Shaheed Sandeep Singh Chowk at Parasram Nagar in Bathinda. Photo: Vijay Kumar

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 14

On the eve of Independence Day, when the country is busy making preparations for celebrations and functions to mark the day, many monuments and places named after the great freedom fighters look desolate.Many such places in the city have faced neglect of the district administration on this occasion. They include Jarnail Singh Rathore Chowk near the Multania flyover, Parasram Nagar Chowk near the railway underbridge and Fauji Chowk in the heart of the city.

Jarnail Singh Rathore Chowk

Hav. Jarnail Singh Rathore, a Punjab Police commando, laid down his life while fighting with terrorists. He was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir during elections in 2002.At that time, the Captain Amarinder Singh government had built a roundabout near the Multania flyover and named it as Jarnail Singh Chowk. A welfare society was also launched after the name of the martyr.Avtar Singh Goga, president of the Jarnail Singh Rathore Welfare Society, said, “Despite repeatedly bringing it to the notice of the authorities, nobody bothers to give it a facelift and decorate it. We painted it on our own and decorated it,” he said.Sandeep Singh Chowk near Parasram NagarSoldier Sandeep Singh of the 20 Sikh Regiment laid down his life fighting with the Pakistan army in the Kargil war. The government built a statue of the brave soldier in his memory.Ratha Singh Dhillon, father of the soldier, said, “The authorities only give assurances. They haven’t decorated the statue of Sandeep Singh over the years. Municipal councillor Vijay paints and decorates the statue on his own every year.”

Dhanoa in France: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa (R) after a sortie in Rafale during his France visit. PTI

Zhukovsky (Russia), July 19

India and Russia have entered the second stage of negotiations for jointly developing the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and the two sides will sign a contract “in the near future”, a top Russian official has said.Sergei Chemezov, the CEO of Rostec State Corporation, said all decisions over the multi-billion dollar project to jointly develop the FGFA will be finalised in the “near future”. The two nations inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project in 2007.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“As for the 5th generation (fighter aircraft), the work is underway. Stage one is over. Now we are discussing the second stage. And I think in the near future, all decisions will be made and contract documents will be signed,” Chemezov said on the sidelines of Russia’s premier air show “MAKS 2017” here.“But the work is going, it is very complicated, so it is not going fast,” said the head of Rostec, Russia’s umbrella organisation of 700 hi-tech civilian and military firms.He stressed that Russia was the only country for India that transferred all technologies without any restrictions.Chemezov’s remarks came more than two months after government sources in New Delhi said almost all the ground work had been completed to finalise the deal for the design of the FGFA jet and other critical issues.“The contract for the detailed design would be signed soon and that will be a milestone. It should be signed in the second half of the year,” a top official involved in the negotiations with Russia on the project had said.The official had said both countries were co-developers and India would have equal rights over the technology.In February last year, India and Russia had revived talks on the project after a clearance from then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.Since then, a lot of issues related to work share, Intellectual Property Rights and technology transfer among others have been sorted out between the two sides, along with the monetary commitments. In December 2010, India agreed to pay $295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the “Perspective Multi-role Fighter”. However, negotiations faced various hurdles.Chemezov also talked about Russia’s own fifth generation fighter jet programme PAK FA. “Today one of Rostec’s key milestones is the development of the second stage engine for PAK FA.” — PTI

Martyr Suresh Kumar

Our Correspondent

Kangra, July 15

The state government is committed to help the families of the martyrs who lay down their lives for the safety and security of the nation.Stating this here yesterday, Kangra Deputy Commissioner CP Verma said on compassionate grounds the state government had decided to pay Rs 20 lakh to the family of Suresh Kumar of the CRPF, who attained martyrdom at Sukma in Chhattisgarh on March 11 this year.The Deputy Commissioner said he would visit the martyr’s family at Sunni village in Nagrota Bagwan and will hand over a cheque for Rs 20 lakh to his family. He said the district administration was also at the beck and call of the families of martyrs.The story, “Sacrifice of martyr being ignored: Kin”, was carried in these columns on June 8. It highlighted that the family of martyr Suresh Kumar had alleged disparity by the state government and politicians who ignored his great sacrifice.Martyr Suresh Kumar, who was attached to 219 Battalion of the CRPF, popularly known as Cobra Battalion, was part of the patrolling party for road opening at Sukma in Chhattisgarh on March 11 when Maoists attacked them and he died while fighting the Maoists. He is survived by his 27-year-old wife Neena Devi, a year-old daughter Navya and his aged parents.Suresh was the only bread-earner for his , which is not economically well-off.The Deputy Commissioner presented a cheque for Rs 1.50 lakh to the family on the day of cremation. Mast Ram, father of the martyr, was anguished and pained to see disparity between martyrs of the same CRPF force, who attained martyrdom under same circumstances and at the same situation and location.Mast Ram, 65, alleged his son was given Rs 1.5 lakh as ex gratia financial support whereas the state government gave Rs 20 lakh each to Surender Kumar of Nehar Chowk and Sanjay Kumar of Nagri Chachian of 74 Battalion of CRPF who too attained the martyrdom at Sukma on April 24 this year under the same circumstances.Yesterday, his demand was accepted by the state government.Killed in Sukma attackMartyr Suresh Kumar, who was attached to 219 Battalion of the CRPF, popularly known as Cobra Battalion, was part of the patrolling party for road opening at Sukma in Chhattisgarh on March 11 when Maoists attacked them and he died while fighting the Maoists.

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 12

China today offered to play a “constructive”’ role in improving ties between India and Pakistan. With the standoff in Sikkim nearing almost a month and the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the statement is bound to aggravate India and the situation further. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)India has always maintained that Kashmir issue is a bilateral one. China’s statement comes a day after its media suggested that a “third” country’s army could enter Jammu and Kashmir on Pakistan’s request, using the same logic that India has to stop  Chinese troops from constructing a road in Doklam. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: “The conflict occurred near the Line of Control in Kashmir. This will not only harm peace and stability in the two countries, but also of the region.”He hoped the two sides would do more to prevent   escalating tensions and that China was willing to play a “constructive” role.Only yesterday Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had made a conciliatory statement, suggesting that India and China could manage their border disputes.

Burhan Wani. File photo

New Delhi, July 9

India on Sunday hit out at Pakistan for glorifying militant commander Burhan Wani, saying Islamabad’s terror support and sponsorship need to be condemned by ‘one and all’.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

In a strongly worded tweet, External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Gopal Baglay said: ” First @ForeignOfficePk read frm banned LeT’s script. Now Pak COAS (Pakistan army chief) glorifies Burhan Wani. Pak’s terror support and sponsorship need to be condemned by one and all”.

Baglay’s comments came a day after Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa praised Wani, Hizbul Mujahideen commander who was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces last year.

Wani was responsible for several attacks against security personnel in Kashmir.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday paid tributes to Wani, saying his death “infused a new spirit in the struggle for freedom” in the Kashmir Valley. PTI

The IAF is likely to float a Request for Proposal (RFP) with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) this December for purchasing homemade HTT-40 basic aircraft for training its pilots. Ahead of the proposed RFP, Chief of Air Staff Air C

Brig Jagbir Singh Grewal (retd) 

The sight of multitudes of devotees with hands folded in reverence, patiently awaiting their turn at the Dhussi Bundh at Dera Baba Nanak to pay obeisance from a distance to the holy shrine of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib used to inspire awe. Even in 1999, during Operation Parakram in the aftermath of Pakistan’s Kargil misadventure, when we were on the verge of the outbreak of hostilities, and manning our defences, the presence of undeterred worshippers remained.

Dera Baba Nanak was my sector of responsibility then. Moving along the International Border fencing, irrespective of our faith, we would bow before the shrine, located just across the Ravi. It evoked a feeling of onerous responsibility on us, of defending the sector at all costs, and one day secure the enclave that lay ahead of us, up to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. The troops’ resolve was further strengthened when our patrol moving along the border fencing was told by Pakistani personnel on their side that though there was a lot of development in India, ‘hamare paas Kartarpur Sahib hai’. The milky white domes and spires of Gurdwara Sahib evoked a benign assurance that all was well and that our prayers would be answered.

It is amazing that the Army’s deployment along the International Border at Dera Baba Nanak always has a profound effect on the psyche of the jawans, which remains unprecedented, and perhaps a rare phenomenon in any other defended sector. This was realised when one day, the overwhelmed Commanding Officer of 8 Sikh Light Infantry Battalion informed me in good humour that the company deployed along Gurdwara Baba Budha at Ramdas had turned vegetarian and shunned the consumption of liquor, and that they visited the adjoining gurdwara whenever they had the time and opportunity. No wonder that despite the presence of a large number of pilgrims in the ancient town of Dera Baba Nanak, the Army personnel were never considered outsiders and encroachers on their amenities, but were gratefully accepted by the local hospitable people as equal partners in their ventures for managing the safety and security of the town and its precincts.

The prayers of the then Dera Baba Nanak railway station master, too, have been answered. He would nostalgically speak of the bygone imperial era and lament that the spacious, well-furnished first-class waiting room of the railway station, barely 2 km from the border, was the least used amenity. There being virtually no passengers at the terminal station, the considerate railway station master offered the waiting room to us as a suitable hall for our use, though we could never avail of his offer. Now, with the railway station being upgraded, it has brought the sheen back to the railway station as well.

Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 11

On the eve of the 550th Gurpurb, two Iran-based universities have desired to establish academic Chairs to conduct research on the life and teachings of the first Sikh Guru.

Another proposal from their side was to initiate the Sikh religious study programme in collaboration with the Iran-based universities.

University of Religion president Sayyid Abulhasan Navab and a representative of Al-Mustafa International University on Monday held a discussion with Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to work on the modalities of installing the Chairs.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had also announced Chairs in Guru Nanak’s name to be set up in 11 universities, of which seven are in Punjab, three across the country and one (University of Religion) in Iran.

Giani Harpreet Singh said to arrange literature and reference material, they had tied up with the Punjabi University, Patiala.

“Besides this, the SGPC will be directed to assist the Iranian scholars in collecting the information on the life, philosophy and vision of Guru Nanak. It was an honour for the Sikh community that our Guru’s message was being spread on a global platform by installing a dedicated Chair,” he added.

Syed Afroz Nazvis, an Iranian delegate, said besides setting up Chairs by the universities under the patronage of the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran, a detailed discussion was also done with Akal Takht Jathedar over a religious study programme proposed to understand the concept of Sikhism. “We proposed that there should be a Sikh religious study programme for Indian and Iranian intellectuals. Once, the MoU in this regard is finalised, the proposal will be submitted to the Iran government and subsequently, to the Indian government for getting the final nod,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pervinder Singh Chandhok, a Sikh citizen of Iran, said though the Sikhs comprise a miniscule population of the country, the government had accorded them all rights to observe the Gurpurbs and other religious ethics. He said the Iran sangat had initiated 600 ‘akhand path’ non-stop to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the bhog of which would be performed on Tuesday.

“I can say that the ‘shaan’ (glory) of turban is there in Iran. There are around 60 Sikh families living in Iran. They visit two gurdwaras located in Tehran and Zahran. We are free to maintain the ‘maryada’ of Sikhism and the authorities never interfere in our religious occasions,” he said.