Current Events :
Commemorative Ceremony of GsoG at Pathankot for doing exceptional work during Covid 19 duties.
Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
Bengaluru, February 3
Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Wednesday said the nature of warfare had changed significantly in the last few years. Advent of new technologies and cross linking of ‘physical’, ‘digital’ and ‘cognitive’ domains had complicated war fighting.
He was addressing military delegates of more than 50 countries at the Aero India here at special conclave.
The topic of the conclave was to address technological advances, changing threat matrix and evolution of air power.
The exponential technological progress made in the last few years has made the realm of warfare more complex. “The low cost and easy availability of simple disruptive technology like drones with small state and non-state actors have made them more lethal, agile and capable of generating disproportionate effects,” the IAF Chief said. The IAF was closely observing unmanned, manned-unmanned teaming and anti-drone technologies, he said. — TNS
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait at the mahapanchayat against the new farm laws in Jind. Tribune photo
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, February 3
The farmers today displayed a massive show of strength with a mahapanchayat at Kandela village in Jind district, further boosting their agitation for repeal of the three laws.
Calling for a “wapsi” (withdrawal) of the laws, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait indirectly warned the Modi government that it could lose its “gaddi” (power) if the agitation continued. “We have so far talked about ‘law wapsi’. What will you do if we call for gaddi wapsi (removal from power)?” he said.
Cops offer Rs1L bounty on Deep Sidhu, others
The Delhi Police have announced a cash reward of Rs1 lakh for anyone who can give information leading to the arrest of Deep Sidhu and three others in connection with the Republic Day violence in the national Capital. TNS
Tikait said there would be no change in the committee of farmer representatives holding talks with the government.
On the government setting up multiple layers of barricades on the Delhi borders, Tikait said: “When the king is scared, he secures the fortress. The fortification is not going to deter us from moving ahead.”
New Delhi, February 4
The nails that were fixed near the barricades at the Ghazipur border are being removed.
Delhi Police recently cemented nails near the barricades at Ghazipur and Tikri borders.
Also, police have heavily barricaded the Ghazipur border. Barbed wire and cement barricades have been planted on the roads to restrict the movement of farmers.
Farmers have been protesting against the three central laws—Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. ANI
New Delhi, February 3
In a rare move, the Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to look into a lingering rift between two generals of the Jaipur-headquartered South Western Command over a range of issues relating to the overall functioning of the crucial formation, authoritative sources said.
Chief of the command Lt Gen Alok Kler and his deputy Lt Gen KK Repswal are at loggerheads for the past several months over the role, charter and duties of various appointments as well as on running of the command that takes care of security along the borders in Rajasthan and Punjab.
It is learnt that Lt Gen Kler had made a representation to the Chief of Army Staff on the conduct of Lt Gen Repswal. A similar complaint was made by Lt Gen Repswal against his senior.
The Army headquarters tasked Lt Gen IS Ghuman, the Central Army Commander with conducting the probe, the sources said.
They said Lt Gen Ghuman was examining the allegations and counter allegations by both the generals and will submit a detailed report based on the investigation.
“Any further step will be based on the report,” said a source.
Around September last, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane had asked then Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen SK Saini to look into the issue. Lt Gen Saini retired on January 31.
Both Lt Gen Kler and Lt Gen Repswal belong to illustrious military families.
Lt Gen Kler was commissioned into the armoured corps in June 1982. He commanded an armoured regiment and armoured Brigade in Western Sector.
Lt Gen Kler is due for retirement in March while Lt Gen Repswal is being transferred to Kolkata-headquartered Eastern Command. PTI
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. File photo
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 3
A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) walked out of the all-party meeting, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said the people of Punjab should not expect anything better from a party whose chief was, on record, touting the farm laws as the most revolutionary step in the agriculture sector in 70 years.
He said the act of walkout had not only shown the party in its true colours, but also bared their lie on Arvind Kejriwal’s video, which showed the Delhi CM narrating the benefits of the farm laws. Trashing AAP’s claim of the video being doctored, he said, “How can one believe them after their continued theatrics over the farm laws and the farmers’ agitation, including their walk-out from yesterday’s meeting?
Citing the alleged presence of AAP Punjab member Amrik Micky at the Red Fort during the violence of January 26, the Chief Minister said there was no doubt now that the party was hand in glove with the BJP in the conspiracy to destabilise and sabotage the farmers’ peaceful agitation.
“What have they done to help or support the farmers all these months?” Capt Amarinder asked, adding that the string of AAP actions in recent weeks clearly proved that their sympathies were not with the farmers but with the BJP and their crony capitalists. “Why else did the Kejriwal government in Delhi notify the implementation of one of the black farm laws in November last? Why else have they allowed the national capital’s roads to be dug up and the farmers’ protest sites barricaded like fortresses, instead of exercising their powers since the control of the city roads lies with the Delhi Government and not with the Centre?” asked the Chief Minister.
“It is ridiculous that a party which cannot stop its own property from being taken over in this shocking manner, in a state where it is in power, should walk out from a pro-farmer meeting in Punjab demanding that our police should go to their state, against all rules and laws,” Capt Amarinder said.
The Chief Minister also took a dig at Kejriwal for taking more than a week to release the list of farmers thrown into the Tihar jail.
Video doctored, delete it: Kejriwal
Reacting to a video being shared by CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s media adviser stating that the Delhi CM supports the central farm laws, AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said the party would take legal action in this regard. “This is a doctored video… If Captain Amarinder does not withdraw this video immediately and apologise, I will take legal action against him,” he said.
Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora and DC Apneet Riyait inspect the site map of the institute in Hoshiarpur. Tribune Photo
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 3
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today virtually laid the foundation stone of Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, to be established at Hoshiarpur.
The project, spread over 12.75 acres in Bajwara village, will be executed at Rs 27 crore and will be completed by the year-end.
The institute would impart training to 270 candidates per year, as per an official statement. The land has been gifted by Sardar Bahadur Amin Chand Soni Education Trust and Society, headed by Member of Parliament Ambika Soni.
The Chief Minister said the institute would help the youth, who wish to join the armed forces. At a time, when women pilot officers were flying the Rafale and helicopters, and actively involved in every field of the armed forces, soon girls in India would be a part of the fighting forces like their counterparts in other countries, he said.
Capt Amarinder Singh lauded the role of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Mohali in training the youth to secure a permanent commission in the armed forces through the National Defence Academy or equivalent centres.
Referred to Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls at Mohali, which imparts training to girls after Class XII for a career as commissioned officers, he said the institute had so far trained 75 cadets, of whom seven had been selected in the defence services.
8 courses a year to train 270 youths
