Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 7

In a bid to enhance the connect with people, the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps today joined social media platforms.The General Officer Commanding of the Chinar Corps, Lt Gen JS Sandhu, in his first tweet, wrote, “The presence of Chinar Corps on Twitter is a step to enhance our connect with the Awaam of #Kashmir Valley.” The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, responsible for guarding the Line of Control in Kashmir and fighting militancy in the hinterland across the Valley, joined social media with an aim to pass on timely information of its activities.“The Chinar Corps launched its official Twitter handle, @iachinarcorps, and Facebook account, Chinarcorps_IA, with an aim to pass on timely information of the activities in Chinar Corps and to enhance our connect with the ‘awaam’,” Srinagar-based defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia said.

The swiftness with which the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has presented a blueprint for waiving farmers’ debt has put pressure on the governments in Punjab, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to do something similarly dramatic. In the passionate bid for power politicians promise anything. Reality bites on gaining office. Capt Amarinder Singh has cleverly bought two months’ time by telling an expert group to study the issue. But the alacrity displayed by the Yogi, considered inexperienced in governance, will not allow the congress government in Punjab to prevaricate beyond a point.Like other states where farmer distress is glaring, Punjab had expected a Central bailout. With expectations belied, the Amarinder government is now struggling to come to terms with the enormity of the financial challenge, which includes unpaid bills amounting to Rs 17,000 crore, an off-budget spending of Rs 25,000 crore by the previous regime, the state debt shooting to 1.83 lakh crore and the pay commission report awaiting implementation in a not too distant future, apart from the litany of populist promises thoughtlessly made in the passion to win. Opposition and public pressure will mount once the honeymoon period is over.    None in the political class says the unpretty things that need to be said about the politics of loan waivers. The SBI chief has done it from the banks’ angle: “Today, the loans will come back as the government will pay for it but when we disburse loans again then the farmers will wait for the next election expecting another waiver.” Bank credit to farmers would not take long to dry up as good borrowers would stop paying back on time and farmers would once again be at the mercy of private lenders. The cycle of taking loans and seeking a waiver would kick in again, while the taxpayer would be asked to pay for the political largess. Money meant for education and healthcare will get diverted. Farmers need help but only in buying inputs cheaper and getting a higher price for their produce.

Yogi’s farm loan waiver puts Capt under strain

ribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 5

After Yogi Adityanath-led UP Government waived Rs 36,359-crore loans to farmers, all major political parties and farm unions have begin mounting pressure on Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh to fulfil the similar promise he had made to the state’s farmers before the Assembly elections in February.Saying the CM was deviating from the vital promise and trying to pass the buck to the Centre, senior AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, “It appears that instead of taking the responsibility to waive the farmers’ loans himself, he recently led a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter. By doing so, the CM is trying to skirt the issue and run away from his election promise.”“Now that the UP CM has waived the farm loans, Capt Amarinder Singh must follow him and take the decision in the next Cabinet meeting. The least that he can do immediately is to write off the loans of small and marginal farmers pending with the cooperative banks and societies of Punjab. This is a decision that he can independently take and does not have to approach any nationalised bank or any other authority,” Khaira added.On the other hand, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to direct Amarinder to waive all farm loans immediately.“Rahul has applauded the loan waiver decision of the UP Government and called for its replication in the other states. Rahul should lead by example and ask all Congress-ruled states, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, to waive farm loans,” Sukhbir said.Sukhbir said Rahul was morally bound to intervene as the state Congress had promised to implement a one-time complete farm loan waiver scheme in its manifesto that bears his stamp.“The Punjab Congress distributed lakhs of forms to farmers who duly filled them and submitted them to the party. Now these farmers are waiting for the much-needed relief,” Sukhbir added.Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “Our opinion is that the government should be given 60 days it sought to devise the mechanism of the loan waiver. If Amarinder’s government fails to fulfil its promise, then we will launch an agitation from July.”

Will fulfil promise’

• A government’s spokesperson on Wednesday said, “We are committed to waive debt of the farmers. A committee is being constituted to look into the entire issue and suggest measures. The members of the committee will be notified in a day or two. A budgetary provision for the debt waiver would be made.”

MoS Kiren Rijiju with CRPF CO Chetan Cheetah at AIIMS. PTI

New Delhi, April 5

Almost two months after CRPF Commander Chetan Cheetah, 45, went into coma with nine bullet wounds suffered during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, the officer today walked out of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after making a “miraculous” recovery.Cheetah, who belongs to Rajasthan, was wheeled in on February 14 at the trauma centre after being airlifted from Srinagar. Doctors said he had shown a steely resolve to respond to their intensive medical care.Subodh Kumar, Professor of Trauma Surgery at AIIMS, while announcing his recovery, said it was “nothing short of a miracle”.“Cheetah was in coma for 16 days and spent a month in the intensive care unit,” Amit Gupta, Additional Medical Superintendent at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, said.Gupta said the Commanding Officer (CO) of CRPF’s 45th Battalion in the Kashmir Valley had suffered bullet injuries to the head, upper limbs, waist, pelvic region, hands and right eye.Doctors said the chances of vision returning to the right eye were “bleak” although his left eye, which had splinter injuries, had been restored.Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Twitter hailed the courage of the officer. “Fortune favours the brave. Extremely happy to know that Cheetah has made a miraculous recovery. I thank the team of doctors who have helped Chetan Cheetah in his recovery. Hope to see Cheetah back in action soon.” His deputy Kiren Rijiju visited the officer at the hospital and said he was “proud” of him.Cheetah said he felt proud when Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Rijiju visited him and recognised his contribution.The team of medical experts described the treatment provided to him over 45 days. “Within 24 hours of admission, surgery was conducted to remove a portion of the skull which had suffered the bullet injury to reduce intra-cranial pressure. After that, he underwent multiple surgeries.“Cheetah also developed signs of sepsis due to his wounds, which was managed by critical care specialists in the ICU. His wounds were regularly debrided,” Subodh said. Doctors say Cheetah will be left with some amount of disability but with proper rehabilitation and physiotherapy will improve over the time.His wife Uma Singh, who has been besides her husband since the near-fatal encounter, was anxious to take him home after being discharged today and said “normalcy in our lives will come back once he wears the uniform and goes to office”. — TNS/PTI

Comatose for 16 days after encounter in J&K

• On February 14, CRPF commander Chetan Cheetah suffered nine bullet wounds during an encounter with terrorists inBandipora’s Hajjan area of J&K
• He was initially treated at the Army Base Hospital, Srinagar, before being airlifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he underwent brain surgery
• He remained in coma for 16 days and spent a month in the ICU. He had bullet injuries in the head, upper limbs, waist, pelvic region, hands and right eye

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 31

The Municipal Corporation will start a drive to check the wastage of water in the city from tomorrow. The MC drive will continue till June 30. The MC has formed 18 teams for the purpose.To check the water shortage problem during summer, the MC has imposed a ban on watering of lawns and washing of cars and courtyards using a hosepipe in the morning (5.30 am to 8.30 am).The MC has fixed Rs 2,000 as fine for violators. The violation of the ban will attract a penalty and can lead to disconnection of the water supply. Leakage in overhead water tanks, personal water pipes and booster pumps installed on water meters will also attract a penalty.The MC staff will confiscate any material such as booster pumps and hosepipes being used by the defaulters. The fine will be added to the water bills.

What will invite penalty

• Washing of vehicles and courtyards in morning hours
• Watering of lawns in morning hours
• Wastage of water through other means
• Overflow from overhead/underground water tanks
• Leakage from water meter chamber
• Leakage and overflow from desert coolers
• Installation and use of booster pumps directly on the water supply line
• Wastage of water due to non-installation of bib taps

How to wash your car

• To wash a car, use water from a bucket instead of a water pipe between5.30 am and 8.30 am

250were challaned last year

• Last year, around 250 challans were issued, mostly in southern sectors. Besides, over 1,000 notices were issued to violators.

Rana KP Singh elected Speaker amid protests by AAP MLAs

Rana KP Singh after being elected as Speaker for the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday. A Tribune photo

Chandigarh, March 27

Congress MLA Rana Kanwar Pal Singh was on Monday elected unopposed as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly amid a walkout by the members of main opposition Aam Aadmi Party and its ally Lok Insaaf Party.      On the second day of 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh proposed the name of Rana, Congress MLA from Anandpur Sahib Assembly constituency, for the post of Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra seconded it.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Amarinder said Rana is connected to people at grassroots level. “He always smiles…works with a calm mind. I have full faith that you will turn out to be a successful Speaker,” the Chief Minister said.As the process to elect Speaker started, members of the AAP and the LIP intervened, demanding a debate on the governor’s address.Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka said a discussion on governor’s address should be held “as per the Constitution”.He was supported by LIP MLA Simrajeet Singh Bains.Rana asked the AAP MLAs to go by the rules and give some time to the new government. Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said the Congress was not denying a debate on the governor’s address, but “let the government to start its work first”.At this, the AAP and LIP members raised slogans and trooped out of the Assembly.On being elected as Speaker, Rana (59), a three-time legislator, said: “As the House has reposed faith in me, I am committed to serving the House with dedication as per rules of the Assembly and seeking full cooperation of opposition benches.”Noting that MLAs are criticised often for their un- parliamentary behaviour these days, Rana said “gentleness will make us ornamental to the legislature.”He assured the members of upholding the sanctity and principles of the House and thanked Amarinder Singh, AICC chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) and party vice president (Rahul Gandhi) for reposing faith in him.”Amarinder is a charismatic leader for whom the party is not above the interest of the people of Punjab. It is a huge responsibility that has been given to me by the entire House,” he said. — PTI

What transpired in the House*New seating arrangement in place in Vidhan Sabha

*Congress ministers sit seniority wise in first row of treasury benches

*Three rows for AAP and three rows for SAD-BJP members in opposition benches

*Lok Insaf Party members allowed to sit with AAP MLAs

*Bikram Majithia sits in the second row on the seats reserved for SAD-BJP MLAs

*AAP MLAs and Bains brothers object to not being allowed debate on Governor’s address.

*Speaker asks opposition to give time to govt to function

*Navjot Singh Sidhu defends govt, takes on Bains brothers

*Bains brothers raise slogans against the Speaker

*Capt Amarinder Singh proposes name of Rana KP Singh as Speaker

*Election held amid din by AAP MLAs

*AAP members walk out of the House

*Phoolka says walkout for not giving time for opposition to speak in the Assembly

*SAD-BJP members sit silent in the House

*Sidhu makes sarcastic comments against AAP MLAs

*Capt Amarinder Singh, Ajit Singh Kohar, Brahm Mohindra and Dinesh Babbu congratulate Rana KP Singh for being elected Speaker

*AAP chief whip Sukhpal Khaira says the pre-poll ‘friendship’ between Akalis and Congress continues as Akalis did not object to denial of time to the opposition to speak

*Manpreet Badal says the level of debate in the House has gone down over the years

*AAP walks out of Assembly

*AAP accepts new office given to them in the Vidhan Sabha; HS Phoolka holds first meeting there

Badal, Sukhbir take oath; to oppose proposed CPS bill

Parkash Singh Badal. File photo

Ruchika Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday took oath as MLAs in the Speaker’s chamber.The two said they would oppose the proposed bill on appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, if and when it was brought in the House by the Congress government.

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Badal said he had fractured a rib after he slipped and fell and sought Speaker Rana KP’s permission to remain absent from the House for the remaining session. Sukhbir said he would attend the session.

Punjab to pursue cash credit limit issue with Centre, RBI

Cabinet approves supplementary grants, vote-on-account for presentation before Assembly

The Punjab cabinet meeting. PTI file

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

The Punjab cabinet on Monday decided to take up the matter of settlement of the legacy accounts regarding the pending Cash Credit Limit (CCL) with the Centre, RBI and SBI, on priority basis.A decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh here.

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The meeting decided to take up the CCL issue with the Centre as well as the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of India, in larger public interest and in view of the state’s financial situation.Disclosing this after the meeting, an official spokesperson said the Punjab government, which had inherited a huge debt legacy from the previous Akali government, would actively pursue the issue with the Centre.The Chief Minister last week had met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely to seek immediate authorisation and release of the Rs 20,683-crore CCL from the Centre for smooth and timely wheat procurement in the state. The procurement of wheat in the state is slated to begin on April 1.At its meeting, the cabinet also approved supplementary grants for 2016-17 to be presented before the state Assembly during the ongoing session. The cabinet also cleared the proposal for seeking Vote-on-Account for 2017-18 in the Vidhan Sabha.The supplementary grants and Vote-on-Account are scheduled to be presented before the House on March 29.

Punjab nod to draft law officers’ bill for transparency in AG functioning

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

As part of the Capt Amarinder Singh government’s administrative reforms agenda, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday approved the introduction of a draft bill to streamline appointments and bring transparency in the functioning of the office of the Advocate General.A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, also approved key amendments in the qualifications and experience for the post of the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to strengthen the organisation and make it more effective.The Punjab Law Officers (Engagement) Act, 2017, Bill will be tabled for enactment in the current session of the Vidhan Sabha, an official spokesperson said after the second meeting of the state cabinet, held at the CMO here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat.Giving details of the proposed legislation, the spokesperson said it was aimed at putting in place an efficacious mechanism for the engagement of law officers in the Advocate General’s office purely on merit, as per the directions of the Supreme Court and High Court.The enactment of the legislation will bring in greater transparency, fairness and objectivity in the appointment of senior additional advocate general, additional advocate general, senior deputy advocate general, deputy advocate general, assistant advocate general and advocate on record, the spokesperson added.As per the Cabinet decision, the PSPCL CMD would now be an IAS officer, in the rank of Principal Secretary or above, having experience of working in the power sector.Concurrently, the cabinet has also amended the terms and conditions with respect to qualifications and experience for the said post, adding the streams of civil engineering, electronics and communication engineering, instrumentation engineering and information technology to the existing basic qualifications. In addition, the experience of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) would also be considered for the post of CMD.In another decision, the Cabinet decided to engage the services of Inspector General of Police Khubi Ram (retd) as security adviser to the Chief Minister in the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), with entitlement to equivalent status, pay, perks, privileges and allowances, as admissible in such case.

PSPCL to see shift of power

IAS officer to replace Chaudhri

A team of the district administration during a raid to check illegal mining in Ropar district. Tribune photo

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, March 27

Following a crackdown on the mining mafia by the Congress government, the state is witnessing a steep hike in the prices of sand and gravel.Enquiries reveal that due to acute scarcity of these mining minerals, the retail price of sand has shot up from Rs 16 per cubic ft to Rs 26 per cubic ft and that of gravel has gone up from Rs 20 per cubic ft a couple of days ago to Rs 26 per cubic ft.Officials at Nakkian toll plaza near Kiratpur Sahib said nearly 200 tippers overloaded with sand and gravel used to pass from there every day. But after the district police started issuing challans, the number has decreased substantially in the past few days. Yesterday, only 26 tippers crossed the toll.Similarly at Solakhian toll plaza on the Ropar-Kharar road, officials said the number of loaded tippers was between 400 and 450 against nearly 1,000 a few days ago. Tippers coming from Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Nalagarh, Una, Nangal and Anandpur Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib and Ropar pass through this route.A sand and gravel dealer in Chandigarh said a tipper with 800 cubic ft sand was available for Rs 8,000 in the wholesale market till last week. The price has jumped to Rs 16,000 and still two tippers could reach him at this price, he said.Yogesh Gulati, another dealer of building material, said following strictness by the police and other enforcement agencies, sand from the Sutlej riverbed, considered to be of best quality, was not available in the market.Last week, Ropar Deputy Commissioner Gurneet Tej had formed 23 teams of officials from different departments to check illegal mining and ordered a fresh demarcation of quarries allotted for mining of sand and gravel in the district. Following this, the lifting of material from allotted quarries was suspended.A strict checking by the police has led to impounding of 57 vehicles illegally loaded with sand and gravel. Ropar SSP Nilambari Vijay Jagdale said in the last week, seven FIRs had been registered against people involved in illegal mining.During a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, the stone crusher owners confessed that they were forced to pay Rs 3,000 for 1,000 cubic ft material as “gunda tax”. They said nakas put up to collect the illegal tax had vanished.

To hamper construction activity

• Due to acute scarcity of mining minerals, the retail price of sand has shot up from Rs 16 per cubic ft toRs26 per cubic ft and that of gravel has gone up fromRs20 per cubic ft toRs26 per cubic ft.

KP Singh elected Speaker

Speaker Rana KP Singh administers oath to former CM Parkash Singh Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Assembly on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Three-time Congress MLA from Anandpur Sahib Rana Kanwar Pal Singh (59) was unanimously elected the Speaker of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha today.After Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra, Rana becomes the second most prominent Hindu face in the party to be elected on an important constitutional post.Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh proposed the name of the lawyer-turned-politician for the post of Speaker. Brahm Mohindra seconded him.As soon as the Chief Minister proposed KP Singh’s name, MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its ally — the Lok Insaaf Party — started raising slogans and staged a walkout, demanding a debate on the Governor’s Address scheduled for March 28.Akali-BJP MLAs led by SAD Deputy Leader Ajit Singh Kohar and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, did not join the AAP-led protest.Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal were conspicuous by their absence from the House on the second day of the session. They were also absent on the first day on March 24.After KP Singh was elected Speaker, Capt Amarinder, Kohar and BJP MLA Dinesh Singh Babbu congratulated him.Kohar and BJP MLA Som Parkash said KP Singh was aware of the rules of the House. They hoped he would give space to the Opposition during debates.Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal recited Urdu couplets to praise the Speaker. Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu took potshots at AAP’s pre-poll slogan “Kejriwal Kejriwal saara Punjab tere naal”. He gave a new twist to the slogan: “Kejriwal Kejriwal aah ki ho gaye tera naal.”Brahm Mohindra said, “The government has sought time for the debate. It is not denying the Opposition the right to discuss the Governor’s Address. The government is yet to start functioning.”The Chief Minister said, “The government is open to debate on the Governor’s Address. The maiden session is necessarily a short one since the government needs to pass the vote-on-account on March 29.”

Hindu card

• After Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra, Rana KP Singh becomes the second most prominent Hindu face in the party to be elected on an important constitutional post
• SAD Deputy Leader Ajit Singh Kohar and BJP MLA Som Parkash said KP Singh was aware of the rules of the House. They hoped he would give space to the Opposition during debates

Sidhu special

• Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu took potshots at AAP’s pre-poll slogan “Kejriwal Kejriwal saara Punjab tere naal”. He gave a new twist to the slogan: “Kejriwal Kejriwal aah ki ho gaye tera naal.

HC wants state to appoint nodal officers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the States of Punjab and Haryana, along with the Chandigarh Administration, to appoint “nodal officers” to report on all orders passed by the Bench from time to time in a drug menace case.The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudip Ahluwalia also made it clear that the officers to be appointed were required to be not below the level of Additional Chief Secretary in Punjab and Haryana, and the seniormost secretary in Chandigarh.The Bench also sought details of the steps initiated for the extradition of accused from foreign lands. During the course of hearing, the Bench made it clear that the drug manufacturing units were required to be proceeded against. Till such units were made non-operational, efforts to curb the menace was a mere eyewash, the Bench was of the opinion.The court, in fact, asked the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Central Bureau of Investigation to furnish details regarding the action taken against those involved in international drug peddling.The pending “court on its own motion” case has its origin in a plea filed by Tarlochan Singh through counsel Navkiran Singh.

Jhaloor land row: 7 farmer outfits on strike, officers stuck in offices

Farmers stage a protest in front of the DC’s office in Sangrur on Monday. Tribune photo

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, March27

Demanding the arrest of all accused who attacked Dalit Gurdev Kaur in Jhaloor village and Joginder Singh Ugrahan in Kohriya, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Ugrahan) and six other unions today started an indefinite protest in front of DC office here.Protesters have locked all three gates of the complex and many senior officers, including ADC and SDM, are stuck inside.Fearing some mischief to thwart their protest, groups of farmers have been standing guard with staff’s to prevent the of entry stray animals and outsiders inside.“Many months after the death of Gurdev Kaur, out of total 33 accused, only five have been arrested. The accused tried to attack the BKU chief in Kohriya but action has been taken,” alleged Mukesh Malaud, district chief of Zameen Prapati Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC). The participating outfits are BKU Ekta Ugraha, ZPSC, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Kirti Kisan Union, Krantikari Mazdoor Union, BKU Krantikari and Pendu Mazdoor Union.The protesters alleged that Sangrur police was helping the accused, who are roaming free in villages and threatening Dalits to withdraw their complaints in Jhaloor village incident, registered after a clash between landlords and Dalits on October 05, 2016 over the possession of village common land reserved for Dalits. “We have come prepared and would only lift our protest after all the accused are behind bars,” said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the union.Women protesters started preparing food in the evening after creating a temporary oven near the protest site. “We have all the material with us to prepare food for three-four days. Milk too would be supplied in the morning and evenings” said Manjit Kaur, a woman busy in the langar.“I, along with SDM and other officers with staff members are still inside the office and trying to convince protesters to open the gates,” said Poonamdeep Kaur, ADC. SSP Inderbir Singh said that senior police officers were conducting meetings with protesters to resolve the matter.

 

 

 

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

India and Russia are having a disagreement over the joint production of Kamov-226T light-utility helicopter that was announced as the first major ‘Make in India’ project some five months ago.The two long-standing military allies are facing hurdles as Russia is yet to give approval for the project. Top sources told The Tribune that pricing of the copter and related technology transfer through a private Indian partner were the two stumbling blocks.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)New Delhi is not satisfied with the price being asked by the Russian side, sources said. The terms of having a private partner were part of the inter-government agreement inked in October 2016 during the Narendra Modi-Vladimir Putin meeting in Goa. It was first announced in December 2015 that Kamov-226T will be copter of choice. The Russians have public sector giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the Indian partner, but the Ministry of Defence is looking to have private sector Indian investors to share a part of the contract that India has to execute under a joint venture with Moscow.The Indian side will hold 50.5 per cent stake in the joint venture, of which the private sector companies will be strategic partners with HAL. The private partners could be doing various tasks of making the copter at HAL’s Bangalore facility. The HAL will remain the lead integrator of the copter, sources said.The HAL is owned by the Ministry of Defence and has previous experience of making copters. The Indian forces need some 800 light utility helicopters over the next decade, a demand which cannot be fulfilled by the HAL alone. The Indo-Russia joint venture aims to have an annual production capacity of 40-60 helicopters. Under the India-Russia agreement, the Kamov engine will involve a separate partnership. Kamov uses French engine-maker Turbomeca’s power plant. The HAL already has a partnership with the same French company to produce engines for its indigenously developed copter, the advanced light helicopter, called Dhruv. The Kamov 226T is also fitted with Turbomeca engines, but a different variant.The twin-engine Kamov 226T will replace the single-engine Cheetah/Chetak, usually deployed for surveillance, dropping small loads and for rescue, including of troops posted at forbidding heights such as the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge region.The three services and the Coast Guard currently have 430 Cheetah/Chetaks helicopters. They are based on the 1950s’ designed Alouette Aérospatiale 315B Lama of France.

FAILING TOTAKE-OFF

• 200 Kamov copters are to be produced jointly by Kamov, HAL
• Rs 6,500 cr (or Rs 32 cr per copter) is the cost of the deal
• 800 light-utility helicopters needed over the next decade

Chandigarh, March 21

The Punjab Government today made eight political appointments in the Chief Minister’s office (CMO) that will cost the state exchequer lakhs of rupees every month. At its maiden meeting on Saturday,  the Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Capt Amarinder Singh, had decided on several austerity measures. Capt Amarinder has reposed faith in his old team, with one addition.

His confidant Lt Gen Tajinder Singh Shergill (retd), a former PPSC chairman, becomes Senior Adviser in the rank of Cabinet Minister.

Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, a former media adviser and long-time associate of Captain, has been appointed Adviser in the rank of Minister of State (MoS). He was arrested after the Congress lost to the SAD-BJP alliance in 2007.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Raveen Thukral, a senior journalist who steered Capt Amarinder’s media campaign in the recent Assembly elections, is Media Adviser in the rank of Minister of State. He formally takes charge tomorrow. Former journalist Vimal Sumbly, who has been with Capt Amarinder for the past nine years, is Secretary (Press).

Capt Sandeep Sandhu, a general secretary in the PPCC,

Major Amardeep Singh

and Karanpal Singh Sekhon, who worked as OSDs to Amarinder Singh prior to his becoming CM, are now Political Secretaries.

 Former IGP Khubi Ram has been appointed Security Adviser in the rank of ADGP in terms of status, pay, perks and privileges. Khubi Ram, a 1984-batch CRPF officer, joined the Punjab Police on deputation in 1991. He was among the top officers to have led the anti-terrorist operations in the state under KPS Gill, then DGP. He was SP (Security) during Capt Amarinder Singh’s term as CM in 2002-2007. He was among the first non-IPS officers to have been promoted as DIG, Punjab. In all, 11 CRPF and BSF officers were absorbed in the Punjab Police under the Absorption of Paramilitary Officers in Punjab Police Rules, 2006.The Punjab Police had withdrawn security to Khubi Ram in September 2015 after he was reportedly seen at Capt  Amarinder Singh’s functions.

CHANDIGARH: The agenda for the first cabinet meeting of the Congress government in Punjab was set by Manpreet Singh Badal, the state’s new finance minister. The estranged nephew of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was once the FM in the SAD-BJP regime, told HT in an interview at his residence in Chandigarh on Saturday that he did not enjoy confidence of Badal, but Amarinder has full faith in his integrity.

How is it different being a Congress finance minister?

It is a much better situation to be in. Captain Amarinder Singh is a better administrator than Parkash Singh Badal. He has clear-cut policies. As an Akali minister, I did not enjoy the confidence of the CM. But Amarinder has full faith in my integrity and I enjoy his trust and backing. Hum mafia ko kaat ke rakh denge; bada se bada gunda bhi sarkar ke samne nahi tik sakta (We will finish off the mafia. No goon is big enough for the government.)

But the Congress manifesto you drafted was same as that of People’s Party of Punjab (that merged into Congress before assembly polls)?

To a large extent, the agenda was the same, such as ending VIP culture. But, in Congress, we undertook a comprehensive exercise to know people’s aspirations. The manifesto committee met everybody, from youth, traders, industry, to farmers. The final screening was done at the level of former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

The manifesto was populist. Didn’t you part ways with the SAD on subsidies?

I left the post of finance minister in the Parkash Singh Badal government not owing to subsidies but the cabinet’s not agreeing to the Rs 35,000crore bailout package being offered to the state by then Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It had some conditions and those were fair. But the Akali Dal created propaganda that I was opposed to subsidies. They repeated it so many times that it became part of public memory.

Will you credit your party’s win to populism?

You need to give incentives to industry, farmers and traders to kickstart the economy. Even smartphones to youth is not a populist promise. They would serve as an educational tool for them and help them explore opportunities on internet

You never took a government car. Will other ministers follow? Your father has one from the government.

I can afford to have my own car, so I never took one from the government. But I cannot ask other ministers to do so. As for my father’s car, it was given to him by his brother (former CM Badal).

How much can the state save by ending VIP culture and removing red beacons on cars?

It is all about the symbolism. Not that Mahatma Gandhi could not afford kurtas; his not wearing them was merely symbolic. Why should some people carry red beacons atop their cars? It is used as status symbol; and that has to end.