Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 23
The former Indian Air Force officer, who has filed 3,500 appeals with the Central Information Commission (CIC), revealed the irregularities in the functioning of the force.
He alleged unauthorised modifications to an Avro transport aircraft meant to ferry top brass of the IAF along with financial and professional misappropriation by some senior officers. In his complaints and representations to the IAF authorities, he has also claimed a threat to his life.
The officer, Wg Cdr Sanjeev Sharma, who claims to have been a whistle blower, filed the appeals with the Central Information Commission regarding the status of his complaints and the action taken by the IAF authorities thereon.
As per the IAF sources, the complainant who retired from the Chandigarh Air Force Station a few years ago, had, in a letter addressed to senior officers, stated that some officers had diverted several lakh rupees from the Air Force Public Funds by forging bills in connivance with contractor and used the money to refurbish an Avro aircraft. He further alleged that the aircraft had become a flight safety hazard as specified material was not used in it and nor was it certified by the Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness.
He also alleged that a senior officer claimed the LTC and posting advance for his daughter, but she was employed with an IT firm and hence, not dependent on him. He also alleged that an officer transported the Air Force mess property to another station for a private function.
Sharma alleged that another officer had visited his house and threatened him with his life and a complaint in this regard was filed right up to the level of the Air Chief.
Wg Cdr Sharma claimed that despite repeated representations and letters, no action was taken onhis complaints and instead he was harassed and humiliated.

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, November 19

To infuse a sense of adventure among troops and with an aim to encourage leadership, esprit-de-corps and camaraderie among all ranks, the Sarvashreshtha Engineers Regiment has undertaken a desert storm motorcycle expedition.
The expedition was flagged off from the Bathinda cantonment by Brigadier Vinay Gupta, Commander Sarvda Agrani Brigade, here today to commemorate 235th Corps of Engineers Day.
It will cover a total distance of 1,850 km from Bathinda to Bikaner and further to Jaipur and back to Bathinda in 12 days traversing through desert terrain of Rajasthan. A major part of the route is in proximity of border area.
The team comprises two officers and 10 other ranks.
The expedition members will be interacting with ex-servicemen as well as college/school students en route.
The team will also organise lectures and talks with the youth to educate and motivate them to join armed forces.
The expedition will be utilised to convey the message — ‘Serve Your Nation with Integrity, Honesty and Pride’.
The motorcycle expedition will offer an opportunity to the team members to exploit the arid desert, interact with local population and reach out to the youth, thus providing a judicial mix of adventure and inspiration.

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 14

Manning the Himalayan frontier requires foot soldiers to possess physical and psychological prowess rather than management or engineering skills, but the batch of Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) constables that passed out today included a recruit holding a master of business administration degree and another possessing a bachelor of technology.
Besides three other recruits held master of commerce degrees, six held master of arts and one held a master of science degree in addition to several others holding polytechnic diplomas and other technical qualifications. The minimum educational qualification for the recruitment of a constable is matriculation.
As many as 517 general duty constables were formally inducted into the ITBP at the force’s Basic Training Centre (BTC) at Bhanu near here. Only about 25 per cent of them were matriculates while the remaining possessed higher educational qualifications. The ITBP is responsible for guarding the border with China.
“This is reflective of the state of affairs in the society. It shows that either adequate jobs are not available for the qualified or the said qualifications do not measure up to the required standards,” Inspector General North-Western Frontier, Arvind Kumar, who was the POP’s reviewing officer, told media persons on the function’s sidelines. “Moreover, consequent to the Sixth Pay Commission, government jobs are back in the reckoning as the remuneration and facilities have become favourable as compared to many other sectors,” he added.
Deputy Inspector General, BTC, PS Papta, said an analysis of the recruits’ performance over the years had revealed that there had been consistence improvement in the training standards and fitness levels of the troops. He added that to sharpen the recruits’ personality, a DIG Banner was introduced for which professional as well as personality building competitions were organised.
While exhorting the newly inducted constables to strive for professional excellence and accept all challenges with full confidence, Arvind Kumar also gave away prizes for outstanding performance during the 44-week training course.

ਪੀ.ਪੀ. ਵਰਮਾ
ਪੰਚਕੂਲਾ, 10 ਨਵੰਬਰ
ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪੰਚਕੂਲਾ ਤੇ ਟਰਾਈਸਿਟੀ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਵੱਡੇ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ‘ਇਕ ਰੈਂਕ ਇਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ’ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੱਜ ਇੱਥੇ ਪੰਚਕੂਲਾ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਵਾਪਸ ਕੀਤੇ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਘੰਟੇ ਤੱਕ ਡੀਸੀ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ ਪੰਚਕੂਲਾ ਦੇ ਬਾਹਰ ਆਪਣਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਜਤਾਉਂਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕੀਤਾ।
ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਐਕਸ ਸਰਵਿਸਮੈਨ ਮੂਵਮੈਂਟ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਤਖ਼ਤੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਬੈਨਰ ਫੜੇ ਹੋਏ ਸਨ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡਅਰ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਕਿਰਨ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਤੇ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਕਰਨਲ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਐਸ.ਐਸ. ਕਾਲੀਆ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਹੇਠ ਪੰਚਕੂਲਾ ਦੇ ਡੀਸੀ ਵਿਵੇਕ ਅੱਤਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਮੰਗ ਪੱਤਰ ਸੌਂਪਣਾ ਸੀ ਪਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਕਾਰਨ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਮੰਗ ਪੱਤਰ ਲੈਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਸਕੇ। ਏਡੀਸੀ ਪੰਚਕੂਲਾ ਹੇਮਾ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੰਗ ਪੱਤਰ ਤੇ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਹਾਸਲ ਕੀਤੇ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਕੋਲ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਏ ਜਾਣ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਤਗ਼ਮ ੳੁਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਜਾਨ ਦੀ ਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਹਾਸਲ ਕੀਤੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਇਹ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਜ਼ੱਤ-ਮਾਣ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਰ ਦੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਵਾਪਸ ਕਰਨੇ ਪੈ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂਕਿ ਭੁੱਖ ਹੜਤਾਲ ’ਤੇ ਬੈਠੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਪੂਰੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ। ਹੁਣ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕੀ।
ਅੱਜ ਵੱਡੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਸੈਕਟਰ-2 ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਮੇਜਰ ਸੰਦੀਪ ਸ਼ਾਂਖਲਾ ਯਾਦਗਾਰੀ ਚੌਕ ’ਤੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋਏ ਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਰੋਸ ਮਾਰਚ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਡੀਸੀ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਕੇ.ਐਸ. ਕਾਹਲੋਂ, ਕਰਨਲ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਬੀ.ਐਸ. ਉੱਪਲ, ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਰਾਜਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ, ਕਰਨਲ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਆਈ.ਬੀ.ਐਸ. ਕੰਗ ਤੇ ਹੌਲਦਾਰ (ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ) ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਕਪੂਰ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਮੌਕੇ ’ਤੇ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਵੱਡੇ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਰਾਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ‘ਇਕ ਰੈਂਕ ਇਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ’ ਦੇਣ ਦੇ ਝੂਠੇ ਲਾਰੇ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਵਾਅਦੇ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਫੌਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਮਨੋਬਲ ਵੀ ਡਿੱਗ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਅੱਜ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਏਡੀਸੀ ਹੇਮਾ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ੲਿਕ ਰੈਂਕ ਵਨ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਠੀਕ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਪੂਰਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ‘ਇਕ ਰੈਂਕ ਇਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ’ ਦੀ ਨੋਟੀਫਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਤੋਂ ਉਹ ਨਾਖੁਸ਼ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖਣਗੇ।

To observe Black Diwali, abandon medals if no one comes to collect these
JALANDHAR: In protest against the recently notified ‘one rank, one pension’ (OROP) scheme that they find “diluted”, exservicemen have prepared to return their war medals on Tuesday across the state.
The veterans said they would observe Black Diwali and, in case the authorities didn’t come to accept the awards back, they would abandon these medals to the care of the district administrations. “More than 100 exservicemen from Jalandhar will return their war medals to the Union government through the deputy commissioner,” said Jalandhar district ex-servicemen association president Col Balbir Singh (retd), adding: “We hold the medals dear as our children, since they remind us of our contribution to the country, but we have no option but to return these, since the Centre has implemented a diluted version of the OROP scheme.”
The war medals are being returned on the call of veterans such as major general Satbir Singh (retd), chairman of the United Ex-Servicemen Front of India (UESFI). Ex-servicemen have accused the Centre of leaving flaws in the scheme to create a rift between the serving and retired soldiers.
“The government has not accepted out demand for an annual equalization of revised pension, for pegging it to the maximum of current pensioners, and for appointing an expert commission with serving and retired military personnel on it,” said Col Balbir Singh. The veterans disagreed with the government’s decision to revise the pension after five years instead of annually.
In Amritsar and various other districts as well, the medals would be returned on Tuesday, and in a few districts, including Hoshiarpur, it will be done after Diwali, the colonel has said.

Chennai, Nov 09: Furthering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India mission, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) recently flagged off the first two numbers of L70 upgraded guns. Designed, developed and manufactured by BEL, the guns were flagged of from the company’s Chennai facility. BEL had won the Rs 575-crore order for the L70 gun upgrade in a global open tender issued by the Indian Army. Later, the systems cleared a series of field trials ahead of the user finally accepting them. BEL claimed that the guns were rolled out ahead of the stipulated timeline of nine months

The Company, along with the Ordnance Factory Board, is expected to deliver 200 upgraded guns in the next three years. Gun boasts of fusion of technologies “The L70 gun upgrade is a fusion of the latest technologies in the areas of electrical servo drives, electro optical fire control system and video tracking, which only a few global companies have mastered,” says a BEL official. He said the BEL stuck to the order plan right from the beginning, to ensure timely delivery. “Right from designing the upgrade to establishing a production line, the project was meticulously executed,” the official added. Among the systems designed in-house included, processor and interface boards, power amplifiers, stabilized pedestal, high precision mechanical subsystems, video tracker and fire control solutions. BEL deputed a cross functional team of engineers from all disciplines for the speedy delivery of L90 guns. OneIndia News

ISLAMABAD: War with India is not an option, as the use of force could only worsen the situation, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said on Friday, adding that his country “has always been for talks” to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.
Sharif said this during a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain, reported Pakistani newspaper The Nation, quoting a senior government official who cited the conversation between the two leaders. Sharif said his government desired friendly ties with India, all its neighbours, and the world at large for sustainable development.
Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to Pakistan PM on foreign affairs; and Asif Kirmani, special assistant to Sharif on political affairs, attended the meeting. “They (Sharif and Hussain) discussed the regional situation and the LoC (Line of Control) violations by India,” an official statement said, adding: “Sharif told Hussain he had raised the issue with the US on his last visit to Washington to meet President Barack Obama.”Sharif said the US and world powers also wanted IndiaPakistan dialogue but alleged New Delhi was not cooperating, according to the official. “We have always been for talks,” he was quoted as saying. Another official said the Premier was concerned about the “US discrimination on the civil nuclear deal”. Sharif pledged to continue to convince the US for an India-like agreement.

Chandigarh, November 18

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation today allotted the work of showcasing a tableau of unique initiatives of the Model Burail Jail at the Republic Day parade on Rajpath to a company for Rs 20 lakh.

MC officials said on November 22, the company would first showcase the project to the Defence Ministry and submit its entry on the theme. A committee, which will select entries submitted by the states and union territories, will decide the fate of the same.

“Model jail tableau is not final. If the committee decides that some other thing should replace it, we will work on that,” a senior MC official said.

Burail Jail is the country’s first jail where inmates prepare food for thousands of children of anganwadis. All jail inmates have their bank accounts. It has already been declared plastic-free with ban on use of plastic items on its premises.

Instead of the traditional LPG cylinders, about 60 per cent energy needed for cooking at jail is fulfilled by biogas plants. The jail has its first exclusive outlet, Srijan, at Sector 22, where all products made by jail inmates are sold. One can get a variety of items from furniture to food products at the outlet. — TNS

Rajnath Singh. Tribune file

Bum La (Arunachal Pradesh), November 15

Despite differences in perception between India and China on the boundary issue, the armies of the two countries had been sensible enough to reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Friday.

He also said that there had been no tension at LAC near Bum La.

During a visit to the forward post of Bum La on the India-China border, Singh congratulated the Indian Army for showing “great maturity” in all situations.

“I have got the opportunity to interact with jawans here. I am very happy to be informed by my jawans that at this India-China border, which is LAC, we are working very sensibly and Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) is also operating sensibly. There is no tension here at LAC that is near Bum La,” he told reporters.

“During my Bumla visit I have come to know that despite perceptional differences on the boundary issue both the Indian Army and the PLA have been sensible enough to reduce tensions on LAC,” he said in a tweet.

He also visited the memorial of Paramvir Chakra winner Subedar Joginder Singh.

“At the time of the war of 1962, he sacrificed his life and showed indomitable courage and valour,” he said in a tweet in Hindi. PTI