Surgical strikes were bandied about to score political brownie points. However, the defence budget did not reflect the government’s seriousness about equipping the soldiers with gear and latest wherewithal. It is time that the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister got down to the serious business of defence reforms and increased capital funding.

SHRINKING budget: DRDO”s Advance Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) being displayed on Rajpath during the 68th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. PTI

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi spoke passionately about the surgical strikes in the Lok Sabha recently, saying the country could never repay its soldiers for it. During the 2017-18 budget presentation, the defence budget took care of the salary bills of the soldiers but neglected to equip them with the latest wherewithal to carry out deeper surgical strikes.A country’s defence budget represents its man-machine mix and the statement of intent to combat the internal and external challenges facing it. India’s latest defence allocation of Rs 3.9 lakh crore (including defence pensions) has been described as “flat”. In terms of capacity accretion, the capital funding is concave. In real terms, according to Shane Mason of the US Stimson Centre, the capital account of Rs 86,488 crore represents a 5 per cent decrease from last year’s, of Rs 86,189 crore. This is about $10.5 bn of a total budget of $51 bn. Mason adds that key budget accounts within procurement are also cut, like shipbuilding shrunk by 30 per cent and aircraft modernisation cut by 6 per cent. This will hit capability accretion badly in uncertain times and growing security challenges. What is worse is that last year’s capital budget went underutilised by nearly Rs 7000 crore, hitting modernisation adversely. So with the new capital budget flat and negative, capability enhancement would be standstill. While the allocation would service carryover liabilities such as Rafael fighters and M 777 howitzers, the infantryman who bears the brunt of day-to-day counter-insurgency operations will remain without a frontline rifle and personal gear. Why does modernisation have to take repeated hits due to under-allocation and under-utilisation of funds? The defence budget is overwhelmed by legitimate and soaring salary bills and rising pensions due to                                                                                                                                                                                                             The cumulative effect of OROP (only 90 per cent realised) and the Seventh Pay Commission (only partly implemented). Of the Rs 3.59 lakh crore budget, only Rs 86,000 crore account for weapons acquisition. The rising manpower costs have severely undermined the machine upgrade. Manpower expenses will continue to increase and unless more funds are made available for modernisation the stagnation in capability build-up will stay. Fulfilling the commitments made to ex-servicemen on OROP  by the government was a political imperative. Meeting challenges of defence and security are in national interest but lower priority. Winning elections is the highest political objective of the ruling party. Resolving the competing demands of manpower costs and modernisation is also a key objective of the government.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who earlier doubled as Defence Minister, explained the interlinked dilemmas of shrinking funds for capital spending and the apparent inability of the defence forces to spend the monies allotted for modernisation on time. Answering former Editor of Business Standard, AK Bhattacharya’s question on Doordarshan that there is criticism that you have not done enough for defence, Mr Jaitley replied “If the Defence Ministry can speed up its acquisition mechanism they can get as much money as they want. Budgetary allocations are only indicators. Defence gets the highest priority. The amount indicated in the budget plus the pension is a large amount”. Clearly two things are evident from these comments. Increase or decrease in defence budget except salaries is directly related to provisions on modernisation  in capital and revenue heads of acquisition, upgrade and maintenance of defence inventories. Experience over the last two decades has shown that capital allocation especially in case of the army, has not been able to be spent on time due to hassles in procurement procedures.There is another plausible reason for non-utilisation which is that North Block officials towards November/December of the year place an informal embargo on any new contracts ensuring that earmarked funds lapse on 31 March. The government must enable Defence forces to utilise in full the capital account for modernisation Is defence really a high priority for the government as stated by Mr Jaitley ? The answer is a resounding ‘no’. The bureaucrats and political class have convinced themselves there will be no war. Gen Bipin Rawat, within hours of taking over as Army Chief told the media that the army was prepared for a two-front war and the Cold Start doctrine (never formally acknowledged by the government) would be its fulcrum against Pakistan. Given the current operational preparedness levels of the armed forces (recall Gen VK Singh’s hollowness in critical capabilities cry in 2012) it is not only not possible to deter cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan but also catching up with China’s overwhelming conventional nuclear and terrain superiority is a far cry.At Kozhikode, during the BJP conclave last year soon after the terrorist strike in Uri, Jaitley pledged to increase the defence budget which he has not done. Modi does not miss any political opportunity of praising the Army’s surgical strikes and commending Defence Minister Parrikar for them. Parrikar attributes the Army’s success to his RSS training. Both bask in reflected glory. On Budget day in the numerous TV debates, not one word was uttered on the inadequacies in defence allocation despite the GDP growth rate being 7 per cent. Politicians who sang surgical strikes in chorus were mum.Three trends can be noticed in the defence budget. First that defence expenditure in the last decade as percentage of GDP has been declining steadily from 2.19 per cent to 1.71 per cent to 1.65 per cent today which is lowest since 1962. Further, in the last two years, the revised estimate (RE) has been less than the budget estimate when the government has claimed higher RE in all other sectors. Second, defence budgets are flattening with capital accounts stagnating for the last 8 years resulting in accumulated obsolescence. What good are 85 projects worth Rs 1.50 lakh crore cleared by Defence Acquisition Council when the Defence Procurement Procedures, despite one dozen upgrades, does not foot the bill? Third, manpower costs continue to undermine modernisation. While the manpower heavy army is able to spend just 18 per cent of its budget on modernisation, the equipment intensive Navy and Air Force do better with 52 per cent and 59 per cent utilised for modernisation.The Lt Gen Shekatkar report on streamlining manpower is really a band- aid solution. India needs a comprehensive defence and security review. The latest suggestion is to establish a Defence Capital Acquisition Authority to fast-track defence contracts sans kickbacks. In 1988,  a suggestion was made for the formation of a Defence Acquisition Command and a Plans Programmes Budgeting System for evaluating equivalent capabilities of different weapons platforms to rationalize the defence budget.Evaluating the latest defence budget, the Stimson Centre says that from “a strategic perspective, India’s mismanagement of the defence budget will prevent the military from releasing its full potential…”. In December 2015 at the Combined Commanders Conference Modi had declared that reforms in senior defence management was an area of priority for him. Only Mr Modi can walk the talk. But is he interested in defence?The writer is a founder-member of the Defence Planning Staff, the forerunner of the Integrated Defence Staff.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 3

About a decade after the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, was passed by Parliament, the judicial body is finally set to be armed with powers to get its judgments and orders implemented.The Armed Forces Tribunal (Amendment) Bill is listed for consideration and passage before Parliament in the Budget Session, sources said.  Besides providing powers of civil contempt, it enhances the retirement age of AFT members and abrogates the system of re-appointment.This gives some hope to defence litigants in whose favour decisions have been passed by the AFT, but the orders were not being implemented by the defence services or the Ministry of Defence (MoD).Though the AFT possesses powers of criminal contempt — empowering it to take action against any misbehaviour by an individual — it was not vested with civil contempt powers due to which its orders were not implemented.The amendment, initiated in 2012, was referred to a Parliamentary Committee, where it was opposed by the Army.The amendment Bill also proposes to enhance the retirement age of the AFT chairperson and judicial members to 67 years from 65. The period of appointment has also been enhanced to five years from four.Advocate Maj Navdeep Singh — on whose PIL the Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier directed the Tribunal to take coercive action against authorities for non-compliance of its decisions — said if enacted, the Bill would provide security of tenure and more stability to members since officers against whom AFT orders are to be passed form part of the re-appointment selection committee.The Chandigarh Bench of AFT has been without any judicial member since the retirement of Justice Surinder Singh Thakur in September last year, bringing all judicial work to a standstill.

Candidates coming out of an exam centre in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5

Over 19,000 candidates attempted the CDS-I (Combined Defence Services) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Sunday at more than 30 centres in Chandigarh which is the only centre in Punjab and Haryana.The written exam consisted of three papers – English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The candidates who had applied for the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) were required to take only first two papers, while all the other candidates had to appear for three papers. Each paper carried 100 marks and the candidates were given 2 hours for each paper.“The paper was not very difficult but candidates from science background certainly had an upper hand,” said Ruchir, candidate from Ambala.Another candidate Himanshu from Rewari said the paper was overall simple. “There was nothing unexpected. I think all candidates have a fair chance,” he said.Analysing the paper, city-based UPSC exam expert Kunal Singh said the mathematics paper was easy, English paper was conventional and general studies questions were repeated.“The exam was easy and scoring as compared to the last two years exam. Even as the paper was similar in terms of weightage assigned, there was a shift in the type of questions asked in science as well as economics which were different from conventional CDS papers,” he said. Singh said, “26 questions were repeated from the previous UPSC papers which will definitely raise the cut-off this time.”Notably, the UPSC had announced that the CDS-2017 exam date in November and accordingly the applications were invited. The CDS exam is the first part of the selection process – written exam. The Commission would recommend selected candidates to the Service Selection Board (SSB). The Board then would conduct intelligence and personality test for shortlisted candidates.The exam was held for around 463 seats in Defence Academies in Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala; Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai, for the courses commencing in January 2018.

Slaps Rs 5-cr fine on Ministry of Defence; asks for promotion up to Lt Col

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, January 20

The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has reinstated Second Lieutenant Shatrughan Singh Chauhan after 25 years, restoring his seniority and promotions as well as imposing a fine of Rs 5 crore on the Ministry of Defence.The matter, which came up before AFT’s Justice DP Singh and Air Marshal Anil Chopra yesterday, is about Mainpuri native Second Lt SS Chauhan, who had been serving in the Sixth Rajput Battalion when he was court martialled on November 4, 1991, which sacked him and awarded him seven-year imprisonment.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The order was later confirmed by the then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Udhampur. In a major indictment of his seniors, the AFT observed that his senior officers had purposely implicated the young officer in a false case to ensure that the gold he had recovered during a search operation could be concealed from the government.The AFT order quashing Chauhan’s sacking order has directed the Defence Ministry to provide him promotional avenues up to the stage of Lieutenant Colonel for the purpose of arrears of salary pension benefits and rank.The ministry is also to pay Rs 4 crore to Chauhan and another Rs 1 crore has to be deposited in the Army Central Welfare Fund within four months.The case goes back to April 11, 1990, when during the peak days of militancy during a search operation in Srinagar, Chauhan in the presence of other soldiers had recovered 147 gold biscuits weighing around 27.5 kg.The CO, Colonel KRS Panwar allegedly put pressure on Chauhan not to mention the gold in the documents. The other senior officers also remained silent.The gold biscuits were allegedly embezzled by the senior army officers. The officer took the matter to Parliament’s Committee of Petitions. The Army headquarters ordered a separate inquiry.It was during the inquiry that some army officers covering him with a blanket attacked Chauhan while he was sleeping in a tent.In 1991, the court martial cut short Chauhan’s career sentencing him to seven-year jail on charges of being a deserter and mentally unstable.

Court-martialled officer reinstated after 26 years

LUCKNOW: The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has restored the services of a second lieutenant, who was court-martialled in 1991, and imposed a fine of ₹5 crore on the ministry of defence.

SS Chauhan, who was a second lieutenant in the Indian Army’s Sixth Rajput Battalion, was posted in Srinagar when he was court-martialled on various charges, declared a deserter and mentally unstable.

The rank of a second lieutenant is no longer in use in the army and all new officers are commissioned as lieutenants.

Passing the judgment on Thursday, justice DP Singh and air marshal Anil Chopra quashed Chauhan’s court-martial.

They also ordered the defence ministry to reinstate the officer as well as provide him promotional avenues up to the stage of lieutenant colonel for the purpose of arrears of salary, pension benefits and rank.

The tribunal also ordered the ministry of defence to pay ₹4 crore to Chauhan and deposit ₹1 crore with the Army Central Welfare Fund within a period of four months.

Chauhan, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district, was court-martialled on November 4, 1991, and the order was approved by the then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Srinagar.

The officer’s ordeal began when he recovered 147 gold biscuits weighing around 27.5kg during a search operation in Srinagar on April 11, 1990.

In his petition, Chauhan pointed out that the gold biscuits were recovered from a house in the presence of other soldiers and were handed over to the then Colonel KRS Pawar and then Lt General Zaki Mohammad Ahmad.

The gold biscuits were allegedly ‘embezzled’ by the senior army officers.

During the trial, the tribunal observed that Chauhan’s senior officers implicated him in false cases to ensure that the recovery of gold could be concealed from the government.

Justice Singh and Air Marshal Chopra directed the chief of the army staff to look into the matter and ensure that appropriate action is taken against those who were instrumental in persecuting Chauhan and complete the inquiry in four months.

ARMOURED CORPS

1. IC-45439L BRIG ASHIS BHATTACHARYA
2. IC-49868K COL AJAY DUA
3. IC-51014H COL MANISH R RAI
4. IC-51116Y COL ROHIT MEHTA, HQ 1 CORPS
5. IC-53426H COL KRISHAN KUMAR SINGH
6. IC-55630A COL ASHOO KHOSLA
7. IC-60493W COL TUHIN CHOUDHARY, 18 CAV
8. IC-61131Y LT COL GS DHILLON, 18 CAV
9. IC-62130L LT COL ABHINAV PATANKAR
10. IC-63008F LT COL NEERAJ MARWAH, 51 ARMD REGT
11. IC-65330M LT COL SK ABROL, ADA CHINA
12. IC-70027P MAJ MUKTESH SURI, 27 RR
13. IC-72292K MAJ ANKIT SINGH, OTA, HQ ARTRAC
14. IC-75660Y MAJ ANKIT HARJAI, 22 RR
15. JC-244726M RIS RAJESH KUMAR, 18 CAV
16. JC-244846L RIS RAN VIJAY KUMAR, CVRDE, AVADI CHENNAI
17. JC-246457K NB RIS SAMUNDER SINGH, 88 ARMD REGT
18. JC-246866X NB SUB RAM BHANWAR SINGH, 89 ARMD REGT
19. 15470803K DFR VINOD SINGH RAJPUT, 18 CAV
20. 15476837N DFR LAL BAHADUR
21. 15483742W DFR CHIRAJIT BEPARI
22. 15487830K SWR BHAGWAN SINGH

REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY

23. IC-41924H BRIG SANJEEV GROVER
24. IC-42958H BRIG SUBRAMANIAM HARIMOHAN IYER
25. IC-46452F COL R SRINIVASAN, EMB HQ CHENNAI
26. IC-51196Y COL RK PRUSTY
27. IC-51578L COL SANATAN SINGH
28. IC-51951A COL SANDEEP PURI
29. IC-53434F COL SANJEEV CHOPRA, HQ ARTRAC
30. IC-55968L COL ADITYA VERMA, SM, 7 ASSAM RIFLES
31. IC-57931H COL RAJIV RANJAN, 63 FD REGT
32. IC-58644L COL PUNEET SANGHERA, 79 MED REGT
33. IC-57164P LT COL ADITYA VERMA, 661 ARMY AVN SQN(R&O)
34. IC-61501W LT COL SARABJEET SINGH
35. IC-61632F LT COL MITHESH KHATI
36. IC-62594H LT COL KONARK MAHAJAN
37. IC-65846P LT COL DILER SINGH JAKHAR, 163 FD REGT
38. IC-67328N LT COL RAS SIVASH, 617 SATA BTY
39. IC-66128L MAJ GAURAV TOMAR, 852 LT REGT
40. IC-71983K MAJ MAYANK SHARMA, 1 ASSAM RIFLES
41. IC-75377L CAPT G SATISH KUMAR, 45 ASSAM RIF
42. SS-44390N CAPT VISHAL THAPA, 43 RR
43. SS-46186N CAPT NAVDEEP S KHARA, 9 PARA FD REGT
44. JC-270907P SUB GOPAL VENKATESAN, P&E EST, CHANDIPUR
45. JC-274893X SUB P GUNASEKARAN
46. JC-276344W SUB RAM KISHAN
47. JC-276997X SUB GURMUKH SINGH, 5 MED REGT
48. JC-280628X SUB LAISHRAM DEBENDRO SINGH, VSM, ASI PUNE
49. 14442501L HAV RENJITH RAJ M
50. 14429250N HAV M VENKATESAN, 96 FD REGT
51. 15161800W HAV ROUSHAN KUMAR
52. 15162588W HAV RAM RATAN
53. 15152900A HAV RAMESH KUMAR
54. 15206007W HAV PANKAJ KUMAR, 289 SATA BTY
55. 15169675M L/HAV RAMBABU ANDAVARUAPU, 125 SATA REGT
56. 14436095A NK RAKESH KUMAR, 140 MC/MF DET
57. 15179712H L/NK PANKAJ KUMAR DAS, 62 RR
58. 15192185L GNR KISHORE KUMAR M, 18 RR

ARMY AIR DEFENCE

59. IC-46708Y COL BHUPESH REKHI
60. IC-46787Y COL MOHAMMED SALEEM GADED, DLRL HYDERABAD
61. IC-49921K COL SAMEER SHARMA, ARO, AIZAWL
62. IC-51239L COL ANIL YADAV
63. IC-63055Y LT COL SACHIN JAIN
64. IC-72009L MAJ ASHOK KUMAR, 25 RR
65. IC-75242K MAJ PUNEET SHARMA, 20 RR
66. IC-77366X MAJ B KIRAN KUMAR, 12 RR
67. SS-42785W MAJ ASHOK KUMAR KHANDELWAL, 10 ASSAM RIFLES
68. WS-01114X MAJ JULEE, ARTC AND SCHOOL
69. JC-299254F SUB MAJ B RAJU, ARMY AD COLLEGE
70. JC-302001A SUB PAWAN SINGH
71. JC-NYA-14412133M NB SUB BURJA RAJA RAO, 25 RR
72. 15774341Y HAV SHIVA KUMAR KR, 50 LT AD REGT (COMP)

ARMY AVIATION CORPS

73. IC-56642F COL VIKRAMJEET SINGH NAT, 202 ARMY AVN SQN
74. IC-56184W LT COL GALBA SIVA KIRAN KUMAR, SM, 202 ARMY AVN SQN
75. IC-58748M LT COL TANUJ SETH, 39 (I) R&O FLT
76. IC-63098N LT COL HEMANT KUMAR SHARMA, 34 R&O FLT
77. IC-69200F MAJ ARCHIT SHISHIR, 202 ARMY AVN SQN(UH)
78. IC-70312N MAJ ANIMESH MANDAL, 37 R&O FLT
79. IC-75550K CAPT ABHAY KUMAR, 39 (I) R&O FLT

INFANTRY

80. IC-42044Y BRIG PRAKASH CHANDER, ASSAM, UNIT 817
81. IC-43756N BRIG SANJEEV LANGEH, SM, JAK RIF
82. IC-48394F BRIG MILAN MATHUR, SM, GORKHA RIF, 80 INF BDE
83. IC-49272K BRIG ARUN YADAV, GR, HQ 35 INF BDE
84. IC-42508L COL AMIT VIR PANDIA, JAT, STN CELL, HQ UB AREA
85. IC-43484Y COL SANTANU DEV GOSWAMI, ASSAM, PRO (DEF)
86. IC-43688L COL KALYAN SINGH, ASSAM
87. IC-46723N COL HARBIR SINGH, SM, SIKH LI
88. IC-47233M COL SOMESHWAR SINGH SINSINWAR, SM, PARA, PARA TRAINING SCHOOL (VIKAS)
89. IC-48675X COL SANGRAM SINGH SADASHIV VARTAK, RAJPUT
90. IC-49710F COL YOGENDER SINGH, GUARDS
91. IC-50012L COL JAIDEEP LANBA, SIKH LI, WESTERN COMD PRO UNIT
92. IC-50379L COL SANJEEV KUMAR, SIKH LI
93. IC-50568P COL VIKAS CHAUDHARY, 3 RAJ RIF, DA CHINA
94. IC-50700K COL MRS MANN, 1 GR, DA NEPAL
95. IC-50829X COL ARUN CG, KUMAON
96. IC-50836N COL NEERAJ SHUKLA, SM**, JAK RIF
97. IC-51668M COL PADAM SINGH JANGHU, JAT
98. IC-52080X COL KAMAL DEEP JASPAL, BIHAR
99. IC-52086Y COL AMRIK SINGH, PUNJAB
100. IC-52375N COL SANJEEV DHAR, RAJPUT, HQ 330 INF BDE
101. IC-52472L COL VIJAYKUMAR R JAGTAP, RAJ RIF, HQ 21 CORPS
102. IC-52865F COL HEMENDRA BHANDARI, SIKH
103. IC-52940A COL MANOJ DATTATRAY JOSHI, GRENADIERS, HQ 15 CORPS
104. IC-52966P COL MANDEEP SINGH, SM, GARH RIF
105. IC-53015K COL PRANAB MISRA, BIHAR, HQ CENTRAL COMD
106. IC-53511L COL MUNESH CHANDRA TAMANG, ASSAM, HQ 3 INF DIV
107. IC-54003F COL NM BENDIGERI, DOGRA, HQ NORTHERN COMD (OPS)
108. IC-54023P COL SANJIV MEHROTRA, SIKH LI, HQ NORTHERN COMD (EM)
109. IC-54165M COL NAVNEET BAKSHI, MARATHA LI
110. IC-55005Y COL SANJEEV KUMAR SINGH, RAJ RIF, HQ PUPSA
111. IC-55246Y COL PARSHANT KANDPAL, GR, 58 GTC
112. IC-55348P COL PRADEEP KUMAR MEHTA, 11 GR, HQ SOUTHERN COMD
113. IC-55624M COL AMIT GANESH, 9 GR
114. IC-55971L COL JODHVIR SINGH, SC, 5/4 GR
115. IC-55999L COL SAURABH SAKLANI, JAK RIF
116. IC-57120X COL NINAD RAMESH KULKARNI, JAK LI, HQ SOUTHERN COMD
117. IC-57462L COL SHISHIR BHARDWAJ, KUMAON, 26 RR
118. IC-57871Y COL M SHEKATKAR, 6 MARATHA LI
119. IC-57905F COL SHANTANU ROY, GARH RIF, GARH SCOUTS
120. IC-57927A COL RITESH CHANDRA SINGH, 19 KUMAON
121. IC-58155A COL RAJESH KUMAR, 13 RAJ RIF
122. IC-58430P COL AMIT SONI, 8 JAK LI
123. IC-58600N COL DAYANAND SHARMA, 2 MARATHA LI
124. IC-58617F COL RICHARD FERNANDES, 12 GARH RIF
125. IC-58889K COL KRISHNA KESAV SINGH, 5 GR (FF), 33 RR
126. IC-59100H COL SHAILENDER SHARMA, 22 RAJPUT
127. IC-59131H COL SHROT SINGH, 14 ASSAM
128. IC-59141M COL ROHIT RAWAT, JAK RIF, 3 RR
129. IC-59154K COL PHANJOUBAM SANANDA SINGH, 3/9 GR
130. IC-59289L COL MANISH PRIYADARSHAN, 16 MARATHA LI
131. IC-59470H COL MANOJ AP, SC, SM, SIKH LI, 11 ASSAM RIFLES
132. IC-59870P COL MOULI SANKAR ROY, 8 MAHAR
133. IC-60141Y COL MUKUND MG, SM, 10 SIKH
134. IC-55242H LT COL RAKESH KRISHNAN, GARH RIF
135. IC-57692Y LT COL CS SIDHU, 3 GR
136. IC-59452A LT COL MANOJ SANGWAN, BIHAR
137. IC-59502A LT COL AJMER SINGH CHIB, 8 GR
138. IC-59681L LT COL SN KARTHIKEYAN, GRENADIERS
139. IC-60313H LT COL RAVINDRA RANANAVARE, 4 MADRAS
140. IC-60956A LT COL VIKAS BHANDARI, GUARDS
141. IC-61413A LT COL KASHYAP THAKKER, KUMAON
142. IC-61673L LT COL HARSHAVARDHAN PANDEY, RAJPUT, SELECTION CENT SOUTH, BANGALORE
143. IC-62115W LT COL RANVEER SINGH JAMWAL, JAT, ARMY ADVENTURE WING
144. IC-62134F LT COL KUNKHEN TESWANG STOBDAN, LADAKH SCOUTS, HAWS
145. IC-62507K LT COL KULBHUSHAN SINGH CHIB, SM, SIKH
146. IC-62610P LT COL GANGADHAR NAYAK, BIHAR
147. IC-62664W LT COL MANDEEP SINGH, BIHAR, HQ NSG
148. IC-62826W LT COL AMIT KUMAR, 8 JAT
149. IC-62973Y LT COL KARAN BHATIA, 6 PARA, HQ 1 ARMD BDE
150. IC-63044M LT COL BHAVATOSH DAS, 9 GORKHA RIFLES, THE INF SCHOOL MHOW
151. IC-63062P LT COL VIKRAM SADHOTRA, KUMAON
152. IC-65054P LT COL D F PERVEZ, ASSAM
153. IC-65402L LT COL ASHUTOSH SHARMA, GUARDS, 21 RR
154. IC-65624A LT COL DINESH SINGH THAKUR, SIKH
155. IC-63426W MAJ AMIT JYOTI LAHKAR, GORKHA RIF, EMBASSY OF INDIA, (NEPAL)
156. IC-63434M MAJ BINIT KUMAR, 28 PUNJAB
157. IC-65871N MAJ ARNAB MITRA, BIHAR, HQ ARTRAC
158. IC-66028A MAJ AMAN AGGARWAL, 3/5 GR (FF)
159. IC-66200W MAJ MIRZA ZAHID BAIG, GORKHA RIF
160. IC-68824F MAJ SUDHIR KUMAR SINHA, MARATHA LI, 41 RR
161. IC-68994L MAJ JASPREET SINGH, 3 RAJPUT
162. IC-69207L MAJ MELGE RAHUL NARAYAN, 12 PARA (SF)
163. IC-69345M MAJ RONNY SUNNY, JAK LI, 25 ASSAM RIFLES
164. IC-69642A MAJ CK GUNDE, SM, MAHAR, NDA
165. IC-69778K MAJ SAYAN S RAI BANERJEE, GORKHA RIF, HQ NORTHERN COMD
166. IC-69837L MAJ KRIPAKAR M, 19 MADRAS
167. IC-70330W MAJ MD NOORUDDIN AHMED, SIKH
168. IC-70404A MAJ NIRMALENDU, 4 SIKH
169. IC-70583L MAJ KUMAR GAURAV, 9 GR
170. IC-70871X MAJ BALRAJ SINGH RANDHAWA, 3 PARA (SF)
171. IC-73120F MAJ BHAIRAB PRASAD ACHARYA, 3 RAJPUT
172. IC-76925K MAJ RAVI KUMAR SANWARIYA, 7 SIKH LI
173. IC-77985L MAJ ANKIT BISHT, 1/5 GR
174. SS-43758Y MAJ S VENKATA KRISHNAN, GUARDS, 1 ASSAM RIFLES
175. SS-44518N MAJ DILIP SINGH KHANGARKOT, 2/5 GR (FF)
176. SS-45069W MAJ D`SOUZA CLIFF FRANCO, 5 MARATHA LI
177. SC-00605F MAJ SANJAY SINGH, 3 GR
178. IC-74865F CAPT VINEET KHULVE, 14 JAK RIF
179. IC-75061Y CAPT YIKLEI THUMRA, MADRAS, 25 RR
180. IC-78690F CAPT RAJESHWAR SINGH, 11 JAT
181. IC-79132M CAPT JAGTAR JOHAL, 5 RAJPUT
182. IC-79762M CAPT VAIBHAV RAWAT, 3 RAJPUT
183. IC-75296L CAPT RAMKUMAR B, MADRAS, CJIW SCHOOL
184. IC-78008Y CAPT BHARTENDU KUMAR, 2 SIKH
185. IC-79068A CAPT ROHIT GURUNG, 5/4 GR
186. SS-46277X CAPT GANTEDI ARJUN, 19 MARATHA LI
187. IC-81515X LT KUMAR GAURAV, 16 MADRAS
188. JC-509083A SUB MAJ BHAGIRATH NAYAK, SIKH LI, SAINIK SAMACHAR, DPR
189. JC-413859L SUB RAJENDRA SINGH, 3 PARA (SF)
190. JC-430985N SUB PANKAJ SINGH PUNDIR, PUNJAB, AGIF
191. JC-440830M SUB SYED KADER SYED GOUSE, MADRAS, 25 RR
192. JC-460344W SUB PATIL CHANDRAKANT ANAPA, MARATHA LI, 56 RR
193. JC-480319Y SUB VIJAY PAL SINGH, 26 RAJPUT
194. JC-490742M SUB JAGWANT SINGH, SM, JAT, 8 UP BN NCC
195. JC-491062Y SUB SUNEHRA SINGH, 12 JAT
196. JC-521071X SUB SARDARI LAL SHARMA, 13 DOGRA
197. JC-521190N SUB KV MAHALING, DOGRA, 412 MC/MF DET
198. JC-521893P SUB RINZIN DORJE, DOGRA SCOUTS
199. JC-530202Y SUB SURENDRA SINGH, GARH RIF, ASI PUNE
200. JC-530380F SUB DINESH KUMAR, GARH RIF, GARH SCOUTS
201. JC-560845L SUB MAN BHARAN SINGH, 20 BIHAR
202. JC-588472Y SUB TASHI NORBOO, 3 LADAKH SCOUTS
203. JC-602959A SUB YAK BAHADUR GURUNG, 5/1 GR
204. JC-612725K SUB MINGMAR GURUNG, SM**, GR
205. JC-612741F SUB GOPAL BAHADUR THAPA, 4 GR
206. JC-618098P SUB MOHAN BAHADUR GURUNG, 4/5 GR (FF)
207. JC-413646X NB SUB PRAKASH CHANDRA, PARA, 51 SAG
208. JC-413970P NB SUB RAM SINGH, 4 PARA (SF)
209. JC-441033N NB SUB KUMAR NATESAN, 21 MADRAS
210. JC-481387Y NB SUB MAN SINGH, 3 RAJPUT
211. JC-550563Y NB SUB ARUN CHANDRA DAS, 12 ASSAM
212. JC-521721A NB SUB SANJAY KUMAR PATYAIL, DOGRA
213. JC-603141X NB SUB DHARMA RAJ GURUNG, GR, IMA
214. JC-618277Y NB SUB TAS BAHADUR GURUNG, 1/5 GORKHA RIF (FF)
215. JC-624131F NB SUB DEV BAHADUR GURUNG, 5/8 GR
216. 9096670K CHM CHAIT RAM, 8 JAK LI
217. 15618092K CHM TAM SINGH, GUARDS, IMA
218. 2487459A HAV BALKAR SINGH, PUNJAB, 2 J&K BN NCC
219. 2600265N HAV RAMA ERAPPA SANJIMANI, 7 MADRAS
220. 2607561F HAV K SIVA KUMAR, MADRAS, NIMAS
221. 2690838L HAV PAWAN KUMAR, GRENADIERS
222. 2697760N HAV RAKESH JAISWAL, GRENADIERS
223. 2704515W HAV HASIBUL ISLAM, GRENADIERS, GRENADIERS RECORDS
224. 2800643L HAV AJAY KUMAR, MARATHA LI
225. 2892925F HAV MD ASRAFUL ALAM KHAN, RAJ RIF, ARO, ALMORA (UK)
226. 2894780A HAV RAMPAL SARAN, 12 RAJ RIF
227. 2895138L HAV HAJARI LAL, RAJ RIF
228. 2992903K HAV VINOD SINGH BHADORIA, 22 RAJPUT
229. 3007578N HAV AJIT KUMAR AKELA, REGIONAL CENTRE ECHS, JAIPUR
230. 3404132F HAV VIKAS SHARMA, SIKH,
231. 4077786W HAV PREM SINGH, GARH RIF, GARHWAL SCOUTS
232. 4081225Y HAV DABBAL SINGH, 9 PARA (SF)
233. 4365245F HAV SURESH CHANDRAN R, MADRAS, EMB HQ CHENNAI
234. 4365326F HAV RAJAT KANTI BARMAN, 8 ASSAM
235. 4477050X HAV HIMMAT SINGH, 8 SIKH LI
236. 4484535H HAV NEERAJ VYAS, SIKH LI
237. 4568377K HAV JASWANT SINGH, 1 MAHAR
238. 5046688L HAV SHER SINGH RANA, 4/1 GR
239. 5048139K HAV NAVEEN KUMAR ARYA, GORKHA RIF
240. 5248203A HAV SAMUEL THAPA, 4 GR
241. 5251143F HAV RAMESH BAHADUR THAPA MAGAR, GR, 32 BIHAR NCC, MUZAFFARPUR
242. 5251160F HAV RAKESH BABU, GORKHA RIF
243. 5348570F HAV BINOD TAMANG, 5/4 GR
244. 5348649K HAV JAS BAHADUR GURUNG, 5/4 GR
245. 5349982P HAV ARJUN KUMAR THAPA, GORKHA RIF
246. 5454484F HAV SANDEEP GULARIA, 5 GR (FF), 3 CORPS DEF & EMP COY
247. 5457086L HAV KARTHIKEYAN A, 4/5 GR (FF)
248. 5457508A HAV RAGVENDRA SINGH SIKARWAR, 3/5 GR (FF)
249. 5753379Y HAV KHIM BAHADUR RANA, 3/8 GORKHA RIF
250. 5848071P HAV MEKH BAHADUR CHHETRI, 3/9 GR
251. 5848853L HAV OMKAR KSHETRI, 1/9 GR
252. 9101326L HAV ARUN KUMAR MISHRA, JAK LI
253. 9423796P HAV MIN BAHADUR TAMANG, GORKHA RIF
254. 13622571W HAV SEKHAR REDDY G, 4 PARA (SF)
255. 13622990N HAV LOHIT KONWAR, 4 PARA (SF)
256. 13758025K HAV RAJESH CHOUDHARY, JAK RIF, THE INF SCHOOL MHOW
257. 16026807H HAV AJAY SINGH, 21 RAJ RIF
258. 3401770P L/HAV GURDEEP SINGH, 6 SIKH
259. 5851231P L/HAV KIRAN JUNG KARKI, 2/9 GR
260. 319004W NK PREM SINGH, JAT, 34 RR
261. 2490487X NK SURINDER KUMAR, 21 PUNJAB
262. 2896357Y NK JAIBIR SINGH, 18 RR
263. 3000708H NK YOGENDRA KUMAR, 3 RAJPUT
264. 3999585X NK SATISH KUMAR, 17 DOGRA
265. 5250205K NK KRISHNA BAHADUR THAPA, 1/3 GR
266. 5350200A NK AMIT KUMAR THAPA, 5/4 GR
267. 5454831P NK RAMJI SHRESTHA, 6/5 GR (FF)
268. 5756662W NK PURNA BAHADUR PUN, 3/8 GORKHA RIF
269. 5849862A NK HARISH CHHETRI, 9 GR, 32 RR
270. 5850416K NK SURAJ KHADKA, 5/9 GR
271. 9107244Y NK ANIL SHARMA, 8 JAK LI
272. 9107710H NK MADAN LAL, 8 JAK LI
273. 9423738L NK DAHINDRA KUMAR RAI, 2/11 GR
274. 9926572H NK DORJAY GYALSON, LADAKH SCOUTS
275. 13766936P NK BALINDER SINGH, 4 PARA (SF)
276. 2494286W L/NK BABOO RAM, 21 PUNJAB
277. 2497303W L/NK PANJAB SINGH, 21 PUNJAB
278. 2606954L L/NK OM RAMESH, MADRAS
279. 2698814W L/NK NARESH KUMAR, GRENADIERS, 55 RR
280. 2799355K L/NK KALE CHANDRAKANT SAMPAT, 14 MARATHA LI
281. 4084976L L/NK PRATAP SINGH, GARH RIF,
282. 4483627H L/NK KULDEEP SINGH, 8 SIKH LI
283. 5250917M L/NK CHANDRA BHAHDUR THAPA, GORKHA RIF
284. 5756823N L/NK MIN BAHADUR RANA, GORKHA RIF
285. 3005343H L/NK MUKESH SINGH, 3 RAJPUT
286. 2500153Y L/NK AJAY KUMAR, 4 PARA (SF)
287. 13626874H L/NK GURBACHAN SINGH, 9 PARA (SF)
288. 13626881Y L/NK PRAVENDRA SINGH, PARA, SPECIAL GP
289. 2612521K SEP RAJA SHEKHAR, 5 MADRAS
290. 2620789W SEP SUNIL NASHIPUDI, 16 MADRAS
291. 3008795W SEP AKSHYA PRATAP SINGH, RAJPUT, 44 RR
292. 3202225N SEP SATISH KUMAR, JAT, 5 RR
293. 3209639H SEP VINOD KUMAR BARALA, 12 JAT
294. 4201339H SEP LAXMI DATT NAGARKOTI, KUMAON, 50 RR
295. 4287899W SEP PRADEEP SP, 2 BIHAR
296. 4378158M SEP NIMA LEPCHA, 8 ASSAM
297. 4489271W SEP AMANDEEP SINGH, SIKH LI, 19 RR
298. 12984723X SEP MOHAMMED MAQBOOL, SIKH LI, 2 RR
299. 4087665H RFN SANJAI SINGH, 16 GARH RIF
300. 5050671P RFN BISHNU GC, 3/1 GR
301. 5353004L RFN MIN BAHADUR ASLAMI MAGAR, 5/4 GORKHA RIF
302. 5456827L RFN CHIREN KUMAR BHANDARI, 5/5 GR (FF)
303. 5457228X RFN UMESH RAI, GORKHA RIF,
304. 5457729X RFN ANKIT THAPA, 1/5 GR (FF)
305. 5852281Y RFN SURENDRA THAPA CHHETRI, 4/9 GR
306. 9112973L RFN JUGMEET SINGH, 8 JAK LI
307. 12954291Y RFN TARIQ AHMAD MAGRAY, 160 INF BN TA JAK RIF (H&H)
308. 13770449M RFN JAGDISH CHOUDHARY, JAK RIF, 28 RR
309. 13777738K RFN ANKUSH SHARMA, 14 JAK RIF
310. 16018192N RFN BALRAM CHOUDHARY, 9 RAJ RIF
311. 15623697P GDSMN RAJESH KUMAR, GUARDS, 21 RR
312. 3409042K PTR RANDHIR SINGH, 2 PARA REGT
313. 14705896Y PTR RUCHIN SINGH RAWAT, 9 PARA (SF)

MECHANISED INFANTRY

314. IC-52366M COL SANJAY GAUTAM
315. IC-57845X COL RAJI MATHEW, 19 MECH INF
316. IC-65534Y LT COL PANKAJ MAITHANI
317. 14927064F HAV VINOOP CHERUVAMPRA

CORPS OF ENGINEERS

318. IC-41488W BRIG RAJEEV CHAUDHARY, VSM, CME PUNE
319. IC-44547H BRIG RAJESH KUMAR SACHDEVA, HQ 21 CORPS
320. IC-47994X BRIG JAGABATHULA KAMESHWARA RAO
321. IC-49867F COL RANJEET SINGH MANRAL
322. IC-49874X COL VELAYUTHAM ANBARASU, HQ ARTRAC
323. IC-50087H COL PRAVIN YEOLE, AWHO, INDORE (MP)
324. IC-50688N COL AJAII SINGH CHONKER
325. IC-53190Y COL KARAMJIT SINGH GILL
326. IC-54268L COL PRAVIR MISHRA
327. IC-56923X COL YOGESH NAIR, VSM, HQ CE(P)DANTAK
328. IC-56978F COL ROHIT SAGAR, ESP-4
329. IC-58283X COL N BALAMURUGAN, HQ 19 BRTF
330. IC-58472F COL C RAJASHEKHAR, HQ 48 BRTF
331. IC-60007N COL R RAMASUBRAMANIAN, 21 BRTF
332. IC-59611M LT COL AMANDEEP JAIN
333. IC-59921X LT COL RAJEEV LOHANI
334. IC-60135L LT COL SUNIL KUMAR
335. IC-60719W LT COL VP SHAJIL
336. IC-61813M LT COL ABHISHEK KHANNA, GE (EAST) DELHI CANTT
337. IC-62473F LT COL SS HUSAIN, HQ DELHI AREA
338. IC-63277N LT COL RAJINDER SINGH
339. WS-00810H LT COL SUMAN DEVI
340. IC-67470X MAJ PRADEEP SINGH, 78 RCC
341. IC-68617P MAJ RAJESH KUMAR JOSHI, 87 RCC
342. IC-71156F MAJ RONALD DANIEL D`SOUZA, 71 ENGR REGT
343. IC-75671L MAJ ABHILASH CHAND, 90 RCC
344. IC-71559F CAPT RAVI KUMAR POONIA, 63 RCC
345. IC-71577K CAPT LAKHWIINDER SINGH SODHI, 60 RCC
346. IC-76181K CAPT MOHAN KUMAR, 57 ENGR REGT
347. IC-78225P CAPT SANJAY BHATT, 123 RCC
348. IC-80763F CAPT PARVEEN, 57 ENGR REGT
349. SS-46342M CAPT GAURAV HANS, 54 RCC
350. JC-331820M SUB MAJ SATHEESAN S, GE (I)R&D
351. JC-308154A SUB S RAJENDRAN, MEG GP & CENT (ATT ATHLETIC NODE, ARTY CENT HYDERABAD)
352. JC-311042L NB SUB UNNIKANNAN APV, INDIAN ARMY EVEREST MASSIF EXPEDITION
353. JC-311303N NB SUB POLINA GANGAJALAM, 438 (I) FD COY
354. JC-341074H NB SUB KAMLESH SINGH, 53 ENGR REGT
355. JC-353391W NB SUB SYED GULAM RASUL, 111 ENGR REGT
356. 15316009K HAV SHIJITH PM
357. 15317445N HAV M SANKAR, 651 ENGR PLANT UNIT
358. 15338905X HAV SGB MAUN, BEG & C ROORKEE
359. 15561840L HAV ONKAR SINGH, 102 ENGR REGT
360. 16117610A HAV MADHU PRATHAPAN NAIR SUDHA DEVI, DEPOT BN MEG & CENT BANGALORE
361. 18001666A HAV PRAVEEN KUMAR
362. 15331107F L/HAV VIJEESH KUMAR V, 4 ENGR REGT
363. 15324851W NK CHELIMELA MADHAVA, 33 RR
364. 15330009P NK SATYANARAYANA, 5 ENGR REGT
365. 15335630K NK JASWINDER SINGH
366. 15344569M NK HEM SINGH
367. 15344917H L/NK AKILESH KUMAR, 66 ENGR REGT
368. 15587116K SPR RAJBIR SINGH, 110 ENGR REGT
369. 15588414F SPR AZADVIR SINGH, 267 ENGR REGT
370. 16120427H SPR E SURYANARAYANA, 70 RCC

CORPS OF SIGNALS

371. IC-48923H BRIG SANJIV SHARMA
372. IC-41735Y COL GURDEEP SINGH BHANDAL, 236 TRANSIT CAMP
373. IC-50722H COL AMARESH PANWAR, PMO PLAN ARMY RADIO ENGR NETWORK
374. IC-52336P COL RANJIV SINGH SAINI
375. IC-53910P COL VIJAY KUMAR VERMA
376. IC-54323W COL VISAKHAADITYA REMANI, 14 RAPID SIG REGT (AREN)
377. IC-57106L COL VIKAS SINGH YADAV, 11 FD SUB GP
378. IC-60063M COL JAYESH NAYAR
379. IC-60473H LT COL SACHIN SAXENA
380. IC-60685N LT COL MANISH DALAL, 10 CORPS SIG REGT
381. IC-67371P LT COL KANWARJIT SINGH, MCTE, MHOW
382. IC-68360P MAJ AVIJIT SHARMA, 5 SIG GP
383. IC-69848K MAJ GOSWAMI DIBYAJYOTI D
384. IC-70194L MAJ SUMEET BHARDWAJ
385. IC-72171H MAJ RAHUL TOMAR
386. SL-04990N MAJ SANJAY MISHRA
387. IC-77576X CAPT AS SHEKHAWAT, 6 MTN DIV SIG REGT
388. IC-79937K CAPT SIDDARTH SINGH, 10 INF DIV SIG REGT
389. SS-46421F CAPT PRADHYOMAN RAO, ASSU
390. JC-373950W SUB MAJ MUHAMMED KUNHI NA, ASI PUNE (1 STC)
391. JC-374327M SUB MAJ DHARMENDRA SINGH
392. JC-382758N SUB MAJ MANOJ KUMAR SINGH, JOINT CIPHER BUREAU
393. JC-380472A SUB LAKHVIR SINGH
394. JC-382440W SUB PRAVEEN KUMAR, 11 FD SUB GP
395. JC-384530W NB SUB SATISH KUMAR JAT
396. 15672225H HAV BIRAJA PRASAN KAR, 3 FD SUB GP
397. 15693238N HAV RAJESH PK, 1 AFSR
398. 15385339N HAV L DAVID JESUDOSS, 102 INF BDE SIG COY
399. 15681395N NK FIROS KHAN
400. 15715559N L/NK JAWAHAR SINGH, WESTERN COMD SIG REGT

ARMY SERVICE CORPS

401. IC-46468M COL BHANU PRATAP SINGH
402. IC-49441A COL AJAY TEWARI
403. IC-50759K COL JIVAN ZENDE
404. IC-53612Y COL CDS ASWAL, 5003 ASC BN
405. IC-54925K COL SRKG NAIR, HQ MG & G AREA
406. IC-52236K LT COL ASHOK PANWAR
407. IC-53342P LT COL SUMANTO SEN
408. IC-55178W LT COL MANISH MRINAL
409. IC-59915K LT COL DEEPAK DOBRIYAL
410. IC-63449X MAJ SANDEEP SINGH LAMBA
411. IC-67546M MAJ MANU PANDEY, NDA
412. WS-01071N MAJ NUTAN CHHILLAR
413. IC-79226K CAPT ABHISHEK SAHOO, 8 JAT
414. SS-47579W LT SHREYA, 5104 ASC BN
415. JC-660506A SUB ARUN KUMAR, 666 COY ASC TK TPTR
416. JC-668084P SUB S SWAMINATHAN
417. JC-668359X SUB RAVINDRADAS MN, HQ 57 MTN DIV
418. JC-668582F SUB RAGHU NATHAN NV
419. JC-668603M SUB SHOBH NATH
420. JC-669070F SUB G NARASIMHA MOORTHY, DRDO
421. JC-669313F NB SUB SHYAMA CHARAN
422. JC-669394M NB SUB TIWASKAR SN
423. JC-670154F NB SUB BANGSHI GHOSH
424. JC-670324A NB SUB RIYAAJUDDIN, HQ WESTERN COMD
425. JC-NYA 6393032W NB SUB PRASANTA KUMAR NAYAK
426. 2997733H HAV SHARMA SATISH KUMAR
427. 6395844H HAV RAM JANM SINGH YADAV
428. 14840897P HAV SHANKAR LAL
429. 14845264L HAV ASHOK KUMAR SINGH, 629 TPT COY ASC
430. 14848839A HAV SHENDGE RAVINDRA BALASO
431. 14850960M HAV INDERPAL, TM (LS)ACN WING
432. 14819917K NK AJENDRA KUMAR
433. 14840556K SEP MORAVANENI RANGANATH
434. 14844980K SEP ANSHU CHAUDHARY ALLONA, HQ DG NCC
435. 14862169P SEP MAHADEV SHIRAGAVE

ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS

436. IC-51343X COL MK SHARMA, 2 NCC BN CHANDIGARH
437. IC-58255L COL SURAJ BHANWAR RATHORE, SM**
438. IC-59465X LT COL AJAY KUMAR PUNDKAR, CAD PULGAON
439. WS-01432F MAJ NIVEDITA SINGWAL, CAD PULGAON
440. WS-01474N MAJ DEEPIKA RATHORE, VSM, 11 RAJ BN NCC, AJMER
441. IC-79916N CAPT MOHIT KUMAR, 3 RAJPUT
442. JC-718460K SUB JASWINDER SINGH, 20 SSB BHOPAL
443. JC-728053F SUB JOY E J, 17 FAD
444. JC-729662X SUB KHILARE HANUMANT CHANDU, CAD PULGAON
445. 6942890N HAV ABDUL RAHMAN

CORPS OF ELECTRONICS AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

446. IC-44902P BRIG SANJAY SHARMA, CHIEF STAFF OFFR (L,A&P)
447. IC-53139Y COL KAMALAKARAN RANJIT
448. IC-56365F LT COL VISHESH KUMAR SHARMA, 509 ARMY BASE WKSP
449. IC-56988L LT COL ASHISH PUNDIR, HQ RECRUITING ZONE, PUNE
450. IC-58334A LT COL SURAJ NARAYAN MISHRA
451. IC-58449N LT COL VISHAL AHLAWAT, 35 UP BN NCC
452. IC-60072N LT COL JAYANT MOHAN JOSHI
453. IC-62444M LT COL PANKAJ PREET SINGH, HQ 35 INF BDE
454. IC-67302Y LT COL RANA MITESH K
455. SL-04441N LT COL GANGADHARAN M, 17 CORPS ZONAL WKSP
456. WS-00922H LT COL DAHIYA RITU MOHINDERSINGH
457. JC-765818P SUB MAJ KALAMKAR UTTAM DATTU, 862 FD WKSP COY
458. JC-761013A SUB GS RANDHAWA, MAG 22
459. JC-763705N SUB CHANDRA KUMAR TR, 18 R&O FLT
460. JC-766538N SUB BRAJA GOPAL BISHAL
461. JC-769999H NB SUB N DHARMAR, 233 (I) FD WKSP COY EME
462. 14620395F HMT DIWAKAR SINGH BHADORIA, AHQ STATIC WKSP EME
463. 14660559P HMT OMPRAKASH DANGI, 510 ARMY BASE WKSP
464. 14635280L HAV AB SUBRAMANIAN, IHQ OF MOD (ARMY) STATIC WKSP
465. 14645105K HAV SOHAN LAL CHOUDHARY, HQ DG NCC
466. 14648208N HAV SANTOSH KUMAR
467. 14667726H HAV UMESH KUMAR
468. 14681196K HAV KHETRI RAJ KUMAR SHIVPUTRA, 307 FD WKSP COY/ 659 EME BN
469. 14665440P SEP RK SINGH, 507 ARMY BASE WKSP
470. 17014790K SEP VISHNU S, 19 RR

ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

471. MR-05398K BRIG RAKESH KUMAR GUPTA, MH JAIPUR
472. MR-05773K BRIG R RAMASETHU, MH CHENNAI
473. MR-04918X (17405) AIR CMDE SANDIP MUKHERJI, AFMC PUNE
474. MR-05296N (75408)SURG CMDE ARTI SARIN, CH (SC)
475. MR-06015Y COL AMIT DEVGAN, CH (EC)
476. MR-06468K COL PRADEEP KUMAR, AFMS (PLG)
477. MR-06520F COL ANUJ CHAWLA, AFMC PUNE
478. MR-06604P COL SUNIL AGRAWAL, AFMC PUNE
479. MR-06630W COL ANAND SHANKAR K, ARMY HOSP (R&R)
480. MR-06794M COL ATUL GOYAL, DGAFMS SECTT
481. MR-07458M COL PRASHANT PANDIT, 92 BH
482. MR-06544L LT COL SHASHI VARDHAN, 666 COY ASC TK TPTR
483. MR-06998Y LT COL RAJNISH AGARWAL, AFMS (MR)
484. MR-07262Y LT COL PUNEET BAVEJA, AFMS DTE (PENSION)
485. MR-07357Y LT COL Y SURESH REDDY
486. MR-07506F LT COL ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE, BH BARRACKPORE
487. MR-07531A LT COL RISHIKESH DEEPAK SANE, SFF HOSP
488. MR-07902X LT COL VIVEK KUMAR SINGH, MH BHOPAL
489. MR-08689P LT COL KRISHNA PRASAD GV, MH JAIPUR
490. MR-08422A (75641)SURG CDR WAHIDA PRIZM, OTC, AMC CENTRE & COLLEGE, LUCKNOW
491. NTR-16667L LT COL VS VARKEY, MPRS (O)
492. MR-09139Y MAJ RAJESH R NAIR, MH JAIPUR
493. MS-16477Y MAJ JYOTI MOTIRAM GULVE, CAD PULGAON
494. MS-17031W CAPT PRIYANK AUGUSTYA, 35 RR
495. MS-17265A CAPT PRABHAKARAN K, 13 RR
496. MS-17274F CAPT MANU TIWARI, 70 RCC
497. MS-17391M CAPT SARAVANAN R, 408 FD HOSP
498. JC-698256N SUB MAJ DES RAJ, AFMC PUNE
499. JC-694270H SUB MAJ ILAM SINGH, CH (WC)
500. JC-697355K SUB MAJ SAHDEV NAIK
501. JC-699191X SUB KALINDRA SAHU, DGAFMS SECTT
502. JC-699567N SUB MANOJ KUMAR, ARMY HOSP (R&R)
503. JC-699910L SUB SATHEESH KUMAR
504. JC-540479L NB SUB SURESH CHANDRA DWIVEDI, AFMS DEPOT
505. JC-700209X NB SUB NAIDU GOPALKRISHNA PARMESHWAR, DGAFMS SECTT
506. 15412051A HAV SHRABAN GHOSH, AFC
507. 15417045W HAV C PRAKASH, DGAFMS SECTT
508. 15418732Y HAV P SINGARAYAR, AFC
509. 1399915A NK SUNIL KUMAR
510. 13999872Y NK JOJO CG, AFC
511. 15428764P NK ALOK KUMAR, 660 ARMY AVN SQN (R&O)
512. 15432779P SEP JITENDRA KUMAR YADAV, GARHWAL SCOUTS
513. 15438551P SEP DILPREET SINGH, 471 FD HOSP

ARMY DENTAL CORPS

514. DR-10376P BRIG NK SINGLA, AFDC
515. DR-10449W COL SAROJ KUMAR RATH, 9 CORPS DENTAL UNIT
516. DR-10473M COL PARAG DUA, 14 CORPS DENTAL UNIT
517. DR-10515N LT COL DALJINDER SINGH, CMDC (EC)
518. DR-10573X LT COL KARAN NEHRA, AD CORPS, ARMY DENTAL CENTRE (R&R)
519. DR-10609L LT COL AMIT JAIN, AFMC PUNE
520. DR-10619P LT COL AZAD KHAN CHOUDHARY
521. DR-10621M LT COL RAHUL PRATAP SINGH, COMPOSITE HOSP NSG MANESAR
522. JC-697756Y SUB MAJ UDAY RAJ SINGH, AFMC PUNE

MILITARY NURSING SERVICE

523. NR-18675H LT COL KARAMALAYIL VELAYUDHAN GIRIJA, 150 GEN HOSP
524. NR-20489L LT COL VIJAYAPPAN PIONI, ARMY HOSP (R&R)
525. NR-20890M LT COL STEEJA KS, 158 BH
526. NR-20980N LT COL MANJU GOPINATH, ARMY HOSP (R&R)
527. NR-21050X LT COL PREMRAJ HEMALATHA, ARMY HOSP (R&R)
528. NS-23085N CAPT AYEKPAM ANGELLA DEVI, 183 MH
529. NS-23089K LT SONI, BH BARRACKPORE

INTELLIGENCE CORPS

530. IC-46335W COL SUSHIL KUMAR JOSHI, DIA HQ IDS
531. IC-46595F COL SS CHAHAL, AHQ CIU
532. IC-57533F COL SUSHIL KUMAR TANWAR, 15 CORPS CI SU
533. IC-56511W LT COL NAVEEN GAHLAWAT, IHQ OF MOD (ARMY) CIU
534. IC-60139F LT COL MANOJ KUMAR RANA, 3 CORPS I&S UNIT
535. IC-67567H MAJ NEERAJ ROUTELA, 31 CIU
536. IC-70462K MAJ SAGAR PADMAKAR JOSHI, 4 CISU
537. JC-811789M SUB KHEDEKAR VS, HQ INT & FS GP
538. JC-811705N NB SUB LAISHRAM SOLENDRO SINGH, ECCIU
539. JC-811706W NB SUB JANAK RAJ, 4 CISU
540. 3198912K HAV ASHOK KUMAR, 15 CORPS CISU
541. 15136218Y HAV PANCHAL DURGA SHANKAR, 357 IFSU
542. 13626794L NK BALBIR SINGH, ECCIU

JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL DEPARTMENT

543. IC-45479M COL MM SOOD
544. IC-45765N COL JATINDER SINGH
545. IC-46718H COL MANOJ KAUSHIK, COL LITIGATION HQ DELHI AREA
546. IC-66495X MAJ ALIFA AKBAR
547. IC-73230W MAJ MAHESH PRASAD SHARMA, HQ 14 CORPS

REMOUNT VETERINARY CORPS

548. V-00503L LT COL PK CHUG, HQ NSG
549. V-00562X LT COL ASHISH TIWARI, RVC C&C
550. V-00606K MAJ PHILIP VARGHESE, NSG K9
551. 7244718P SWR VINAY KUMAR, 22 ADU (ATT WITH 8 JAT)
552. 0B87 MINE DETECTION DOG CLOVA, 27 ADU

DEFENCE SECURITY CORPS

553. 14810435N SEP DEVASAHAYAM AROCKIA SAMY, CAD PULGAON

ARMY PHYSICAL TRAINING CORPS

554. SL-05262A LT COL MANOJ KUMAR, ASI PUNE

TERRITORIAL ARMY

555. TA-42702A LT COL UNNAT SHARMA, 124 TA BN (SIKH)
556. TA-42759Y CAPT PRADEEP SHOURY ARYA, 106 INF BN TA (PARA), 4 PARA (SF)
557. 13004695L SEP KSHETRIMAYUM MOMOCHA MEITEI, 165 INF BN TA (H&H) ASSAM

CORPS OF MILITARY POLICE

558. JC-819597K SUB BALESH KUMAR, DELHI AREA PROVOST UNIT
559. JC-819804L SUB INDERJIT SINGH, 50 (I) PARA BDE PRO UNIT
560. 7778257L HAV JASA RAM CHOUDHARY, AHQ PRO UNIT
561. 7781230Y NK SUMEER SINGH, 16 CORPS PRO UNIT
562. 7781239N NK PAWAR DNYANESHWAR DAULAT, IHQ OF MOD (ARMY) PRO UNIT

ARMY POSTAL SERVICE

563. JC-835125X NB SUB P K PRAKASH
564. 8377254N WO TAJ SINGH

ARMY EDUCATION CORPS

565. IC-48940H COL R BALAJI

GENERAL SERVICE

566. SL-04557K LT COL HARBINDER SINGH, HQ CE SOUTHERN COMD
567. SL-04647L LT COL BHAJAN SINGH VERMA, RECORDS 39 GR
568. SL-04759L LT COL RAMESH SINGH, MP-5&6
569. SL-04958Y MAJ PRATAP SINGH, RAJ RIF REGTL CENTRE
570. SL-05128P CAPT RAJNATH SINGH, RECORDS SIKH LI

GENERAL RESERVE ENGINEERING FORCE

571. GO-003018F SHRI SUNIL KUMAR, EE (CIV) HQ 35 BRTF
572. GS-164445H SHRI BS PINGAL, JE (CIV), 67 RCC
573. GS-192680X SHRI BASANTA KUMAR JALLI, JE (CIV), 117 RCC
574. GS-193151X SHRI MADDE PRAVIN RAMCHANDRA, JE (CIV), HQ 1446 BCC
575. GS-193154L SHRI SANDEEP BISHT, JE (CIV), 108 RCC
576. GS-194574X SHRI ANSHI PRASAD DEVLI, JE (CIV), 762 BRTF
577. GS-191172P SHRI MANOJ KUMAR, OEM, 94 RCC
578. GS-191283M SHRI AJAY KUMAR, OEM, 108 RCC

MILITARY ENGINEERING SERVICE

579. MES-438459 SHRI SK TRIPATHI, SE, CME, PUNE

ASSAM RIFLES

580. G/5003438W RFN CK VINOD, 1 ASSAM RIFLES
581. G/0110167M WO DILIP SINGH, 1 ASSAM RIFLES

INDIAN AIR FORCE

582. 18820-N GP CAPT SS PRAKASH RAO, 5 TAC
583. 25022G WG CDR PURANDAR RAYACHOTI, CSD ADELPHI

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

The strength of the Army’s mechanised infantry battalions is up by four battalions, with the Brigade of The Guards raising three new units and the Mechanised Infantry Regiment being in the process adding one more to its existing strength of 26 battalions.The new raisings come even as the Comptroller and Auditor General had revealed a year ago that the Army faced an acute shortage of BMP mechanised infantry combat vehicles (MICV), the mainstay of the aforementioned regiments. This, CAG had remarked, would have an adverse impact in the 12th Army plan as several new mechanised infantry battalions were planned to be raised.While The Guards had raised one battalion, 20 Guards, about a year ago, 22 Guards is under raising, with designated officers having been posted and equipment started coming in. Both the battalions at present are located in the western sector, with one in the plains and the other in the deserts. Sources said orders had been issued to raise 23 Guards.It is after about four decades that The Guards have raised new units. Several other infantry regiments have also raised new units as part of force accretions and ongoing restructuring to meet emerging operational challenges. Besides 20 operational battalions and two under raising, The Guards have two Territorial Army units. In addition, the 21st Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles, a paramilitary force employed for counterterrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir is also a Guards outfit.Initially raised as regular foot infantry soon after Independence, The Guards were later fully mechanised and are equipped with infantry combat vehicles like the BMP-2/3 and recce and support equipment. A decade ago, they were moved from the jurisdiction of the Directorate General Infantry at Army Headquarters to the Directorate General Mechanised Forces that oversees the functioning of the Armoured Corps amd Mechanised Infantry.

After nearly four decades,The Guards raise 3 units

• The Brigade of The Guards is raising three new units after about four decades. The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is also in the process of adding one more to its existing strength of 26 battalions
• While The Guards had raised one battalion, 20 Guards, about a year ago, 22 Guards is under raising. Sources said orders had been issued to raise 23 Guards

Gurbachan Singh, who hurled a shoe at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in police custody. Tribune photo

Varinder Singh &

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 11

A shoe was hurled at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in his home constituency of Lambi today. Unfazed, the CM sought to downplay the incident, claiming that it only proved his opponents had “lost the game” and that they wanted to deflect the people’s attention from the agenda of “peace and all-round development” that the SAD-BJP government had pursued vigorously over the past 10 years.The attacker, Gurbachan Singh of Jhurd Khera village near Abohar, was detained. He is the brother of Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, the “parallel jathedar” of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. An agriculturist, Gurbachan is a registered voter at Rattakhera Chhota village, one of the two waterlogged villages that the CM adopted for development. A case under Sections 352, 353 and 186 of the IPC  has been registered. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“Gurbachan Singh, who arrived on a motorcycle, threw a shoe at the CM,” said Dhruman H Nimbale, SSP, Muktsar. Speaking over the phone, Bhai Amrik Singh said: “Gurbachan is my younger brother. I can’t say whether he took the right step or not. But I do know the Sikh community is very angry over the government’s failure to check incidents of desecration.”Warning that certain elements wanted “to push Punjab’s youth back into the jaws of bloodshed”, a reference to the dark days of militancy, Badal termed the incident “an attempt to scuttle free, fair and peaceful elections”.  “These people, like seasonal birds, appear only during elections. But I have stayed amid people every day of my life. Nothing will stop me from following the path shown by the Gurus, saints and seers. Our commitment to serve the people is too strong to be shaken by such acts,” said an emotional Badal.

“Nothing will stop me from following the path shown by the great Gurus. Our commitment to serve the people is too strong to be shaken by such acts.” —Parkash Singh Badal, CMNo matter what the provocation, hurling a shoe at someone is only condemnable. There can’t be any justification for such incidents. — Manish Tewari, Congress Leader
ommunity is hurt with large number of desecration incidents.

Punjabi vs outsider rift post Sisodia’s Kejri pitch

Says vote ‘as if voting for Kejriwal as CM’ at AAP rally

Manish Sisodia (centre) talks to an AAP worker’s daughter at a rally in suppot of Mohali nominee NS Shergill on Tuesday. Vicky Gharu

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 10

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, on his first day of campaigning in Punjab, today reportedly urged people in Mohali and Anandpur Sahib to cast their ballot for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) “as if they are voting for Arvind Kejriwal  as Chief Minister”, triggering a Punjabi versus “outsider” debate.While AAP’s state leadership refused to elaborate, the SAD and Congress claimed there was a “conspiracy to anoint Kejriwal as Punjab CM through the back door”. Atishi Marlena, AAP spokesperson in Delhi, said Sisodia’s remarks had been twisted out of context. “He (Sisodia) said vote as if Kejriwal is going to be CM. He did not say Kejriwal will be CM,” Marlena explained. A senior AAP leader claimed Sisodia had been misunderstood. “He sought votes in the name of Kejriwal  as he is the man behind the AAP movement.” He refused to make an official statement. There has been much speculation on AAP’s chief ministerial  candidate, with one of the aspirants, Bhagwant Mann (Sangrur MP) seeking people’s backing for his claim to the top post at election rallies. However, Sanjay Singh, the party’s political affairs incharge, says it will be up to the elected MLAs to chose their CM.Sisodia, who it is believed will take over as Delhi CM if Kejriwal moves to Punjab, told the media that Kejriwal alone could solve Punjab’s problems, taking on the Centre till all demands were met.Dr DS Cheema, SAD spokesperson, and party’s Delhi leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that by projecting Kejriwal as AAP’s face in Punjab, the party leadership had accepted that  none of its state leaders were worthy of the CM’s chair.Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh said Sisodia’s statement was no surprise as the Congress had all along maintained that Kejriwal had his eyes on Punjab. “It would be suicidal for Punjab if his nefarious design succeeds,” he added.(With inputs by Kulwinder Sangha in Mohali and Arun Sharma  in Anandpur Sahib)QUOTESAAP’s conspiracy to foist an outsider on Punjab is now out in the open. It has chosen a Haryanvi who has already bartered away interests of Punjab on SYL. —Sukhbir Singh Badal, sad chief and deputy CMIt is sheer manipulation of the electorate. Sisodia’s statement makes it clear that Kejriwal is scheming to become Punjab CM. This is a mockery of the democratic process, and AAP will have to pay for it. —Preneet Kaur, Congress leaderIt may be an attempt to create a media hype around Kejriwal. But if they are serious, it will not only be disrespect to the people of Delhi, but also to the political acumen of Punjab and Punjabis.  —Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, patiala MP.

The Punjab poll vault

Pramod Kumar
Erosion of ideological support base and leadership deficit are evident

Fight, no cause: No party has a transformational agenda for Punjab.

THE electoral din in Punjab is like the lunatic swing of a pendulum creating a wave of different parties within a short span. It has moved from the Congress sweep at the time of the coronation of Amarinder Singh as PPCC president in December 2015 to the AAP rampage in post-Maghi in January 2015, and now the whisper of the Akali-BJP for a hat. These are often accompanied by claims and counterclaims — the showcasing of performance and the promise of golden performance. It has liberated political parties from consistent political positions and ideological filters. Elections are being treated as events to be managed by professional managers without any ideology, commitment to pro-people politics with the sole aim to win. Besides anti-incumbency that provides a safe passage to parties without vision, the winnability criteria allow faceless politicians’ entry into politics and incentivises the hopping from one party to another. As if parties are nothing, but dharamshalas without doors. Political leadership has been discredited, the political parties are poaching celebrities and oiling the slide of leaders from one party to another. Has the political culture and terrain of Punjab become an ideological freak or rudderless? The history and culture of Punjab does not support such generalisations. Punjab politics can be located in three evolved axes. One is a stunted identity assertion ranging from religious, communal and secular Punjabi identities. The second is a unique feature of majoritarian arrogance and minority persecution complex in both the main communities — the Hindus and Sikhs. The Sikhs are in a majority in Punjab and minority in India and the Hindus are in a minority in Punjab and a majority in India. The third axis is the intermeshed religio-caste categories as caste is not a category in itself for electoral mobilisations in Punjab.These axes lay down broad boundaries for the politics to function. Electoral alliances and coalitions have been formed with even diametrically opposed political parties. The Congress and the Akali Dal even merged in 1937, 1948 and 1956. Most Akalis who joined the Congress did not return to the Akali fold. Prominent among them were Pratap Singh Kairon, Swaran Singh, Baldev Singh, Bhai Mohan Singh, Darshan Singh Pheruman, and now Capt Amarinder Singh. The political culture of Punjab is, no doubt, competitive, but not conflictual. Apparently, in the post-Operation Bluestar and ’84 riots period, the Congress faced opposition, but regained power in 2002. The lesson is that voters do not see parties as antagonistic, but competitive. Most people keep both a  blue turban (Akali symbol) and a white turban (Congress symbol) ready to wear as per the need. To hinge the whole campaign that the Congress and the Akalis are mixed up and then expect that people will vote for a third party may not bring corresponding results.The parties have not only merged with each other, but also formed coalitions. In reorganised Punjab, between 1967-1980, four post-election coalitions were formed between the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and in the post-terrorism phase the Akali Dal and the BJP formed three pre-election coalitions. In view of the lessons learnt from the decade of terrorism, the parties entered into pre-poll alliances. The Congress apologised for Operation Bluestar and the riots. And the competing parties gave representation to all existing fault lines of religion and caste rather than representing exclusive communal interests. The SAD, which has mainly been a party of Jat Sikh peasants, gave representation to Punjabi Hindus with 11 out of 94 SAD candidates for the 2012 polls. The BJP that largely represents urban Hindu traders gave representation to Sikhs. Similarly, the Congress made inroads into the SAD support base of rural Jat Sikhs by fielding an equal number of rural Jat Sikhs with the SAD. Dalits who constitute around 32 per cent of the population have been represented in all political formations. Of the 1,248 MLAs in the state from 1967 to 2012, Dalits constituted 25.16 per cent, OBCs 8.97 per cent and urban traders (Khatris) 22.12 per cent. But a majority of MLAs (43.74 per cent) came from the rural Jat peasantry.The ‘uncertain religious allegiance’ of the Dalits and in the absence of caste as a defining parameter for social position, Dalits found representation in all parties. Even the Jat-dominated SAD has had a higher representation of Dalits in six of the 11 Assembly elections and in the remaining five, the Congress had a greater Dalit legislators. It is interesting to note that Dalit legislators have been elected from parties other than the BSP and the Communist parties. Thus Punjab politics has shown signs of blurring religious and caste fault lines. To mobilise people as exclusive categories like Hindu Banias, or Scheduled Castes may not bring the desired results. Considering this background, which way will Punjab go? Will it go the AAP way? The AAP won a surprise victory with four seats and a 24 per cent vote share in the 2014 parliamentary elections. It had the advantage of anti-incumbency against the Congress at the Centre and the Akali Dal-BJP in the state. However, wherever people could find a formidable alternative to the Akali-BJP alliance, the AAP candidates were not selected. This can be inferred from the results of two constituencies — Bathinda from where Harsimrat Badal defeated Manpreet Badal, and in Amritsar where Amarinder Singh defeated BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley. The two Assembly byelections, in Patiala and Talwandi Sabu, showed that the AAP may not be able to consolidate its support. Unlike the Akali Dal and the Congress, the AAP does not have a historical baggage and therefore does not have a historical advantage either. Another AAP disadvantage is that unlike Delhi, Punjab does not have a large footloose population — as people have their culture and history. The Congress and the Akalis have a regional flavour to their advantage and the AAP is yet to evolve a regional identity of its own. The only advantage it has is an anti-drug and an anti-corruption stance. How far it will help to win is a moot question.The SAD’s non-Panthic, development and governance reforms plank and the BJP’s emergence at the national level have added a new flavour to the elections. How far will this alliance benefit from this and reversal of moral hegemony with demonetisation which brought Modi, Nitish Kumar and Navin Patnaik on one side and Arvind Kejriwal in the company of Mayawati and Lalu Yadav?Punjab needs a paradigm shift. In order to outcompete one another, all parties are raining sops rather than initiating a debate on policies to diversify economy, building a consensus against drug abuse, suggesting policies for productive engagement of youth and empowerment of women. This is symptomatic of an erosion of the ideological support base of parties, political leadership deficit and absence of a transformational agenda.The writer is the Director, Institute for Development and Communication, Chandigarh

Sukhbir from Fatehgarh Sahib also?

Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 11Is Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal interested to contest from Fatehgarh Sahib apart from Jalalabad? The question gained currency following a remark by Sukhbir during his visit to the town last evening.The SAD president, addressing party activists, said, “Fatehgarh Sahib edda wadhia halka hai, kai baar mera jee karda ethon hi chon lar lawan. Ki lor enni dur jaan di? Main thonu sahi dasaan ethe Akali Dal di 80 per cent vote hai ate dujian partian di koi 20% hovegi (Fatehgarh Sahib is such a good constituency that I wish to contest from here sometimes. What’s the need of contesting from a far-away segment? The Akali Dal has 80 per cent vote share here, while the rest of the parties 20 per cent).”A speculation is rife in the party circles that Sukhbir may also contest from here following SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya’s son joining the Congress. Ghubaya has a considerable following in Jalalabad, from where Sukhbir had been elected a number of times. When asked whether or not he was serious on contesting from another seat as well, he clarified, “I will contest from there (Jalalabad) alone.” But his remark declaring Fatehgarh Sahib a safe bet for the SAD have set tongues wagging.AAP’s Jalalabad candidate Bhagwant Mann, who was here to canvass for his party nominee yesterday, said he knew that Sukhbir would contest from Fatehgarh Sahib. “Sukhbir will file papers five minutes before the deadline. I am keeping a watch. I will also file the nomination online from Fatehgarh Sahib at the same time,” Mann said.