THE Supreme Court’s suggestion to put on hold the implementation of the contentious new farm laws to enable negotiations with the farmers needs serious consideration, despite the Centre’s initial submission during the hearing that even this will fail to move the protesters towards any meaningful settlement. A day before, while noting that the talks with farmer groups did not appear to be yielding results, the court had spoken of forming a committee comprising representatives of the government, farmer organisations and other stakeholders to try and resolve the impasse. The farmers’ right to non-violent protests has been acknowledged, but also the fundamental rights of others to move freely. The situation continues to be delicate, and the apex court’s intervention offers a window of opportunity to end the three-week-long stalemate.

The protesting unions seem indifferent to the idea of constituting a panel to break the deadlock, arguing that the time for such an exercise was before enactment of the laws, and sticking to their line of not budging till the laws are repealed. There has been an apparent hardening of stand on the Centre’s part, too, with senior leaders going for the jugular. Reservations and rancour on both sides notwithstanding, obduracy cannot be a goal in itself, nor the determined efforts to bring the other down. A call must go out across the spectrum — be it those holding the reins of power, the protesters and supporters, politicians of all hues and civil society at large — to tone down the rhetoric and invest in talks, no matter the time it takes. The Centre has to show the magnanimity to take the lead.

The sight of farmers spending nights out in the biting cold and the spate of deaths, including the suicide by a preacher, are extremely disturbing. Every day that the protest continues only adds to the distress. Any reform is a sign of executive will, but

it cannot be shoved down the throats of the affected people or be seen in terms of victory or defeat.

CHINA’s aggressive posturing along the Line of Actual Control and its growing footprint in the Indian Ocean region have prompted India’s armed forces to considerably raise their level of preparedness on land, sea and in the air. Last month, the navies of the four Quad nations — the US, India, Japan and Australia — jointly conducted the Malabar military exercise in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The multilateral show of strength was intended to unnerve China, whose submarine fleet is three times bigger than that of India, and it did somewhat achieve its aim. Now, India is on course to set up an integrated maritime command that will have warships, fighter jets, helicopters, submarines, aircraft carriers and special amphibious brigades of the Army. The maritime theatre commander will be tasked with securing the sea lanes along the 7,500-km coastline.

The long-awaited move comes 19 years after India established its first unified command — the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). Over the years, the ANC has been plagued by inadequate development of infrastructure, with a slew of environmental and coastal regulatory clearances being a major challenge. The unsavoury tug of war between the services is another stumbling block. The prolonged standoff in Ladakh apparently made the defence top brass look for ways to fast-track plans to strengthen the ANC. These projects should be executed without delay, even as the focus would eventually shift to the proposed maritime command, which is likely to be based in Karnataka. In view of the Andaman & Nicobar experience, infrastructural issues and mandatory clearances should be dealt with on priority so that the command becomes operational in a year or so, as envisaged.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, has big plans to integrate the Army, Navy and Air Force while ‘retaining the niche capabilities of each service’. Considering the current geostrategic scenario, it’s clear that no single service can handle a conflict situation on its own. The key is to make the integration seamless so as to multiply the country’s combat potential. The maritime command will serve its purpose only if various forces work as a cohesive unit.

New Delhi, December 17

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla claiming he was not allowed to speak freely in the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and sought his intervention, the sources said.

In his letter, Gandhi urged the Speaker to ensure that the right of elected MPs to speak freely in Parliamentary panel meetings was protected.

He also said the Speaker, being the custodian of Parliament, should ensure that the discussions and presentations in the panel on defence were in consonance with its role and objectives.

Gandhi and other members of his party on Wednesday walked out of the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, alleging that the panel’s time was being wasted in discussing armed forces’ uniform instead of the crucial issue of national security.

He was disallowed to speak at the meeting by the panel chairman Jual Oram (BJP) when he sought to raise the issues of Chinese aggression and better equipping the soldiers at the border in Ladakh, said the sources.

“It is the right of a member to point out digressions from the agenda and the purpose of the Standing Committee. The Committee is free to disagree with what I say, but the fact that the Chairman does not even permit a member to speak is a sad comment on how the government handles military affairs.

“Sir, as Speaker of the Lok Sabha and custodian of the House, I urge you to intervene and ensure that the discussion and presentations held in the defence committee are in consonance with the role and objective of the institution and that the right of elected MP’s to speak freely is protected,” wrote the Congress leader.

He expressed his dismay over the contents of the meeting and the manner in which it was conducted and said it was meant to provide legislative oversight on the policies and decisions of the Defence Ministry, it being the premier interface between the defence forces and elected representatives.

Gandhi said the agenda for the discussion at the meet was military uniforms, but taking into account the current military situation he felt this surprising. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

There is no relief in sight for 41 Indians stuck on two “floating prisons” off the Chinese coast due to an escalating trade conflict between China and Australia.

“The Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch with the Chinese authorities. They have said crew change is not permitted from these ports due to local Covid restrictions,” said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava at the weekly media briefing here on Thursday.

Srivastava was asked about the fate of Indians aboard two ships. The first is the MV Jag Anand ship with 23 Indians carrying coal from Australia and not allowed to dock at Jiangtang Port since June 13. The other is MV Anastasia, with 18 Indians, also carrying coal from Australia and at Caofeidian anchorage since August 3.

“It is like a food delivery guy being hammered in a fight between neighbours,” said Abdulgani Serang, Secretary of the National Union of Seafarers of India.

“The Government continues to be in touch with the Chinese authorities to seek resolution and ensure their humanitarian needs are taken care of,” added Srivastava.

The ship owners have repeatedly attempted to relieve the crew but the Chinese have refused changeovers citing Covid restrictions.

The Australians are also at sea over the escalating dispute. Australian PM Scott Morrison is reportedly demanding answers over reports that China has blocked Australian coal exports in the latest trade dispute between Canberra and Beijing.

Chinese media outlet The Global Times has said China will not import coal from Australia for its power plants. Bilateral ties sharply deteriorated during the pandemic after Australia backed US demand for an independent inquiry into the origins of the Covid pandemic.

Lt Gen SR Ghosh (retd)

Former GOC-in-C, Western Command

An iconic signpost on the Indo-Pak border read: “You are now entering Pakistan. No passports required. Bash on regardless.” This was for India’s 54 Infantry Division under the command of the charismatic Maj Gen WAG Pinto, spearheading the Indian offensive into the Shakargarh Bulge in December 1971.

For the nation, 1971 was a historic year and we, as newly commissioned second lieutenants, were part of this history, part of this great military success. And this victory is since celebrated every year on December 16 as Vijay Diwas.

Unfortunately, over the years, it appears that the 1971 war is gradually fading from public memory and being overtaken by Kargil, Balakot, Doklam and Galwan. Vijay Diwas has been replaced by Kargil Vijay Diwas. Has the nation forgotten the greatest ever victory achieved by its armed forces? Have all the sacrifices of our young officers and men gone in vain?

Today, many of us who were part of this great campaign are no more. The youngest alive are in their 70s. All that is left for these veterans is a brief wreath-laying ceremony on December 16 at a war memorial, for which most of them are not even invited. The rest of the nation, in any case, hardly remembers this war.

In the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the war next year, the nation needs to commemorate December 16, 1971, when under the leadership of the iconic General Sam Manekshaw, the Indian Army, supported by the IAF and the Indian Navy, blitzkrieged its way to achieve one of the greatest victories by any modern-day military, dismembering Pakistan, and bringing about one of the biggest humiliations any country could ever have to undergo.

The ‘famed’ Pakistani Army was disgraced in the eyes of the world when Gen AAK Niazi and his 93,000 soldiers prostrated themselves in front of the Indian Army in the biggest military surrender after World War II. Till today, the Pakistani military smarts from the ignominy of this defeat by an Army which it used to sneer at.

December 16 is a day of rejoicing because on this day we, along with the Mukti Bahini, liberated and created a free new nation, Bangladesh, and ended a barbaric pogrom by the Pakistani Army of mass killing and rape of its innocent and hapless people.

In a memorable conclusion to the war, young Major Ashok Tara, VrC, in a brilliant operation, rescued the entire family of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, held prisoner by the Pakistani Army, including his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa and daughter Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a great friend of India.

The war produced heroes like our young Param Vir Chakra (PVC) recipients 2/Lt Arun Khetrapal, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Sekhon and Lance Naik Albert Ekka, who along with several thousands of unrecognised, gallant soldiers laid down their lives with the words ‘Naam, Namak, Izzat’ on their dying breaths. We had inspiring officers like Major Hoshiyar Singh, awarded the PVC for his extraordinary bravery at Shakargarh, Major Ian Cardozo, who, given up for dead due to gangrene, chopped off his leg with his khukri and went on to become a Major General, or Maj KS Chandpuri, MVC, who with his small force, gallantly defended the post of Longewala against the greatly superior Pakistani forces, thus enabling the IAF to decimate the attacking enemy tank regiments.

A special place of honour should be reserved for the silent service, the Indian Navy. In a daring operation, its missile boats attacked the Karachi port, sinking and damaging several Pakistan ships and destroying critical logistics facilities. The Navy dominated both the western and eastern seaboards, thus greatly restricting freedom of action of the Pakistani Navy.

The new generations also need to learn about and honour extraordinary commanders like Capt MN Mulla, MVC, who, in the highest traditions of the Navy, chose to go down with his ship INS Khukri, along with near 200 officers and sailors.

On this occasion, we, as a nation, should forever remember with great pride and gratitude the ultimate sacrifice made by 4,000 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield and 10,000 more who went home wounded or disabled.

Let us also never forget our 54 officers and men taken prisoners of war, who are dead or dying in Pakistani prisons. How unfortunate and tragic that we as victors, allowed 93,000 Pakistani prisoners to return home to their families but could not bring back our own soldiers, while also returning 13,000 square km of captured territory won with the blood, toil and sweat of our men.

Next year is the golden jubilee year of the war. On this landmark occasion, not just the Indian military, but India as a nation also needs to celebrate Vijay Diwas 1971 and remind the world of this great victory of the ‘righteous over evil’. Apart from declaring 2021 as the Year of the Soldier, December 16 should henceforth be celebrated as the Armed Forces Day and do away with the irrelevant and antiquated Armed Forces Flag Day on December 7.

Let a chapter be added to our history books so that future generations read about this momentous victory and continue to remember and honour the sacrifices made by the gallant soldiers of India.

Jammu, December 13

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen RP Singh paid a two- day visit to the Tiger Division to review the security situation in the Jammu sector. He was accompanied by Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding of the Yol-based Rising Star Corps.

He was briefed on the operational scenario and other aspects. The Army commander also visited the troops in forward areas and complimented them for maintaining a high degree of operational preparedness.— TNS