Blog by Col Ashok K Singh; Veteran

Rewards by 7th Pay Commission to defense forces and its acceptance by BJP Govt has send shock waves and disbelief among soldiers. On promise of Narendra Modi, Soldiers voted in mass for BJP govt hoping to get justice for a humiliating and unconstitutional treatment given to them by Cong Govt under Mrs Indra Gandhi just after a historic win in 1971 war with Pakistan.

Mrs Gandhi; instead of rewarding soldiers for their unparalleled historic victory gave them humiliating injustice in 1973 by reducing their status, pay and pension drastically. Mrs Gandhi not only gave shabby treatment to soldiers but she also tweaked promotion procedures of military to have better control to create a succession line for top military Generals and Chiefs. The arrangements put by her in place went much beyond keeping a justified constitutional loyalty check on senior leadership to create her personal team of loyalist Generals. Caste and religion factor also became important to her. Though detrimental to national security, she was successful to a large extent in subverting professional military leadership to create submissive line of loyalists. Her returns were immediate when top military leadership failed to oppose unconstitutional declaration of emergency. Though military leadership was nervous and they later advised her to lift it to restore democracy but the damage was already done. The submissive line of generals so created with personal loyalties failed to oppose her decision to attack Golden Temple. They also failed to oppose decision of Rajive Gandhi to launch “OP PAWAN” in Sri Lanka. They also failed in their constitutional duty to intervene to prevent Sikh genocide in Delhi. Army Chiefs and leadership were not even consulted for military fall outs when Bajpai Govt signed Lahore declaration, it resulted in Kargil War.  Now the situation is that political Govt refuses to even acknowledge presence of Military Chiefs and leadership in their decision making procedures thus debarring themselves from a professional military advice risking national security.

With above situation in existence yet another severe blow has been delivered by BJP’s Modi Govt to further crush the pride of soldiers. Acceptance of humiliating recommendations of 7th Pay Commission for defense forces by BJP Govt ignoring concerns of military leadership and veterans has put soldiers in state of shock. The situation now is that soldiers, who are backbone of national military and nuke power to protect national sovereignty, in terms of life time earnings, are now paid lesser than Forest Guards and Central Armed Police Force. Life Time earnings in eyes of HR professionals is a single most key parameter to judge how rewarding a career is?   Life Time Earnings of any career forms the base of creating a reward system in terms of compensations. With 7th Pay Commission recommendations in place a reward system has been created where soldier’s life time earnings are above home guards and below forest guards. The acceptance of humiliating recommendations of 7th Pay Commission for defense forces has no professional  justification and violates all established professional HR principles of creating a reward system for a career.

The ego based whims and fancies of insecure, corrupt and lustful political Govt establishment without any accountability, justifications and reasoning to over control military power of the nation might even crush the very defense apparatus which protects and provides space for democracy to function. Indian constitution under article 53 while giving out executive powers of the union, clearly recognizes executive military authority of the nation as vested in a civilian Supreme Commander  as distinct dimension and gives it a key executive role in support of democracy by creating loyalties of defense forces to the command authority of its supreme commander, military commanders, constitution and we the people. Military oaths of allegiance are accordingly structured. Article 53 of Indian constitution if read in conjunction with article 34 on martial law and military oath taken, establishes a well defined role for executive military authority of the nation to defend and protect constitutional rights and freedom of “We The People”. It is therefore constitutional duty of military leadership to stand up in defense of democracy if it is under threat from any corner. It may be from corrupt politicians controlled by crony capitalists with suspected loyalties creating caste and communal hate filled atmosphere for political power and which may also trigger civil wars.  With such distinct provisions in constitution about roles of executive military authority,  article 109-113 therefore accept distinct military service conditions and demands separate laws for their service conditions including distinct compensation  packages for them.

Our constitution recognizes three pillars of democracy and not two as is taught or perceived.  First pillar is the executive political authority of the nation exercised by elected President through democratically elected parliament and government and assisted by civil servants. Second pillar of democracy is national judiciary. It is the prime duty of  Chief Justice of India to defend constitution by giving right interpretation of the constitutional provisions and laws to the govt and people thereby helping govt in establishing rule of law. Third pillar is executive military authority of the nation which is exercised by a civilian Supreme Commander of defense forces and military commanders under authority of command given to them under provisions of warrants or commission. Each Officer and JCO of the Indian military is therefore given authority of command by a parchment of commission after he/her takes oath of allegiance. Such parchment of commission are signed by an authorized military officer (not by PM or any minister or IAS) under a warrant signed by Supreme commander that is President. Constitution recognizes distinct status of these commissioned officers and therefore gives them the privilege of using their ranks as titles prefixing these before their names under constitution article 18.

With structure of these three pillars, our constitution ensures that a healthy and socialist democracy protects the freedom, respect and dignity of we the people. The military authority which is third pillar of democracy remains in silent but observant mode beyond public visibility during peace times wherein democratically elected government is given complete space to exercise their authority interpreted by second pillar of Judiciary. Though in national wars or disturbed areas military predominantly becomes active and visible but under emergency and special legal provisions of the constitution, it still remains under political directions of the elected civil govt. It is only when there are direct threats to civil political authorities and judiciary where in these institutions are unable to function due to any reasons or threat, Military Authorities under article 34 of the constitution are duty bound to take command of situation to restore civilian authority to protect democracy, dignity and freedom of we the people. During peace and war times it is duty of each military commissioned officer to remain politically observant and that is the reason in their oaths word “OBSERVE” finds the place.

No govt of the day shall defy constitution and its spirit to serve people. In relation to military authority and service condition of the soldiers, every govt is legally bound to respect constitutional provisions. On eve of national independence the question of how to compensate soldiers as per their constitutional roles, was faced by members of constituent assembly elected to draft constitution. J L Nehru then formed a committee to recommend compensation structure for soldiers of independent India. It was first time then the principle of parity only for compensation of soldiers was accepted. These principle of parity of soldiers only for compensation were in line with constitution being framed. Major salient point of these principles were:

1. Length of the service of the military officers and soldiers will be key detrimental factor to create parity of status and compensation with IAS and civil servants.

2. Life time earnings of soldiers will have an marginal edge over others civilian govt staff.

3. To ensure above 75% pension will be given to soldiers and 50% to military officers who retire young as against only 25 or 30% to the civilians. Though the same is subject to change but fundamentally such change shall not violate principles as given in points 1 and 2 above.

The above principles of parity for status and compensation of soldiers were fundamentally based on sound established professional HR practices which are even so relevant today.

It was Mrs Gandhi, who after gaining political victory over Pakistan based on a landslide military victory given by soldiers, started treating herself as goddess and developed dictatorial attributes and aspirations. A forthright professional military advice coming from true military leaders loyal to democracy like FM Sam Manekshaw, was taken as threat to her aspirations to become master of political power of India and become immortal. In 1973 accordingly, to serve her personal interests and dictatorial aspirations, she tweaked military promotion system and also delivered a blow to their status and compensation packages to make them weak and helpless. Idea was to cut military leaders below knees of politicians and civilian babus to eliminate any obstacle in their unconstitutional aspirations and corrupt deeds.  Allahabad HC judgement came as a shock to Mrs Gandhi and directly attacked her ulterior motives. She declared emergency. Her design to cut military leaders below knees paid off when none of them actually stood against unconstitutional declaration of emergency though three services chiefs politely refused to involve soldiers actively in enforcement of emergency. Later three services chiefs advised PM to lift emergency and call for elections. Mrs Gandhi then attacked independence of Judiciary and created a system of inserting loyalists as judges. Two pillars of democracy were attacked by Mrs Gandhi and  weakened. Nation has paid and still paying a heavy price for it. Justice system in the country has collapsed, professional military advice has no significance to political leadership leading them to commit more and more foreign policy and security blunders.

In any democracy due to sensitivity of moral of serving soldiers and risks of national security associated with it, military veterans take the lead as citizens soldiers to create a voice in favor of people. They help in creating public opinion which in return keeps politicians under check. In India unfortunately military veterans till 15 years back, have kept quite and lived an ignored and isolated lives. It is only now military veterans are creating visible voices using power of social media and connecting with people. It is a welcome and healthy sign for the democracy. Military Veterans have stakes of blood and life in democracy. Military veterans, as citizen soldiers shall therefore express independent issue based political voices with people without any bias to any political leader or political party. Military Veterans undertook OROP agitation for justice to soldiers to the streets. The agitation became visible and touched the nerves of people. BJP and Narendra Modi finding a political opportunity, created an hype of nationalism and promised to undo injustice done by Mrs Gandhi with soldiers.

7th Pay Commission was formed by UPA govt with its Chairman who had known disliking for military soldiers. Then army chief, Gen Bikarm Singh who is said to be related to then PM Manmohan Singh, as Chairman of Chiefs of staff committee, wrote a letter to Govt asking them not constitute a separate pay commission for military. He dumped the age old well justified demand of soldiers to have a separate pay commission. It was a betrayal of soldiers by their own chief. Driven by desire to further cut down soldiers and also hurt by soldiers agitation and views in social media, naturally 7th Pay Commission gave a very humiliating recommendations for the military soldiers. Taking lead from the word ‘Parity’ as given  in the terms of references of the govt letter which constituted 7th Pay Commission, the commission ignored the spirit of parity as established by Nehru Govt ( as explained above) and followed the line of ulterior motives of  Mrs Gandhi and further reduced the compensation package of soldiers.  OROP demand of soldiers has been extended to all others and their life time earning packages have been comparatively reduced further.

Soldiers had last hope from proclaimed nationalist govt of BJP and Narendra Modi. Three services chiefs wrote a letter to govt expressing discontentment. They also met PM to appraise him. retired military chiefs wrote a letter to PM which has not even been acknowledged by his office. Govt ignoring concerns of soldiers, went ahead and has notified humiliating and unjustified recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission with minor modifications in military pay matrix.

Conceptually why are govt notification on 7th Pay Commission for soldiers humiliating?

1. It doesn’t respect distinct constitutional identity, role and status of the soldiers. When the MP is paid like MP, A judge like judge, an IAS like IAS then why a soldier is not paid like soldier?

2. It doesn’t follow the concept of parity as established after much debate when the Indian Constitution was framed by the constituent assembly. The concept actually has been killed when in name of parity Life Time Earnings of military soldiers have been fixed lesser than a forest guard and constables of CAPF and Police and just above home guards.

3.  Compensation packages given doesn’t match with the job profile of the military soldiers. The users of Nukes and state of art technologies to fight modern hybrid wars which can wipe of nations, are paid lesser than managers of forests who cant even extinguish forest fires without help of soldiers.

4. Primary role of military is to operate in international environment. Wars are fought between/ among nations. Thus the status and compensation packages to soldiers shall follow international best practices and protocols. Though (surprisingly and shockingly) India has not notified civil military parity list as required under Geneva convention for wars but it doesn’t mean Indian govt will expose and humiliate their own soldiers in international environment and specially so in face of enemies. 7th Pay Commission has cited the US compensation packages. As per US Civil Military Parity notification under Geneva Convention a US Brigadier is clubbed with their highest pay grade of the civil servant. That means the highest pay grade of US civil servant is equal to HAG/ Apex Grade of IAS in India. That means a US Brigadier as per Geneva convention and US notification is equal in status of HAG/ APEX Grade of IAS officers of India? But than what is the status of Indian Brigadier? An IAS officer/ DM of 5 years of service boasts to be senior to a Brigadier? How will you maintain international protocols ensuring respect to your own Brigadier? Isn’t it humiliating for military to operate in their primary roles? Why has India not notified Civil Military Parity List as required under Geneva convention to which India is a signatory? Pak can not be held accountable for violating Geneva Convention in case of Capt Kalia as India has not notified such list?

5. JCOs of India military are commissioned and gazetted officers and they are paid non gazetted salaries?  Technically and legally a JCO can be nominated as members of the Court of Inquiry?As commanders, NCOs of Indian army carry the authority to order fire and arrest like sub inspectors of Police but they are paid like Head Constables who have no legal powers? Are not these compensation packages to JCOs and NCO humiliating?

6. A Captain and equivalent  and above of Indian Military can under Summary General Court Martial not only give death sentences but also confirm and execute same without reference to any court or president. In CI operations an Inspector of Police or CAPF behave much superior to him? Isn’t it humiliating?

Govt and babus may argue that they are well within their rights and authority to fix compensation packages of soldiers? Yes agreed but can they, while doing so, show total disregard to established HR principles accepted by govt while framing the constitution, constitutional status and job profile of the soldiers?   Worst can they do it without giving any reason or justification to flaunt unconstitutional authority and that is what is happening when Political leadership and Babus are giving no reasons and justifications and maintaining a mysterious, insulting and ignoring silence?

General VP Malik, Ex Army Chief was right to say on TV, that soldiers are being taken for granted. Their mature obedient silence keeping national security in mind is being misconstrued. Should a situation be allowed to explode by pushing soldiers beyond their thresholds of tolerance or patience? Very wrong signals are going from Govt to soldiers when PM  has all times to fly to Lahore to meet PM of Pakistan but has no ears to listen to his own military chiefs or time to meet military veterans in-spite of various requests?

Political Govt of BJP and Narendra Modi must act within established democratic norms under constitution and talk with reasons and justifications. Govt shall not be managed with whims and fancies of politicians and babus. Soldiers are most mature lots. They have been more loyal to democracy and constitution than politicians and babus who have bad records of corruption and one de-fecto coup of declaring emergency. Not trusting soldiers and ignoring them in a humiliating manners will surely add fuel to fire.

BJP in their manifesto did promise a Military Commission to manage all problems of soldiers, best way forward is:

1. Constitute Military Commission of two, jointly under an Ex Military Chief and a SC Judge with an IAS secretory to manage all problems of soldiers including their pay and packages and post service settlements.

2. Let Govt publish a Comparative Table of Life Time Earnings including pensions of all govt services and soldiers and then see how best can the established principle of parity at time of independence be put in effect and if the govt is not in the position to pay financial benefits then how best soldiers be compensated by other means ? The issue can then be managed by Military Commission.

Let us not play with national security. Fortunately soldiers are not asking moon and are talking reason. So why not talk reason and justification with them. Keeping discontentment simmering may prove to be highly disastrous. Soldiers are last resort of the nation and third pillar of the constitution. Let us not take any chance. Rising above egos, administer their status and compensation in just manner.

Let good sense prevail.

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 13

The Centre is against increasing the retirement age of Army doctors to 65 years in line with the new age limit for their civilian counterparts.“The Army always has its own retirement age for its personnel from time immemorial,” Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh pleaded with the Supreme Court yesterday.The Centre took the stand before a Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra which was hearing a PIL by some of the doctors who retired last month after being denied the benefit of a recent government notification on the new retirement age for civilian doctors.The ASG also pleaded that retirement age was a service issue for which the doctors had no right to approach the apex court directly. The proper forum for resolving the controversy was the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), he said.Other affected doctors had already approached the AFT, New Delhi, and as such the petitioners in the SC should be directed to join the litigation pending with the AFT, Singh pleaded.Accepting the Centre’s plea, the Bench asked the petitioners to approach the AFT. The apex court directed the tribunal to dispose of the case expeditiously, preferably in three months.On July 29, the Bench had asked the Centre to respond within two days to Army doctors’ plea for enhancing their retirement age to 65.The petitioners from the Army Medical Corps (AMC) had pleaded that the Centre had enhanced the retirement age of non-teaching civilian doctors to 65 years, but the Defence Ministry was not extending the benefit to the Army where doctors retired at 60 or 62, depending upon their rank.However, other government wings such as paramilitary forces had decided to follow the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) decision to retire doctors at 65 years of age from May 31 this year.If the Army was not willing to retain them, they should be transferred to other departments facing shortage of doctors so that they could continue to serve till 65, they pleaded.The Centre’s move to increase the retirement age has come at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making use the services of experienced doctors for the benefit of the poor.

Was addressing the Lok Sabha. PTI

New Delhi, July 28

Rubbishing reports of Chinese incursion in Uttarakhand, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said it was just a transgression which was settled, adding that there was a well-defined mechanism to settle such transgressions.“The India-China border is not formally demarcated. There are areas where both sides have differing perceptions of LAC. Barhoti (Uttarakhand) is one such area. There was no incursion, just transgression which has been settled. There is a well-defined mechanism to settle such transgressions,” Parrikar said in the Lok Sabha.The Centre has downplayed the Chinese incursion, saying it was not a very serious issue and they will resolve it on ground level.“The briefing that we have received from DG of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP), according to that some incident of incursion has been witnessed there. But that is not a very serious issue,” said Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday confirmed an incursion by the Chinese troops into Chamoli district.Rawat, however, made a somersault later in the day and said there is an increase in the number of Chinese troops along the Indian border, but ruled out any incursion into the Indian territory.Uttarakhand shares a 350-kilometre-long boundary with China and similar attempts at Chinese incursions have been reported in the past.The last reported Chinese incursion in the state was when the word ‘China’ was inscribed on rocks near Mana Pass in Chamoli district. ANI

Officers of the Punjab Regiment pay tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti during Vijay Diwas celebrations at Sriganganagar on Tuesday. A Tribune Photograph

Our Correspondent

Abohar, July 26

Eight Army soldiers, who had participated in the 1999 Kargil War and 24 veer naris (war widows) were honoured during Vijay Diwas function at Ramlila Ground in neighbouring Sriganganagar today.The function was organised jointly by the All-India Ex-servicemen Council, Sanskar Bharati and the MR Jindal Charitable Trust.Col Amit Kumar Sharma, Commanding Officer, 17 Punjab Regiment, was the first to lay a wreath on Amar Jawan Jyoti ceremonially.MR Jindal Charitable Trust chairman BD Aggarwal and his wife Bimla presented shawl and Rs 21,000 each to ex-servicemen Ashok Kumar, Mohammad Khan, Durga Ram, Prahlad Singh, Rohtash, Ram Niwas and Moman Singh.Ashok Kumar of Haryana was in the contingent which hoisted the Tricolor at Kargil after the Indian Army’s victory over the enemy.Sixteen youths who had got “C” certificate or “A” grade in National Cadets Corps (NCC) were awarded Rs 11,000 each on the occasion.

Kargil Diwas celebrated

Amritsar, July 26

On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, a wreath-laying ceremony was organised today at Panther Inspiration Park. General Officer Commanding, Panther Division, along with Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Other Ranks (OR) laid wreaths to pay homage to Kargil martyrs. Veterans from Amritsar also attended the function and laid wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs of Kargil.Similar functions were also organised at Dera Baba Nanak War Memorial and Batala War Memorial. — TNS

Tributes paid to martyrs on Kargil War anniversary

Lt Gen KJ Singh, GOC-in-C, Western Command, along with other Army officers and veterans, salutes martyrs on the 17th anniversary of Kargil War at Chandimandir on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26

The 17th anniversary of the Kargil War was observed at Headquarters Western Command, Chandimandir, today. It was on this day in 1999 that the last of the Pakistani infiltrators were evicted from the Indian territory.To pay homage to the martyrs, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Veer Smriti War Memorial in Chandimandir.Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, paid floral tributes at the memorial. Serving officers and junior commissioned officers of some of the units that had participated in the conflict, also known as Operation Vijay, were also present.General VP Malik, who was the Army Chief during the conflict, led senior veterans in paying homage and also laid a wreath to commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers.The next of kin of martyrs of Operation Vijay and gallantry award winners also attended the function and were felicitated on the occasion.

Homage paid to Kargil War martyrs

Army officials salute the martyrs during the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations at a war memorial in Patiala on Tuesday. Tribune photos: Rajesh Sachar

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 26

The nation is celebrating the 17th Kargil Vijay Diwas to commemorate the victory over Pakistan in the war that ended  on July 26, 1999. The Indian Army was successful in pushing back Pakistani forces from 16,000-18,000 ft of rough heights in Kargil and the adjoining areas.The week-long celebrations got over on July 26 and were marked by commemorative functions across the country.Kargil Vijay Diwas is a day of remembrance for, and tribute to, our armed forces and the martyrs whose determined efforts saved our country from the enemy on this day in 1999 during the ‘Operation Vijay’.In Patiala, the Army commemorated the victory in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph led by the General Officer Commanding of the Black Elephant Division and also paid homage to the Kargil war martyrs.Intrusion from Pakistani forces in the areas of Kargil and Dras was aimed at taking control of heights dominating the Srinagar-Leh road with the aim of blocking our supply lines and making the maintenance of our positions in Siachen even more difficult. Our soldiers regained the heights by climbing near the vertical rough peaks over totally exposed rocky terrain against forces firing and bombarding from well-prepared and entrenched positions.Stories of leadership and sacrifice brave soldiers were also documented to pay homage to them. A total of 527 Armymen from the country died and 1,367 got injured in the war.Four Param Vir Chakras, Nine Maha Vir Chakras and 50 Vir chakras, battle honours and unit citations will serve as evidences of guts, bravery and professionalism of our Navy, Air force and Armymen who are ever ready to serve and make sacrifices to protect our motherland.

Kargil Vijay Diwas

• Kargil Vijay Diwas is a day of remembrance for, and tribute to, our armed forces and the martyrs whose determined efforts saved our country from the enemy on this day in 1999 during the ‘Operation Vijay’.

FROM SCHOOLS

Kargil Vijay Diwas

Students perform a nukkad natak during an awareness programme on

Patiala: DAV Patiala witnessed patriotic fervour as 16th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas (Kargil Victory Day) was celebrated with amalgamated feelings of proud and pain. The martyrs of Kargil were offered floral tributes amidst singing of song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ and raising of slogans ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ leaving everyone teary-eyed. A special hawan was solemnised in the memory of the martyrs. A special screening of a documentary was arranged for 250 students of class VI followed by a quiz based on the same. The students participated enthusiastically in the quiz. Monika Gupta, NCC in-charge, made the students aware of the significance of the day and told them how the soldiers braving the chill at Kargil-Dras sector defeated Pakistani intruders and hoisted our National Flag. She said as many as 530 soldiers laid their lives in the operation. Principal SR Prabhakar said: “Kargil Victory Day was something really to celebrate in honour of those brave soldiers and their families, who sacrificed their lives or a life of their loved ones for India. We must thank those brave people who lost their lives for saving and protecting us and should be ready for any kind of sacrifice for our country”.

Q-biz Competition

Budha Dal Public School here organised a Q-biz competition for the students of classes XI and XII. The basic vision of Q-biz was to test the cognisance skills of the students. It aspires to engage all those students who believe in applied and holistic learning to identify all those mavericks, who consistently learn, innovate and improvise.

Tiger Week

‘Tiger Week’ was inaugurated at The Millennium School, Patiala, in view of the observation of ‘World Tiger Day’ on Monday. With the main aim of bringing awareness among the people about saving wild animals, especially the tiger, a nukkad natak was presented. Students and teachers of the school took part in a rally to highlight the importance of saving the animals from extinction. Sukhdarshan Singh, director, Markfed, gave the green signal and appreciated the endeavour of the school. Sally Andotra, principal of The Millennium School, Patiala, thanked the guests and conveyed her distress at the decreasing number of tigers and how it will affect our environment. She impressed upon all to contribute individually in doing so. She said the school would conduct various activities such as poster-making, debate etc, throughout the week. At the end, she highlighted that the school keeps observing such activities for the all-round development of students. — TNS

Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrated in city

Vajra Corps pays tributes to the Kargil martyrs in Jalandhar on Tuesday. A Tribune Photograph

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 26

A special function was organised by the Kashyap Naujwan Dharmik Sabha where families of martyrs of the Kargil war and martyrs of other Army operations were honoured here today.Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav was the guest of honour at the function.Pawan Kumar, president of the Sabha, said they had been organising this function for the past 16 years to salute the great soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Over 20 families belonging to Punjab and Himachal Pradesh of martyrs of the Kargil war and other operations took part in the function in honour of the war heroes.Several speakers said such functions should also be organised at the government level also. They also said that many memorials of martyrs in the region were lying in a shambles and the district administration was not paying heed to their upkeep. On this, DC KK Yadav assured the gathering to hold a meeting with the organisers of this function and promised that enough would be done to keep the memorials in a good shape.Vajra Corps remembers its braveheartsOn the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the Kargil war, Lieutenant General JS Cheema, General Officer Commanding Vajra Corps, offered floral tributes to Kargil martyrs at a solemn ceremony at the Vajra War Memorial in Jalandhar Cantonment. This was followed by a pledge taken by all present at the ceremony to dedicate themselves to the cause of the nation. A large number of veterans also attended the event and paid tributes to the martyrs.Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated in honour of the Kargil War heroes for the success of Operation Vijay. On this day, July 26 1999, the Indian Army successfully took command of the high outposts which had been illegally occupied by the Pakistani intruders. 527 soldiers from the Indian Armed Forces laid down their lives for the cause of the motherland during the war. The event is celebrated with full military decorum and solemnity.

Remembering the heroes

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated in honour of the Kargil War heroes for the success of Operation Vijay. On this day, July 26 1999, the Indian Army successfully took command of the high outposts which had been illegally occupied by the Pakistani intruders. 527 soldiers from the Indian Armed Forces laid down their lives for the cause of the motherland during the war. The event is celebrated with full military decorum and solemnity.

42 martyrs and the flame is still bright!

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 26

Forty two personnel of Jalandhar district from the military and paramilitary forces have sacrificed their lives in four operations launched in various parts of the country since Independence.With 11 officers, one junior commissioned officer, eight from various paramilitary forces and remaining from other ranks of the Indian Army, a majority of these bravehearts sacrificed their lives in Operation Rakshak.While 27 personnel were killed in Operation Rakshak that commenced on November 15 in 1989 and is going on till date in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, three were killed in Operation Rhino that is going on in the entire state of Assam since September 15, 1991. Three more causalities were reported in the district in Operation Meghdoot that is going on in the Siachen area since April 1, 1984. While three more were killed in Operation Parakaram that ran in the entire country from December 14, 2001, to March 31 in 2004.While four Jawans were killed in various encounters with terrorists in J&K areas, one was killed in a counter insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir and another one was killed in an IED blast on a BSF bus in 2004.While the whole nation remembered its martyrs of the Kargil war, the families of these bravehearts, too, shed tears in solace to remember their sons who laid down their lives while safeguarding the nation.While remembering his son Major Kanwal Gulzar Singh of 5/9 GR who died during Operation Rakshak in 1999, his emotional mother Simar Kaur said he was known as ‘Yudhister’ (the eldest of Pandava brother) amongst his unit officers for his upright, caring and sombre nature.“He used to stand by the truth all the time. He always used to tell me that I should not get worried about him. Even though he called me a few hours before going out on the fateful operation on the night of July 4, he did not reveal anything,” said Kaur. She further added that he was very fond of reading and had a huge collection of books. The mother has preserved his books as her priced possession.Speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, Sukhwinder Kaur, sister of martyr Sepoy Sodhi Ram, burst into tears and said that since the death of her brother Sodhi Ram during Operation Rakshak in 2004, she along with her younger sister, was staying with her old parents. “There is no one to take care of our parents. Our in-laws started beating us after his death for various reasons. I, along with my sister, left their houses and began staying with our parents only,” said Kaur. Sodhi Ram was killed in a terrorist action in 2004 in J&K.Sukhwinder further said that there should be a provision in the army also to provide jobs to the next of kin or a family member of other ranks as well.Sonu, son of martyr L/NK Tirath Ram of 53 Battalion of the BSF, said that though there were reports that his father was killed in a terrorist encounter in the Sambha sector, the family was informed that he lost balance and accidentally fell from a bunker.“Though we demanded a martyr’s status for our father from the BSF, they refused to do so and only recorded it as an accident,” said Sonu.

Students pay homage to Kargil War martyrs

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Students of Green Land School celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas

Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana, July 26

In today’s busy world when people have become too materialistic and have no time even for near and dear ones, there are brave soldiers on the borders who safeguard the country. Hundreds of soldiers have sacrificed their lives to ensure a secure environment for the countrymen.To remember and honour such soldiers, many schools in the city paid a floral tribute to the martyrs in commemoration of Kargil Vijay Diwas. To instill patriotism among the youth, the schools held various competitions and activities depicting patriotic feelings.

Shamrock School

A special assembly was conducted at Shamrock Christian Senior Secondary School, Hambran Road, wherein the students sang patriotic songs in remembrance of war heroes. A two-minute silence was marked as a respect to the departed souls. An inter-house speech competition was also held.

BVM, Kitchlu Nagar

A patriotic song competition was held at Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Kitchlu Nagar, in commemoration of the day. The staff and students paid homage to the brave soldiers. The students pledged to serve the nation in their best capacity. A documentary on Kargil War was also shown.

BVM, Udham Singh Nagar

A special assembly was held, wherein Sheetal Sharma, a school teacher, gave a speech in praise of Kargil soldiers. A patriotic song was presented by Raghu Gulati of Class XII. A documentary film was shown to the students.

Green Land School

NCC cadets of Green Land Senior Secondary Public School paid homage to the martyrs of Kargil War. An inter-house declamation contest was also organised.

The Unirise World School

Jagraon: A special assembly was organised on the campus of The Unirise World School and a cultural programme was held, wherein students of classes III and VI presented patriotic poems. Assembly in-Students put up badges depicting the National Flag on their shirts.

Powered up: Erdogan is unapologetic about his overreaching ambitions.

THANKS to Turkey’s key position in a turbulent region and help to stem the flow of refugees to Europe for a price, the world’s capitals are responding cautiously to President Recep Tayip Erdogan’s moves to detain thousands and propose giving himself all powers over the military and civilian fields. He has publicly declared that it is an opportunity given by God and he is exploiting it to the hilt.The coup of July 15 initiated by a section of the armed forces, which fizzled out quickly with political parties and the public condemning it, has culminated in a wholesale cleansing of the armed forces, including many generals and admirals, and the civilian and judicial power structures. The state’s enemies now are the Gulenists, followers of Fetullah Gulen, a self-exiled cleric living in America being charged with instigating the coup. Here we must explain the peculiarities of the Turkish legacy. Ataturk, the builder of modern Turkey on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, left a transformed country, abolishing the symbols of religious beliefs and practices to the extent of changing the written script to Roman characters. But he left behind a tradition of the army assuming state power and Turkish history is littered with a succession of coups carried out in recent times by the armed forces underlining the military being the main power centre. Mr Erdogan entered the political arena as a religion-flaunting mayor of Istanbul. He was imprisoned briefly for flaunting his religious card. But he and his colleagues were mining the religious constituency for his Justice and Development Party (AKP) and as his party’s fortunes progressed, he sought the help of Gulen and his “service” movement to create conditions in which the military could no longer pose a threat to the civilian dispensation. In his earlier avatar as prime minister, Mr Erdogan had presented himself as a moderniser making determined moves to seek membership of the EU and undertook legislative measures to comply with its norms and started negotiations with the militant Kurdish party, the PKK, to try to end the longstanding insurgency. There was resistance in the EU (the European Economic Community as it then was) to absorbing millions of Muslims into the community. It is still not clear what made Mr Erdogan change direction. But the demands of his main community, the upworldly mobile religiously-observant new middle class in Anatolia, were very different. Even as the Gulenists helped Mr Erdogan in making the country safe from coups, it came at the cost of Gulenists becoming a force by infiltrating the ranks of the armed forces and the civil and judicial services. The marriage between the AKP and the Gulenists lasted till Mr Gulen discovered that Mr Erdogan had his own agenda of assuming total power. He had sought exile in the US earlier. In 2013, Gulenists named senior members of the Turkish cabinet and Erdogan’s family members in serious corruption charges. The war between the two sides was on, with Ankara now demanding Mr Gulen’s extradition from the US.  Mr Erdogan’s own ambitions grew exponentially. After being elected and re-elected prime minister, he declared his intention to change the constitution to convert the system into an executive presidency. While in search of a two-thirds majority in Parliament, despite relatively poor showing in two elections, he resigned to run for presidency through an election he won. Although Mr Erdogan has still to secure a constitutional amendment, he runs the country in practice having appointed a more pliant prime minister. The present situation is full of ironies. His hero Ataturk pulled the country out of its fall by confining religious practices to the dustbin. By contrast, Mr Erdogan is seeking to re-emphasise religion, giving primacy to headscarves for women and observing other Muslim conventions to please his main domestic constituency and remain in power. Yet Turkey remains a key player in the Middle East because of its location, its military strength and the state of other countries in the region. Until recently, it was the main conduit for an army of jihadists fighting in the Syrian civil war. Its stricter control of borders came after American and Western pleading, as was its belated decision to let the US and allied aircraft use the Incirlik air base for bombing IS targets. A number of bombing incidents in Turkey are believed to be expressions of IS anger over Ankara’s policy change. Turkey has resumed its war with the Kurdish PKK in the south-east of the country in particular. The picture is further complicated by the Syrian Kurds being the best ground fighters in the American effort to get the better of the IS. And Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war through supporting the Assad regime mainly by air power gives a further loop to something of an East-West struggle.The most serious consequence of recent developments in Turkey is that a country that was supposed to be a stabiliser in a maddeningly disturbed area has itself become a cause for concern as Mr Erdogan seeks total supremacy over all his combined political foes. His goal is nothing short of constructing a new Ottoman dispensation even as he subverts the essence of the Ataturk revolution.Turkey is hosting millions of Syrian refugees, as are its neighbours. Americans’, and the world’s, attempts to end the Syrian civil war have stumbled, with Russia now a new party to be consulted, as the US realises, despite the Obama administration’s antipathy to Moscow. How Ankara can help this process remains doubtful, apart from Mr Erdogan’s efforts to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Clearly, the Turkish ruler’s attention will be devoted in a greater measure to his domestic problems.America’s contest with the IS will continue, with bombing runs now extended to Libya with its different armed centres of power fighting the recognised coalition. The Obama administration is leaving it to the next President to frame a new policy for the Middle East and the world.

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July23

Two Army jawans were killed while one was injured and another missing when the Army truck they were returning from Ghastoli fell into a deep gorge near Mana village near the China border in Chamoli district today. The accident took place after the driver of the truck lost control over it and it fell in a deep gorge.The services of a helicopter was called for but was not available due to an inclement weather. However, a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) team working tirelessly was able to open the road near Badrinath so that injured could be brought to a hospital in Joshimath.Meanwhile, a search was on for the missing jawan. Chamoli SP Priti Priyadarshini said the truck was returning from Ghastoli towards Mana village in Chamoli district when it met with the accident.She said the Chamoli District Magistrate had directed use of a helicopter to rescue the injured and rush him to hospital but the helicopter did not reach there due to the inclement weather.Meanwhile, the BRO team is working to open the road at Lambagad and only after that the injured would be taken to hospital, said the SP.Two killed in road accidentDehradun: Two persons were killed while three seriously injured when the utility vehicle they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge here yesterday. The injured were admitted to a hospital.The accident occurred when the driver of the utility vehicle was trying to avoid boulders, rolling down from a mountain top on the Kalsi-Chakrata road. Villagers called the police and with the help of villagers, they rescued and admitted them to the hospital.The deceased have been identified as Bagiram and Tara Dutt. The injured passengers have been identified as Surat Ram, Rameshwar Dimri and driver of the utility vehicle Ravi Kumar. The bodies have been sent for autopsy.

Lieutenant General KJ Singh retires on Sunday, July 31 as Western Army Commander after a distinguished career spanning four decades. Commissioned in 1977 in 63 Cavalry, he established a bond with the men he commanded; a professional’s hallmark. He did the staff course with the Navy in an experiment in jointmanship. Valuable lessons were learnt by him in a stint with the UN mission in Angola. Command of an armoured regiment, brigade and division followed while commanding XXXIII Corps tasked with the defence of Sikkim and Bhutan brought him the greatest satisfaction as a tankman. Additional armoured and mechanised units were inducted bringing about a change in the nature of operations. The previous defensive mindset prevailing until then was changed. Now any intruding enemy armour or infantry was to be decimated in killing areas.

PHOTO: HQ WESTERN COMMANDLt Gen KJ Singh inspecting weapons and equipment recovered after the Pathankot airbase attack. During his tenure, the effort of the troops was to check infiltration by terrorists as far forward as possible.

The achievements continued in his last posting at Chandimandir. Orientation of operational plans for the Ravi-Chenab corridor was changed.

An aggressive, layered defence against infiltration and terrorist movements in the Jammu region brought results in the Arnia, Samba and other encounters. Vigilant citizens were enlisted into the Jagruk Hindustani scheme, a grassroots information system. Other innovations included overcoming the shortage of officers by introducing JCO-led mobilisation for war. Developing the DharUdhampur road as an alternate to the vulnerable Pathankot-Jammu highway was a strategic initiative. Setting up of the think tank Gyan Chakra and the command museum displayed KJ Singh’s vision and drive in full measure.

The achieving zeal was also displayed in welfare measures for ex-servicemen including the senior veterans’ home, additions to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and a host of other administrative initiatives.

As the general rides off into the sunset today in the tank he commanded as a subaltern (he’s actually doing it in his old regiment), he can certainly look back with satisfaction at having served his country well.

NAVAL COASTAL SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS

A naval detachment (NavDet in Service parlance) has taken up guard at Androth Island in Lakshadweep. Another NavDet will soon be operational on Bitra in the same island group.

These NavDets are small details consisting of 2-3 officers and 25-30 ratings tasked with maintaining surveillance initially establishing a presence in far-flung territories building up to full-fledged bases. The NavDets will maintain surveillance to frustrate moves by terrorists, arms smugglers and pirates. For this purpose they will employ coastal radars networked to the BEL-developed Coastal Surveillance System.

The system can watch over the complete Indian coastline from a consolidated focal point. For local operations, the NavDets will be equipped with Gemini rigidinflatable boats and Solas Marine fast interceptor craft (FICs). The general nautical and coastal security scheme envisages a networked surveillance system with a chain of radar stations and small and large naval forces working in conjunction to deny our space to any hostile elements.

NORTHERN COMMAND TAKES TO TWITTER

Northern Command with it’s active involvement in counterinsurgency and cross-LOC operations not to speak of engaging with the Chinese interacts with the media on a daily, even hourly basis. The need to be in sync with the new communication super-highway is imperative.

Therefore, it was in the fitness of things that the formation’s media team now operates a Twitter handle (NorthernComd_IA) for regular updates on operations, encounters, military news and most importantly to squelch rumours and counter disinformation. Good luck to the Dhruvas!

NEW DELHI: Reliable workhorse — that’s how experts describe Antonov-32, the military aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal on Friday.

COURTESY: IAFThe Antonov-32 is a Russian-origin aircraft that has been in service with the Indian Air Force since 1984. About 250 AN-32s are in service around the world.

The Antonov-32 is a Russianorigin aircraft that has been in service with the Indian Air Force since 1984.

Its design is based on the older AN-26, which first flew in 1969. About 250 AN-32s are in service around the world.

The IAF was the first foreign customer to buy the AN-32 because of the strong defence relations between India and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

India has, over the years, bought 125 of the turboprop military transport aircraft and a little more than 105 are still in service.

India’s AN-32 fleet is currently being upgraded and modernised with advanced avionics, communications systems, landing aids, new oxygen systems and better seats. The upgrade was aimed at extending the aircraft’s service life by 15 years to 40 years.

A contract was signed with Ukraine’s state-owned arms trading agency to refurbish India’s AN-32s by 2017, but the project has run into problems because of the conflict in that country.

The fighting in Ukraine also affected the supply of spares that were to be used to upgrade some 65 aircraft in India.

The AN-32, which can carry 40 to 50 passengers or 7.5 tonnes of cargo, is usually considered a reliable aircraft despite the absence of creature comforts.

The IAF has lost a handful of AN-32s in accidents, the most serious being the crash of one of the aircraft near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in March 1999 that killed all 18 people on board and four more on the ground.

In March 1986, one of the first AN-32s being delivered to the IAF from the Soviet Union, disappeared over the Indian Ocean and no trace was found of the aircraft or the seven people on board.

In June 2009, an AN-32 aircraft with 13 people on board crashed while flying from Mechukha in Arunachal Pradesh to Jorhat in Assam. The IAF decided to upgrade the aircraft soon after this crash

India has accused Pakistan of fanning discontent in the Valley. — Reuters file

New Delhi, July 21

India on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan for “inciting and supporting” terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and instead asked it to vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).In a sharp reaction over anti-India rallies being held in Pakistan and other statements emanating from there over the situation in Kashmir, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India strongly condemns encouragement and support to UN-designated terrorists and their activities from Pakistan.Read: Pakistan spreading terrorism in India, says Rajnath
Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said in view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Pakistan should ensure full safety and security of Indian officials and their families there.

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“We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to J&K in Pakistan and PoK over the last two days. We have also noted that the events were led by UN-designated terrorists, who had in the past protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan.“India strongly condemns the encouragement and support which such terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan’s state.”We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner,” the spokesperson said.Asserting that the observance of ‘Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day’ exposes Pakistan’s longing for the territory of J&K, Swarup said, “India demands that Pakistan must fulfil the obligation to vacate its illegal occupation of POK.”   India also asked Pakistan to stop “misleading the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises such as the so-called elections today in PoK which Pakistan ironically calls ‘Azad’ (free).At least 43 people have died and more than 3,000 have been injured in the violence that erupted in Kashmir after the killing of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8.India has accused Pakistan of not only pushing in terrorists but also fanning discontent within the Valley by providing support to terrorist outfits in fomenting the recent trouble in Kashmir.Pakistan used Wani’s killing to needle India at the United Nations and issued statements where it accused India of atrocities in Kashmir. Pakistan also observed ‘Black Day’ on July 19 to express solidarity with the people of the Valley over the killing of Wani. — PTI