New Delhi: High level appointments were announced on Friday in the Indian Navy, which is set to be headed by a new chief from May 31.
 
As Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba is set to take charge as new Indian Navy chief, Vice Admiral K.B. Singh will be the new Vice Chief of Naval Staff, and Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar will be the new Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
 
Vice Admiral A.R. Karve will take over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command, and Vice Admiral A.K. Chawla will be the new Chief of Personnel.
 
Lanba will take over as the navy chief on May 31, as incumbent Admiral R.K. Dhowan retires.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28

As the Army continues to grapple with “huge” shortage of ammunition because of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) falling short of meeting its requirements and import of equipment being a long-drawn process, the private sector is being roped in to produce seven types of ammunition to help mitigate the situation.“The OFB itself is falling short of what the requirements are. The ammunition shortage is huge because the capacities are not there. There is a need to diversify beyond what we have,” a representative of the Ministry of Defence is quoted as saying in the latest report of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence that was tabled this month.State-run OFB consists of 41 manufacturing units located across the country, which produce a wide range of products including tanks, vehicles, weapons, ammunition, clothes and other war-fighting equipment. Out of these, 11 factories are engaged in producing ammunition and explosives. Last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General revealed that there was a shortage for 125 of the 170 types of ammunition used by the Army and even the war wastage reserve, required to maintain supplies for at least a 40-day war, had fallen to a 20-day supply.Expressing concern over the situation, the Defence Secretary also stated before the committee that “we have to depend on the OFB or import the materials”. “Import also takes its own time. The OFB is not able to fulfil the targets that are given to them. The only other option is to find a good alternative source of production in the country,” he said.“For key ammunitions, sometimes we need technology. So, technology issues are also involved. In order to make good the deficiencies, it has now been decided that we would selectively go in for private participation for production of ammunition,” he added.The Defence Secretary’s deposition states that after taking into account the existing production capacities, the capability to deliver and the gaps that exist, it has been decided that to begin with seven items will be put up for private participation. “This is something which we can achieve without much delay because there are a number of companies which are willing to enter the field,” he said.

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The nuclear-capable strategic ballistic missile Agni-IV on display at the Republic Day parade. File photo

Washington, May 28

In an apparent snub to Pakistan over its opposition to India’s bid to become a member of the elite NSG, the US has said it is not about an arms race, but about peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“This is not about an arms race and it’s not about nuclear weapons. This is about the peaceful civil use of nuclear energy, and so we would certainly hope that Pakistan understands that,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Friday.

He was responding to questions about India’s membership application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and opposition to it by Pakistan on the grounds that this would give pace to nuclear arms race in the region.

However, the US has fingers crossed, ahead of the crucial meeting of the 48-nation NSG.

“Look, all I can say is that during his visit to India in 2015, President (Barack) Obama did affirm the US view that India meets missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for membership. But it’s a consensus body, so we’ll wait and see how the vote goes,” Toner said.

“Deliberations about the prospects of new members joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group are an internal matter among the current members. I don’t have much to say beyond that other than that I think they meet regularly,” he said.

The upcoming NSG meeting has not been set up for this purpose, he said.

“This I not a specific meeting, I believe – not set up to particularly talk about this issue. They (Pakistan) have made public their interest, and certainly any country can submit its application for membership. We will consider based on a consensus decision,” Toner said. — PTI

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 27

Thirty years after the controversial Bofors artillery gun deal, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is on the verge of ordering an artillery gun for which a contract is in final stages.This will be the first-ever 155-mm artillery gun purchase since March 1986 when 400 pieces were purchased from Swedish company AB Bofors for Rs 1,500 crore. Under threat from the ‘Bofors controversy’, the purchase of artillery guns has been cancelled or withdrawn on six occasions in the past 15 years.In an interview to The Tribune, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday said: “The self-propelled artillery gun contract is near completion for placing an order, only minor modifications need to be done.”India is looking to buy 100 155-mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzers at Rs 4,500 crore. The contract will have a clause for a follow-on order of 50 more such guns. Another artillery gun, the Dhanush, based on the Bofors design and transfer of technology, is also ready.

155-mm howitzers to be bought

• India is looking to buy 100 155-mm/52-caliber self-propelledhowitzers for Rs 4,500 crore; contract is being finalised for guns mounted on a tank-type chassis
• Army is seeking supply of 100 guns within three years of signing the contract. The gun will have up to 50 per cent local content. The gun on offer is known as ‘K-9 Vajra-T’ in India
• MoD is negotiating with Larsen & Toubro, which has a tie-up with Korean company Samsung to produce self-propelled guns

The city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar wore a deserted look on Thursday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 26

Life in the Valley was affected today due a joint shutdown call given by various separatist organisations against the alleged government proposal to set up Sainik colonies and townships for migrant Kashmiri Pandits.The rare joint call was issued by the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Geelani and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik.Shops and other commercial establishments in Srinagar and other major towns across the Valley remained closed today in response to the shutdown. The day, however, passed off peacefully.Public transport remained off the roads, though private vehicles were seen plying on the city outskirts.Roads and commercial centres such as Lal Chowk in the city wore a deserted look.Most of the schools and banks in Srinagar and other towns remained closed.However, there was some movement in tourist areas such as the boulevard road along the Dal Lake in the morning as some tourists were seen departing or heading to other tourist destinations.Some vehicular movement was also seen on the main road leading to the secretariat and government vehicles were seen ferrying ministers and MLAs as the Assembly was in session today.There was less security on city roads today as compared to earlier shutdowns. The government had not imposed any restrictions, however, senior separatist leaders Geelani and Mirwaiz were put under house detention. JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was arrested from the Abi Guzar area of Srinagar on Wednesday.Even as the PDP-BJP government has already clarified its stand on the Sainik colonies and townships for migrant Pandits and also promised a review of the new industrial policy, the issues have united the separatists and brought them on a single platform against the state government. The separatist have vowed to oppose the proposal tooth and nail.Though the state government has said it was committed to the return of Kashmiri Pandits, separatists have opposed the establishment of separate townships in the Valley for their rehabilitation.While the government has said it has not identified any land for setting up Sainik colonies for retired soldiers of the state, separatists alleged the intention behind setting up Sainik colonies was to change the demography of the Valley.Moreover, the government has asserted that non-local ex-serviceman cannot become part of any Sainik colony in Kashmir as only permanent residents of the state can purchase land in such settlements.Tourists head to hill resortsMost of the tourists in Srinagar preferred to proceed to hill resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg due to a shutdown in city. Tourist cabs were on Thursday morning seen heading to hill resorts where the shutdowns usually have less effect. “I left for Pahalgam on Thursday morning. The tourist party is from Delhi. Since there was a strike in Srinagar, they decided to visit Pahalgam as they are on a short visit to the Valley,” said Ali Mohammad, a taxi driver from Srinagar. 

No restrictions

• Schools, banks and shops in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley remained closed on Thursday
• There was less security on city roads today as compared to earlier shutdowns. The government had not imposed any restrictions

Army orders probe into porter’s death

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 26

The Army has ordered an inquiry into the death of a porter from Handwara accompanying them, who was found injured after the troops came under fire from suspected militants in a forest area early on Wednesday.“An inquiry has been instituted to establish in detail the possible circumstances leading to the death of Liaquat Ali. Since the deceased was working with the Army, we are committed to providing all possible assistance,” an Army spokesman said.The statement said a joint search operation was launched by the Army and J&K Police in the area of the Watsar forest on Tuesday night. Liaquat of Nagni Wadar Payeen village, who has been working as a porter with the Army, accompanied the search party.“After a brief exchange of fire, the area was searched during which Liaqat was found injured,” he added.

President Pranab Mukherjee delivers a speech at a reception in Beijing, China, on May 25, 2016. — Reuters

Beijing, May 26

India and China should comprehensively resolve challenges, including the boundary question, through “political acumen” and “civilisational wisdom” so that the coming generations are not “burdened” by unresolved issues, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday.

Enunciating “8 steps to a partnership of the people” for India-China relations in his address to the Peking University, he noted that there is bipartisan commitment to strengthening partnership with China, and said political understanding between the two countries is vital for “closer developmental partnership”.

“One of the ways it could be done is through enhanced political communication. In India, we have a bipartisan commitment to strengthening our partnership with China. The frequent contacts between our respective leaders bear testimony to this.

“We have broadened the ‘common ground’ and learnt to manage our differences. There are challenges, including the boundary question, that still need to be addressed comprehensively,” he said.

Making his first state visit to China as head of the state, Mukherjee said while it was natural for neighbours to have differences of views on certain issues from time to time, “I consider it a test of our political acumen when we are called upon to draw upon our civilisational wisdom and resolve these differences to the mutual satisfaction of both sides”.

“Both sides should work with the aim of ensuring that we do not burden our coming generations by leaving our unresolved problems to them. I am confident that by ensuring that these matters are not aggravated and by remaining sensitive to mutual concerns, we can minimise our differences and maximise our convergences,” he said. — PTI

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 13

Jammu’s first civilian shooting range, General Zorawar Singh Rifle Club, aims to popularise shooting as a sport in the state. The club management had its first meeting today and want to give a platform to budding sportsperson.The club, built in the Dogra Educational Complex, Bari Brahmana, has state-of-the-art facilities constructed with the help of the J&K Rifle Association.Speaking on the occasion, former minister and club president Gulchain Singh Charak thanked Dilbagh Singh, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), who is also president of the J&K Rifle Association, for granting the club affiliation to promote shooting as a sport in the state.“Local youth are gifted to achieve excellence in sports and this will help them to further hone their skills in this sport,” Charak said.He cited the example of Chain Singh, son of the soil from Doda district, who made his mark in the Asian Games 2014 and he is a big hope for the Rio Olympics.The 10-metre shooting range for pistol and rifle will provide national coaches to train the youth from schools and colleges, in addition to the other civilian population, who can seek membership of the club.