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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Shikhaar Masiahan(Gurdaspur), November 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Capt warns Pakistan

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

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

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

Gautam Dheer
chandigarh, DHNS

Defence minister

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

Our Correspondent

Abohar, September 23

Representatives of various NGOs and some former Central and state government officials offered floral tributes at the Major Surinder Prasad memorial on Monday.

Wife of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Lalita Shastri, inaugurated the memorial here in 1967. It was recently renovated by the Engineers Association with the help of Lions Club leader Naresh Khurana. Colonel (retd) Dilbagh Singh who participated in the 1965 and 1971 wars was also present to pay his tributes.

Chairman of Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch and former Sub-Divisional Magistrate BL Sikka said Surinder Prasad was the only son of former MLA and veteran Gandhian freedom fighter Master Teg Ram.

Alumnus of the local Municipal Board High School and DAV College, Jalandhar, Surinder Prasad was commissioned into 19 Maratha Light Infantry on December 17, 1961.

Manch president Gurcharan Singh Gill said in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, his battalion was given the responsibility of recapturing Thatti Jaimal village in the Khemkaran sector. As a company commander he succumbed to injuries sustained due to heavy shelling by the enemy. He was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously.

A prayer meeting was also held at the Samadhi Sthal in Major Surinder Park here.

The government had on Saturday formally notified the OROP scheme for the over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows in the country, which was rejected by the protesting ex-servicemen. – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/protesting-against-govts-orop-provisions-defence-veterans-to-start-returning-medals/#sthash.pqZ6ER8Z.dpuf
War veterans will start returning their medals from tomorrow to protest the government notification on implementation of ‘one rank-one pension’, which they have rejected, and hit back at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his comments that not all their demands can be met. “We have one and only demand and that is OROP. It was the government who inserted provisions that has made the issue complicated. We want OROP as per the definition. No junior should get more pension than his senior.
“In protest against the government notification, we will start returning our medals from tomorrow. On November 10-11, ex-servicemen across the country will start returning their medals. They have already informed the District Magistrates about this,” Group Captain V K Gandhi (retd), general secretary of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM), said. The government had on Saturday formally notified the OROP scheme for the over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows in the country, which was rejected by the protesting ex-servicemen. Parrikar had said earlier in the day that everyone has the right to make a demand in democracy but not all demands can be fulfilled. He said “maximum” demands of the veterans have been fulfilled and that the judicial commission to be set up by the government will look into their “problems”. In Delhi, the medals will be returned outside Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) tomorrow, Gandhi said, adding selecting crowded places for the purpose was meant to educate the common man about the issue. The protesting ex-servicemen also met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and briefed him about the OROP notification. “He called us today and asked us to brief him about the government notification. He has said in coming days he will take up the issue, address press conference and also visit the protesting ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar,” Gandhi said after meeting Kejriwal. – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/protesting-against-govts-orop-provisions-defence-veterans-to-start-returning-medals/#sthash.pqZ6ER8Z.dpuf

The letter Navjot Singh Sidhu wrote on November 7.

The letter Navjot Singh Sidhu wrote on November 6.

Sandeep Dikshit & Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
New Delhi/Chandigarh/Islamabad, November 7

Hours after Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu was given political clearance by the Centre on Thursday to take part in the Kartarpur corridor inauguration ceremony on the other side of the border, Pakistan issued him visa.

Political clearance has been granted to Sidhu to travel through the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on November 9, the sources in New Delhi said.

The Pakistan government invited Punjab Congress leader Sidhu — who also attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor — to attend Saturday’s inauguration.

A ruling party spokesperson had said that Sidhu, a personal friend of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan since old cricketing days, accepted the invitation.

“Sidhu has been issued a visa and we will warmly welcome him on the opening ceremony,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said during his weekly media briefing here.

The passport waiver for Kartarpur pilgrims would extend up to one year as a special gesture on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, Faisal said.

Pakistan has also waived the USD 20 service charge per pilgrim per visit on November 9 and November 12, he said, adding that it has also waived the requirement of 10-day advance intimation for the mega ceremony.

He said he would go to Pakistan as millions of devotees go on an eligible visa. He said since he has not got any response from the EAM, in spite of repeated reminders seeking permission, he would still go to Kartarpur.

Sidhu had on Wednesday also sought permission from the Centre for his clearance to visit Kartarpur. He had said he would visit Kartarpur via Wagah, if the approval to travel on Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s invite to him was not granted.

Sidhu has already missed the opportunity to be part of the official jatha. All Punjab MLAs were asked to apply, but Sidhu opted out. — With PTI inputs

Sidhu’s role can’t be overlooked, admit Cong leaders

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Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 6

Nearly four months after his unceremonious exit from the Cabinet and attempts to push him to political oblivion, Navjot Singh Sidhu found support and praise from some of his “old friends” in the party.Cooperatives Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and MLA Pargat Singh came out openly in support of Sidhu, while PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar was subdued while giving him credit for the opening of the corridor. Even as some senior Congress ministers and leaders raked up the issue of Sidhu’s stand of not participating in the special commemorative session of the Vidhan Sabha and seeking permission to go to Pakistan, the leaders spoke of his “contribution” in getting the project through.

CM Capt Amarinder Singh has so far refused to give credit to Sidhu. In fact, the rift between the CM and Sidhu began after the latter went to Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan PM Imran Khan, where Sidhu had claimed that Pakistan Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa had reportedly told him of the government proposal to construct the corridor. Sidhu was not present in the House today, and his name or his role over the matter was not mentioned during the session.

Randhawa told The Tribune that he gave credit to Sidhu for the construction of the corridor. “I, however, regret that Sidhu did not attend the session today. I would have loved to take him (Sidhu) along as part of the jatha to Kartarpur, and together we would have thanked Pak PM Imran Khan for fulfilling this long-pending demand of the Sikhs,” he said.

MLA Pargat Singh, who is among the few MLAs believed to be close to Sidhu, said the corridor was possible only because Guru Nanak had so desired. “But Sidhu and Imran Khan have played an important role. I would thank them and anyone else who has played a role in this,” he said. Even Jakhar said the contribution by Sidhu could not be ignored in getting the project through. “He played his part. But it is Baba Nanak who alone should get credit for the corridor,” he was quick to add.

SOLDIER’S CORNER
Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd)

LT Gen Hanut Singh retired more than two decades ago and moved into an ashram in Dehradun. He had cut himself from the world and spent his time in deep meditation. It is said that it was in a state of meditation that he gave up life.
I first came to know him when he was an instructor in the gunnery wing of the Armoured Corps School and I was in a gunnery course. He displayed complete mastery over the subject and in his lectures there was conviction, motivation and deep understanding of the power of the tank gun. There was nothing in tank gunnery worth knowing other than what he knew and would so convincingly put across.
The next I came in close contact with him was when he was commanding 14 Independent Armoured Brigade, where I was one of the unit commanders.
Earlier, he had taken part in the 1971 war and had made a name for himself in the famous battle of Basantar. He had put into practice what he had been so convincingly and forcefully advocating as Commander of the School of Armoured Warfare. The more remarkable part of his play was taking his regiment across a deep minefield to be with the infantry, which had already crossed the obstacle system and was nervously awaiting the onslaught of the enemy counter-attack.
Being deeply spiritual, and completely fearless, he had pushed his regiment through that deep enemy minefield without waiting for a safe lane to be cleared by the engineers. Since time was at a premium, he took the decision to wade through the minefield. It was indeed a miracle that no mine came in his way. Maybe, on that fateful night, the Lord was his charioteer as He was of Arjuna at Kurukshetra. When the enemy counter-attack materialised on the bridgehead, he was there to take it on and bring about its complete destruction. While he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, he earned from the enemy the sobriquet “Fakhr-e-Hind” for his regiment.
He had the moral courage to say what he thought was right, regardless of the fallout. An illustrious commander, he possessed the taste and feeling of the heritage of the human mind. At the root of his unimpeachable character and the courage of conviction was his self-realisation through long hours of meditation and religious beliefs. His sense of discipline and martial spirit had been passed down by his forefathers.
Lt Gen Hanut Singh was gentle of manner and stood by his officers and men. While he meditated for long hours, this spiritual digression never came in the way of his duties. He had an acutely discerning mind and few were the people that he misjudged. He led a simple soldier’s life, free from frills and follies. He exhibited all that goes into the making of a saint-soldier.
The writer resides in Chandigarh

नयी दिल्ली, 7 नवंबर (ट्रिन्यू)
केंद्र सरकार ने पूर्व सैन्यकर्मियों के लिए ‘वन रैंक, वन पेंशन’ लागू करने के लिए अधिसूचना शनिवार देर शाम जारी कर दी।
बिहार चुनाव परिणाम आने से ठीक पहले सरकार ने इसकी घोषणा कर दी। रक्षा मंत्रालय के प्रवक्ता सितांशु ने बताया कि पहले के पेंशनभोगियों की पेंशन साल 2013 की सेवानिवृत्ति की पेंशन के आधार पर फिर से तय की जाएगी तथा इसका लाभ एक जुलाई, 2014 से मिलेगा। भविष्य में पेंशन हर पांच साल में फिर से तय की जाएगी। साल 2013 में समान रैंक और समान सेवा अवधि के साथ सेवानिवृत्त कर्मियों की न्यूनतम और अधिकतम पेंशन के औसत के अनुसार पेंशन फिर से तय की जाएगी। ओआरपी से संबंधित अन्य मामलों को देखने के लिये न्यायिक समिति का गठन किया जायेगा। इस बीच ‘इंडियन एक्स-सर्विसमेन मूवमेंट’ के प्रमुख मेजर जनरल सतबीर सिंह (सेवानिवृत्त) ने कहा कि अधिसूचना स्वीकार्य नहीं होगी।