New Delhi, December 12

The Ministry of External Affairs today said the lotus being printed on new passports was part of enhanced security features and would not be a permanent aspect.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the lotus was part of rotating national symbols that would be embossed on passports to guard against fake passports.

For instance, after some time, some other national symbol will be embossed a lot of new passports as part of the security features introduced as per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.

A day after Opposition members in Lok Sabha raised the issue of lotus being printed on new passports, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said it was part of the enhanced security features to identify fake passports and involves using other national symbols as well on rotation.

Raising this issue of lotus being printed on new passports brought for distribution in Kozhikode in Kerala during the Zero Hour, M K Raghavan of the Congress said the matter has been highlighted by one of the newspapers and alleged that this was “further saffronisation” of the government establishment with the lotus being the election symbol of the BJP.

Asked about the issue, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “This symbol is our national flower and is part of the enhanced security features to identify fake passports.”

These security features have been introduced as part of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, he said.

“Apart from the Lotus, other national symbols will be used on rotation. Right now it is lotus and then next month there will be something else. These are symbols connected with India such as national flower or national animal,” he said. — PTI

Washington, December 12

The US reprimanded Pakistan Air Force chief in August for misusing F-16 fighter jets by undermining their shared security platforms and infrastructures, a media report here has said, months after the Indian Air Force shot down an F-16 jet of Pakistan Air Force during an aerial combat over Kashmir.

Andrea Thompson, the then-undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, wrote a letter to Pakistani Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan in August over the matter, US News reported on Wednesday.

While the letter written did not directly mention the incidents in the immediate aftermath of the February 26 Balakot airstrikes, US News quoted a source as saying that the communication served as a direct response to America’s concerns about the F-16 use over Kashmir in February.

“While we understand from you that these aircraft movements were done in support of national defense objectives, the US government considers the relocation of aircraft to non-US government authorised bases concerning and inconsistent with the F-16 Letter of Offer and Acceptance,” Thompson said in his letter.

A suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.

India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot Wing Commander Abhinanadan Varthaman, who was later released.

The IAF had said that during the aerial engagement on February 27, one of its MiG-21 Bison shot down a F-16.

The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to “conclusively” prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir.

“Such actions could subject sensitive US-technologies to diversion to or access by third parties and could undermine our shared security platforms and infrastructures,” warned Thompson, who has now left the government.

The State Department and the Embassy of Pakistan has refused to comment on the letter.

According to US News, in her letter, Thompson raised concerns about American access to the bases and the US-made equipment there.

Thompson said it had been four years since Office of Defense Representative of Pakistan – the office that carries out defense cooperation with partner countries – had been allowed to perform an assessment of the security vulnerabilities on the Pakistani bases, the news report said. PTI

Photo for representational purpose only. iStock

Ranchi, December 9

A Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) commander died here on Monday after one of his subordinates opened fire on him before shooting himself, a senior police officer said.

The deceased commander has been identified as Mela Ramor, and the jawan as Vikram Rajbadi, both deployed in the state for election duty, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta said.

According to a preliminary report, the SSP said the two had a tiff over something around 6.30 am, following which the jawan opened fire, killing Ramor on the spot and then turning the gun on himself. PTI

Guwahati, December 12

Assam continued to be in flames on Thursday as anti-Citizenship Amendment Bill protesters set ablaze the house of an MLA, torched vehicles and burnt down the circle office as the government removed two key police officers including the Guwahati police commissioner.

Munna Prasad Gupta was appointed the new Guwahati police chief replacing Deepak Kumar, while state additional director general of police (Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwal was also transferred.

G.P. Singh has become the additional director general of police (Law and Order).

As per an official, two persons, protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, died of bullet injuries at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

Officials said protesters set fire to the house of MLA Binod Hazarika in Chabua, and went on the rampage torching vehicles and the circle office.

Thousands of people defied curfew in Guwahati and took to the streets, prompting police to open fire, even as protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill intensified in Assam.

Police said they had to open fire in Lalung Gaon area in Guwahati after stones were hurled by protestors. The agitators claimed that at least four persons were injured in the shooting.

Police also had to fire in the air in several other areas of the city, including the Guwahati-Shillong Road which turned into a war zone as protestors vandalised shops and buildings, burnt tyres and clashed with security forces.

Students’ body AASU and peasants’ organisation KMSS called for a mega gathering at Latashil playground in the city, which was attended by hundreds of people.

Notwithstanding the restrictions, several prominent personalities from the film and music industry, including icon Zueen Garg, joined the gathering along with college and university students.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal have betrayed the people of Assam by ensuring passage of the Bill,” AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said at the meet.

Leaders of the AASU and the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) said they will observe December 12 as ‘Black Day’ every year in protest against the passage of the Bill in Parliament.

Kamrup district witnessed an absolute shutdown with offices, schools and colleges closed for the day. Shops were also shut, with no transport plying as all major roads, including the NH 31, being blocked.

Police said they had to fire three rounds in the air in Rangia town as protestors threw stones and burnt tyres.

Agitators were also baton-charged at several places in the town.

Police also fired in the air in Golaghat district to disperse protesters who blocked the NH 39, officials said.

Tea garden workers stopped work in Lakhimpur and Charaideo districts and also at Numaligarh in Golaghat district and some areas in Tinsukia district.

All educational institutions across the state are closed.

Five columns of the Army have been deployed in different parts of the state and are conducting flag marches in Guwahati, Tinsukia, Jorhat and Dibrugarh, officials said.

Several flights and trains to and from Assam have also been cancelled.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan after facing religious persecution there. —PTI

Bangladesh Foreign Minister cancels India visit following passage of CAB

New Delhi, December 12

Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen has cancelled his three-day visit to India beginning Thursday over the situation arising out of the passage of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, diplomatic sources said.

According to an earlier advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Momen was scheduled to arrive here at 5:20 pm on Thursday.

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister has cancelled his trip to India over prevailing situation following passage of the Bill, sources said.

There have been massive protests in Assam and several northeastern states against the proposed legislation which seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslim persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. —PTI

About Military Literature Festival (MLF).

Punjab has borne the brunt of ruthless invaders since times inmemorable. History has it that the people of this land were subjected to untold horrors and deprivations over the ages. Repeated wars gave birth to a hardy population that brought forth some of the finest warriors who walked the earth. With war came sacrifices that spurred great tales of heroism and valor. The great Mahabharata, the world’s longest poem, is set in this very region.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO KNOW THE PROGRAM  

Final Detailed Programme

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 12

Ending speculation, the Government of India has made it clear that it would not bring any legislation on the lines of Article 371 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for protection of land and property.

If the residents want such safeguards, they will have to wait for the constitution of the next Legislative Assembly vested with the powers to make laws, said Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy. He was responding to a query by PDP Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmed Laway.

Various groups and political parties in the UT, which lost its special status on August 5 when the Centre abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A, have been seeking safeguards to protect their land and jobs.

The BJP unit of Jammu and Kashmir has suggested domicile certificates to locals for protection of land rights.

Army Service Corps celebrates its anniversary

Chandigarh, December 8

The Army Service Corps (ASC) celebrated its 259th Corps Day at Headquarters Western Command, Chandimandir, today.

The occasion was marked by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Veer Smriti.

Major General NS Rajpurohit, head, ASC branch, along with veterans and serving officers and other ranks of the corps, paid tributes to the martyrs. Lieutenant General RP Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-chief, Western Cape, extended his greetings to all ranks, civilian employees, their families and veterans of the corps on this day. — TNS