the tariff, even as the PSPCL is seeking a hike of 50 per cent.The new Excise Policy for the next fiscal will also be discussed tomorrow, though it might be announced later.The Cabinet is expected to approve setting a time-bound commission of inquiry to look into cases of alleged political vendetta against its political opponents and order a probe to pinpoint misdeeds relating to financial irregularities in the bungling in the allotment of tubewell connections causing a loss to the state by the SAD-BJP led government.The Excise Department is mooting a total change in policy and could emulate Tamil Nadu. The government will have to take a final call on how many changes it proposes and whether to reduce the quota of liquor by five per cent. Since the department is with the CM, officials are tight-lipped about the contents of the policy. “If the total liquor quota lifted so far is taken as the base, the liquor quota could go up without compromising on the revenue from licence fee”, said sources.The cabinet will also give a nod for 50 per cent reservation for women in Local Bodies and 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs. Ex-post facto approval for appointment of Suresh Kumar as Chief Principal Secretary will also be taken in the meeting.Besides, nearly 100 poll-related promises — without any financial bearing and related to good governance and without any financial bearing, and constituting a Special Task Force (STF) to wipe out the drugs from the state within four weeks are expected to be cleared.

Job quota on agenda

• The Cabinet will also give a nod for 50 per cent reservation for women in Local Bodies and 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs
• The new Excise Policy for the next fiscal will also be discussed, though it might be announced later

Will streamline varsities’ working, says Chaudhary

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

Admitting that dealings of the state government with the state universities have proved a “grey area”, Minister for School and Higher Education Aruna Chaudhary today asserted that the state government would not hesitate in probing irregularities, if any, committed by the universities.After assuming her office today, Chaudhary said this when asked as to what extent the government would intervene into the functioning of the universities, which are otherwise autonomous institutions.“I know there are grey areas and there is a lot of miscommunication (in different authorities regulating universities). Whatever discrepancies have occurred in the past, we will ensure that these are tackled amicably. But we won’t hesitate in taking strong action,” Chaudhary told The Tribune.Pertinently, a day before the Amarinder-led government assumed charge, Vice Chancellors Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University tendered their resignation.In case of Punjabi University, teaching and non-teaching employees have been alleging that massive irregularities were committed by the management.The minister, meanwhile, began her first day in the office by paying surprise visit to two schools in Zirakpur block where final examinations of Class X were underway.

30 buses not plying as drivers ‘doing other tasks’

Union alleges officials want pvt players to benefit

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 17

The Punjab Roadways Employees’ Union (Independent) has alleged that nearly 30 buses of Punjab Roadways (Muktsar depot) were not plying on roads just because drivers and conductors were being forced to do other tasks in the office. They even alleged that the officials concerned had done this to benefit private transporters.State general secretary of the union Nachattar Singh said, “We brought this issue to the notice of the Principal Secretary, Transport, last week, after which an inquiry was marked to the General Manager of the Ferozepur depot. After the inquiry, some drivers and conductors returned to their original duties, but some buses are still lying parked.”However, Charanjit Singh Brar, General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Muktsar, said, “We are facing acute shortage of staff, thus with the permission of seniors some drivers and conductors were given other duties. There is nothing illegal in it. The same practice is being followed at other depots too. Now, all buses are plying on their allotted routes.”

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa at the Air Force Station in Agra. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa visited the Air Force station in Agra where he flew onboard an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. He viewed the Air Force exercise conducted over the north-western part of the country.The Indian Air Force Chief flew from Agra yesterday to check the forces participating in the ongoing war gaming exercise of the Western Air Command “Exercise Trishul”. The AWACS provides a live picture of 800-km radius when airborne.Under the exercise, all assets of the Western Air Command were mobilised to demonstrate the potency of the Indian Air Force in a real-time war-like scenario.This included engaging with a large of number of fighter jets in electronic warfare environment, an Indian Air Force spokesperson said today. 

A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.. ANI

Ajay Banerjee and Yash Goyal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/ Jaipur, March 15Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane crashed in Rajasthan’s Barmer district while on its routine training round, while its helicopter toppled as the pilots were attempting an emergency landing following a technical snag on Wednesday.

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IAF’s Chetak helicopter was on routine training sortie from Bamrauli, Allahabad, when it developed a technical failure. “The copter toppled over while pilots tried to land in an uneven field,” the IAF spokesperson said.

Both pilots are safe.

A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The Chetak is based on the 1950s’ design French helicopter. The IAF needs new helicopters. In February, Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had put the need of the three services at some 800 copters over the next decade.

Sukhoi crash injures three

Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane crashed into a field near Shivkar village, some 10 km from Barmer’s Sadar police station, injuring three villagers.

Defense PRO Lt Col Manish Ojha said both pilots had ejected safely. The Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry into the incident

“Villagers told us that the pilot ejected shortly before the crash. Air Force officials have been informed about the incident,” Additional SP Rameshwar Lal said, adding that the crash had caused some damage to a hamlet.

Naranaram, 60, his wife Dallu, 58, and son Hanuman, 40, were taken to the Barmer District Hospital.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje reacted in a tweet saying: “News of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft crash in Barmer is extremely unfortunate.Prayers for speedy recovery of injured. Glad the pilots are safe”.