New Delhi, December 7

Thousands of farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agri laws for the past 11 days here have called on people to join their Bharat bandh on Tuesday in large numbers, as police increased deployment at various Delhi border points.

Farmer leaders also welcomed the support of political parties to the nationwide strike against the laws and demanded that the legislations be repealed.

The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI(M) and DMK are among the political parties that are backing the day-long strike.

Also read: Reforms needed for development, says Modi as farmers protest on Delhi borders

Kejriwal visits Singhu border, reviews arrangements for protesting farmers

Congress MPs from Punjab, Haryana stage dharna at Jantar Mantar; want Parliament session to be convened

Delhi Police have increased security arrangements on Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as a precautionary measure.

Farmers have threatened to intensify their agitation and block more roads leading to the national capital if the government did not accept their demand.

Talks between the government and protesting farmer unions so far have been futile and the sixth round of discussions is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

Delhi Traffic Police on Monday tweeted about the closure of the Singhu, Auchandi, Piao Maniyari and Mangesh borders. The Tikri and Jharoda borders are also closed, it said.

The National Highway-44 has also been closed on both sides. So those travelling are suggested to take alternative routes through Lampur, Safiabad and Saboli borders. Traffic has also been diverted from Mukarba and GTK road, the traffic police said.

Those travelling towards Noida have been advised to take DND as the Chilla border on the Noida link road, too, is closed for traffic movement, it said.

“The Chilla border on the Noida link road is closed for traffic from Noida to Delhi due to farmers’ protests near Gautam Budh Dwar. People are advised to avoid the Noida link road for coming to Delhi and use DND,” the traffic police said on Twitter.

The Gazipur border on NH-24 is also closed for traffic from Gaziabad to Delhi. “People are advised to avoid NH-24 for coming to Delhi and use Apsara/Bhopra/DND for coming to Delhi,” it added.

However, the Badusarai border is open only for light motor vehicles like cars and two-wheelers and Jhatikara border is open only for two-wheeler traffic, police said.

They said those travelling to Haryana can take Dhansa, Daurala, Kapashera, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan or Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera borders. PTI

Another round of talks over the farm laws is scheduled for December 9, a day after the Bharat Bandh call given by the protesting farmers. Saturday’s meeting between the Union ministers and farmers’ leaders, the third of the week and fifth overall, did raise hopes for a brief moment that a solution could be in sight. The Prime Minister’s consultation with Cabinet colleagues hours before was seen as a pointer to a softening of the Centre’s stand, especially since going back or having a relook at decisions it has projected as bold and revolutionary has not been the Modi government’s style. The farm leaders, for now, are refusing to budge over their core demand for repeal of the legislation.

The agitation has been bolstered by a wave of popular support, exemplified by the daily announcements of eminent sportspersons, writers and other people of repute returning national awards. Singers and artistes have lent an emotional chord; many have chosen to mark their presence at the protest sites. A sense of urgency while recognising the scale and scope of the crisis at hand will perhaps force a climbdown to reach a middle ground sooner rather than later. As the negotiations continue, both sides also need to lower the tempo of acrimony. The protest organisers have to double up efforts for maintaining the vibe of a peaceful congregation of citizens otherwise upset and angry. The ruling BJP has an even bigger responsibility, to ensure that a divisive narrative is not allowed to take shape and discourage attempts to discredit dissent.

Rail services have remained paralysed in Punjab for the past over two months as part of the protests, but it took the march towards the national capital for New Delhi to take notice. Now that the protesters are being heard and seen, the Union Agriculture Minister’s appeal to let senior citizens, who have a sizeable presence at the protest sites, and children go home will go unnoticed.

New Delhi: For the first time, the Indian Navy has introduced camouflage uniform on the lines of the Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of a larger uniform rationalisation and standardisation measure, ThePrint has learnt.

Navy sources said officers started using the new uniform with digital camouflage pattern a few months ago.

Camouflages or battle dress uniforms (BDU) are fatigues that are worn by the armed forces as the standard uniform for combat. The battle dress is generally camouflaged, either in monochrome such as shades of green or brown to approximate the background or in a disruptive pattern as in the latest change.

The new camouflage uniform will be worn by Navy personnel only on Fridays and ashore as of now, the sources said. For sea, there are existing fire retardant overalls, which would be used by the personnel.

Based on a study, which included looking at uniforms worn by navies around the world, the Indian Navy adopted its digital camouflage pattern, the sources said.

“The pattern is formed of small rectangular pixels of colour. This is much more effective camouflage than standard uniform pattern as it mimics the dappled texture and rough boundaries found in natural settings,” said a Navy source.

The Navy has the largest number of uniforms at 16 — each for different occasions — among the three services. The Army has nine and the IAF has 15. All the uniforms are numbered.

Navy sources told ThePrint the camouflage uniform, sanctioned in June 2019, will replace Dress No. 10A — the light blue half-sleeve shirt and navy blue trousers.

“Introduction of this uniform for the entire service will eliminate dress No. 10A from the Navy inventory and lead to reduction in the number of uniforms and associated accoutrements being worn by Navy personnel,” the Navy source quoted above said.

The uniform has already been introduced for officers. For sailors, it will be introduced by October 2021 as it involves large procurement chains, the source added.

Also read: Indian Navy inducts two American drones on lease, could add more later

‘There would not be a mismatch’

Former Navy spokesperson Captain D.K. Sharma (retd) told ThePrint the trials for the new uniform were carried out when Admiral Sunil Lanba was the Navy chief.

“The uniforms were also introduced in the Naval Academy earlier. It is procured centrally for the sailors from the source and thereafter stitched at various naval bases. Navy uniforms have evolved from the khaki uniform to the blues to the Dungarees/overalls and the disruptive pattern is the latest change,” he said.

Navy officers added the move also brings in an uniformity with other foreign navies, who have camouflage uniforms.

“For instance, in exercises with other navies, there would not be a mismatch as against earlier,” a senior Navy officer said.

“The blue uniform (which is now being replaced with the camouflage uniform) was also mistaken at times with the IAF uniform. It, too, had a short life of about 10 years,” the officer added.

Officers are granted allowances periodically to maintain their own uniforms. All sailors are entitled to free uniforms.

More changes in uniforms

A few other changes have also been introduced by the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy) last month with respect to Navy uniforms.

Navy sources said it has been decided that naval personnel will stop wearing dress number 4A and 4B.

Dress number 4A comprises a peaked cap/white turban, white bush jacket, shoulder rank stripes, ribbons, name tally, chest badges, white trousers and uniform accoutrements. It is worn on ceremonial occasions like meeting diplomats or heads of states, etc. 4B is the same as 4A, but with medals instead of ribbons.

Sources said it has also been decided that naval personnel will wear dress number 8A with medals as summer uniform on relevant occasions.

Dress 8A comprises peaked cap/white turban, white half-sleeve shirt, shoulder stripes for officers, arm badges of ranks for POs and below, ribbons, name tally, chest badges, white trousers. It is the regular everyday white uniform worn by naval personnel.

Dress number 5 and 6 will not be used for the time being, sources said.

Dress number 6 comprises peaked cap/white turban, white full-sleeve shirt, black bow tie, white mess jacket, shoulder stripes, black summer trousers, and black cummerbund. It is the evening formal mess uniform for summers.

Dress number 5 comprises peaked cap/white turban, white full-sleeve shirt, black bow tie, black mess jacket, stripes on sleeves, black cummerbund, and black winter trousers. It is the winter evening mess uniform.

Also read: Navy to approach Kerala govt seeking ban on unauthorised sale of armed forces uniform

New Delhi: The Navy is looking at leasing an unspecified number of mine counter measure vessels (MCMVs) and naval utility helicopters (NUHs) to fill a critical gap even as it pursues a larger contract for such systems to be made in India with foreign collaboration, ThePrint has learnt.

The Navy, which has taken on lease two Sea Guardian drones from a US firm besides a logistics ship from an Indian private firm for travel between Kochi and Lakshadweep, is looking at leasing certain equipment, sources in the defence and security establishment said.

It took twoi months from the movement of the file for the drones to arrive in India.

The drones were leased while India pursues a larger tri-service procurement of 30 lethal Predator drones from the US.

Talking about future leasing plans, a Navy source told ThePrint, “We have sought information for possible lease of MCMVs. We are actively looking at getting them.”

The source added that the force is looking at the option of leasing equipment wherever there is a capability gap and the time to overcome it takes longer than what is convenient.

“The leasing is not just for training and familiarisation process. There are certain areas where there is a huge capability gap. While the larger procurement process is on to fill the gaps, leasing of such equipment can be used in the interim period,” the source said.

Giving the example of MCMVs that are used to clear harbours and other critical areas of mines laid by enemy submarines and vessels, the source said countries like Russia, South Korea and even the US have such equipment which can be taken on lease.

At one point, the Navy had 12 of them, but now have zero now and are dependent on kits fitted on smaller ships to counter the threat.

The Navy has been unsuccessfully trying to procure these vessels since 2005. Attempts to procure MCMVs from South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation failed after the company was hit with controversy twice, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the project.

The first controversy broke during the UPA government when allegations that the firm had appointed ‘consultants’ for the contract, in a violation of Indian procurement rules, surfaced. The firm came back into the picture a second time when Manohar Parrikar was defence minister. It was shortlisted to tie up with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) for the contract.

However, when Nirmala Sithraman became defence minister, she cancelled the contract after the company failed to commit fully on Transfer of Technology (ToT).

Also read: Why Indian Navy is getting a camouflage uniform like the Army and Air Force

Other lease plans

Sources said NUHs could also be taken on lease under the Strategic Partnership (SP).

Addressing his annual press conference Thursday, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh had indicated the force is not looking at the NUHs being offered by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Replying to a query from ThePrint, Admiral Singh said the NUHs are being pursued under SP, which is aimed at providing an impetus to private defence players.

The Navy, which was in talks with HAL over the helicopter deal worth USD 3 billion, is no longer keen on acquiring the aircraft.

Also read: Naval helicopters will be Modi govt’s first challenge in its ‘atmanirbhar’ push in defence

Navy firm on third aircraft carrier

Admiral Singh has strongly come out in support of a third aircraft carrier, saying it is needed as the Indian economy grows towards the USD 5 trillion goal.

He said the Navy will formally move the proposal to the government for a third aircraft carrier after gathering the technical information sought from various countries.

“As the Navy, we are absolutely clear of the utility of the carrier. This is because air operations are integral to naval operations, and air power at sea is required since the Navy is all about reach and sustenance,” he said.

He added: “If you are a nation that is aspiration and you want to become a USD 5 trillion economy shortly and you want to do well, you will have to go outwards and seek the world. The nation does not want to be navy tethered to shore. For that aircraft carriers are absolutely necessary.”

ThePrint had reported in February that the Navy is firm on its plans for a third aircraft carrier despite Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat’s scepticism.

The Indian Navy currently operates aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, while INS Vikrant is under construction in Cochin and is due for commissioning in 2022.

Both vessels have a displacement (measure of a vessel’s weight) of 45,000 tonnes each and the Navy is keen on a third vessel of higher displacement.

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Admiral Karambir Singh says Navy will prioritise ordnance delivery, networking and unmanned solutions such as drones/UAVs with the resources that’ll be made available to it.

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has approached the Ministry of Finance with some funding models, especially for shipyards, similar to the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) model, its chief Admiral Karambir Singh said Thursday.

The IRFC is the finance arm of the Indian Railways, which raises resources for expansion and running through capital markets and other borrowings.

“Those (models) are still under discussion, and if they come through, then possibly we will be able to provide a little better liquidity to these shipyards,” Admiral Singh said, without detailing what the funding models are.

The Navy has been battling a depleting budget, which it had repeatedly emphasised is too little to cater for its future acquisitions and inadequate to meet its committed liabilities. In the last Union Budget, the Indian Navy was allocated only Rs 41,259 crore against the projected amount of Rs 64,307 crore.

The Navy chief was speaking to the media a day before India celebrates the force’s contributions on Navy Day, 4 December.

Also read: Hit by budget crunch, Indian Navy now plans to buy 2 Landing Platform Docks instead of 4

Priorities due to budget crunch

Admiral Singh said the force will prioritise ordnance delivery, networking and unmanned solutions such as drones/UAVs with the resource envelope that will be made available to it. Ordnance delivery includes gunnery systems, missiles and launchers, while networking comprises maritime domain awareness, combat management systems and targeting, among other things.

He said the Navy is aware of the Covid-19 situation, and is hopeful the economy is going to bounce back very quickly. But whatever resources are given to it, the Navy will have to make sure procurements under its Maritime Capability Perspective Plan are prioritised to meet requirements.

In the three priority areas of ordnance delivery, networking and unmanned solutions, indigenisation is helping the Navy as certain equipment becomes available at a lower price.

Earlier this year, the Navy had inducted two ‘Predator’ drones on lease for a short period. Admiral Singh said they are capable platforms with endurance of over 33 hours. The drones’ manufacturer, American energy and defence firm General Atomics, will be responsible for their maintenance, while operations will be in the hands of the Navy.

“As far as the revenue is concerned, the main focus is on our spares and inventory holding. We are working on it very aggressively to make sure that we have a smart inventory and carrying costs are less,” he said, referring to the operational logistics supply chains for spares and other inventories.

Future tech, underwater capabilities

The Navy chief said some introspection has also gone into the MCPP recently, and a lot of focus has been put on future technologies, unmanned solutions and networking, keeping in mind the threats envisaged.

The document, which lists the Navy’s long-term procurement plans, is often re-evaluated keeping in mind emerging future threats.

Admiral Singh also said the underwater domain awareness and capability is a key focus area for him, and the force is focussing hard on being able to do war-fighting in the underwater space.

He said the P-8Is —long-range surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft — are great force enablers in this aspect, and when the MH-60R helicopters arrive from the United States, they will also help out in this particular domain.

He added that the Kamov 28 helicopters that are undergoing upgrades will also become far more potent for the underwater space, and that the three services’ for 30 HALE UAVs is being advanced.

Admiral Singh said the two Predators leased earlier are pre-production models and the planned procurement of 30 Predators for the three services will have much more underwater and ASW capability.

The lease option could be used in case there’s a gap found in achieving critical capabilities, he explained, adding that the lease option has also been used for logistics for the naval bases in the Lakshadweep islands.

Also read: Why Indian Navy is getting a camouflage uniform like the Army and Air Force

On Ladakh stand-off 

Admiral Singh said the Navy deployed its P-8I long range reconnaissance aircraft on the northern borders on several occasions during the ongoing stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh. Earlier, the Navy had also deployed the P-8Is for surveillance during the 2017 Doklam stand-off with China at the countries’ tri-junction with Bhutan.

“The P-8I is a potent platform that has certain equipment that can be used on the border. Based on the requirements of the Army and IAF, we have deployed the P-8I on several occasions. We have also deployed the Heron UAV from one of the northern bases,” he said.

The Navy chief admitted that the Covid-19 pandemic that has defined 2020 and permeated and disrupted lives, and the near-simultaneous attempt to change the status quo on India’s northern borders, has increased the complexities in the security situation.

“This dual challenge scenario continues as we speak,” he said.

However, he assured there has been no infringement into Indian maritime boundaries, even as Chinese research vessels and fishing vessels have been deployed in the Indian Ocean Region.

Also read: Will continue maintaining high-tempo of operations, says Navy chief amid tensions with China