A Bill which seeks to enhance punishment for illegally possessing and making prohibited arms besides other changes in the six-decade-old Arms Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishen Reddy. As per the Bill, the government proposes to amend Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act, 1959, to give punishment from the usual life term of 14 years to “imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s life” for manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing “prohibited” arms. The minimum punishment under this section will be 14 years.  PTI

Capt Amarinder urges Centre not to reduce firearms per licence

Photo for representational purpose only.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 29

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has urged the Centre not to reduce the number of firearms permissible on a licence from three to one in Punjab in view of the sensitive location and troubled history of the state.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister sought a review of the proposal of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to amend the Arms Act, 1959, thereby restricting the number of firearms, an official statement said.

He has, however, made it clear that if some states are keen on reducing the number of weapons, they may be allowed to do so without prejudice to other states.

In his letter, the chief minister said he had personally raised the issue with the prime minister during the latter’s recent visit to Punjab for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor.

The Punjab Government was in agreement with most of the proposed amendments but had strong reservations regarding restricting the number of firearms a licensee could possess, he said.

The chief minister stressed that Punjab being a border state and having gone through a long period of terrorist violence, a large number of people possessed more than one firearm and many farmers who reside away from the villages where their agricultural lands/farms were located also possessed firearms for crop protection.

Therefore, he wrote, it was significant to note that only a small fraction of crime was committed using licensed weapons.

These facts, he said, could be independently ascertained as they were within the domain of the MHA.

Amarinder Singh observed that restricting the number of firearms might not be of much help for the control of crime.

On the contrary, a large number of people would be inconvenienced by way of surrender of additional weapons and the farming community would also be deprived of weapons meant for crop protection, he added.

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Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 29

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said mere changes in the policy alone will not help revive the economy as a “toxic combination” of deep distrust, pervasive fear and a sense of hopelessness in society is stifling economic activity and, hence, economic growth.

“With an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and low global oil prices, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to catapult India to the next phase of economic development and create new jobs. I urge the Prime Minister to set aside his deep-rooted suspicion of our society and nurse us back to a harmonious, confident and mutually trustworthy society that can revive the spirits and help our economy soar,” he said.

In his valedictory address at the National Economy Conclave organised by the Samruddha Bharat Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies here, Dr Singh spoke of a palpable climate of fear in society.

“Many industrialists tell me they live in fear of harassment by authorities. Bankers are reluctant to make new loans, for fear of retribution. Entrepreneurs are hesitant to put up fresh projects, for fear of failure attributed to ulterior motives. Startups that are an important new engine of economic growth and jobs, seem to live under a shadow of constant surveillance,” he said.

“Policy makers in government and other institutions are scared to speak the truth or engage in intellectually honest policy discussions. There is profound fear and distrust among our various economic participants. Public trust in independent institutions such as the media, judiciary, regulatory authorities, and investigative agencies has been severely eroded,” he said.

He pointed out that India is now a $3 trillion global economic powerhouse driven largely by private enterprise and not a tiny command and control economy that can be bullied and directed at will.

4.5% GDP growth unacceptable: Manmohan

A screen grab of the viral video.

New Delhi, November 30

A video of Russian military cadets singing the famous Hindi patriotic song “Aye watan, aye watan, hamko teri Kasam Teri raahon mein jaan tak loota jaayenge” from the movie ‘Shaheed’, has gone viral on Twitter.

Sung by Mohammad Rafi ‘Aye Watan’ was released in 1965. A Twitter user said: “It made my day… Russian army cadets singing Ae Watan Ae Watan”.

Brig Rajesh Pushkar, Military Advisor at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, could also be seen in the video. Another said: “Amazing! Ruski singing Indian patriotic song. Aye watan, Aye watan..” 

“Russia is true counterparts of India since Independence. Glad to have their support!?” –– IANS

Rajnath Singh. PTI file

Pune, November 30

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said Pakistan was indulging in a “proxy” war as it had realised that it could not win a “conventional” one.

The path of “proxy” war chosen by Pakistan would only lead to its defeat, he added.

Singh was speaking at the passing-out parade of the 137th course at National Defence Academy in Pune.

Pakistan had realised right from 1948 through the wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999 that it could not win against India in any conventional or limited war, the minister said.

“It has chosen a path of proxy war through terrorism and I can tell you with full responsibility that Pakistan will not get anything but defeat,” he said.

India always had cordial and friendly relations with other countries, Singh said, adding that the country never had any extra-territorial ambitions but if provoked, it would not spare anyone.

“We are committed to the sovereignty and security of the people of the country. But if someone runs terror camps on our land or are involved in an attack, we know how to give a befitting reply,” he asserted. PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the passing out parade of the 137th course at National Defence Academy in Pune on Saturday, November 30, 2019. PTI

Pune, November 30

A total of 284 cadets graduated from the National Defence Academy here on Saturday.

Passing-out parade of the 137th course of the NDA was held on the Khetrapal Parade ground at the academy in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Among the graduating officers, there were 188 Army cadets, 38 Naval cadets, 37 Air Force cadets and 20 cadets from friendly foreign countries.

The foreign cadets belonged to Bhutan, Tajikistan, the Maldives, Vietnam, Mauritius, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

The president’s gold medal was awarded to Captain Majji Giridhar for standing first in overall order of merit.

The president’s silver medal was awarded to Battalion cadet captain Kushagra Mishra and battalion cadet captain NK Vishwakarma won the president’s bronze medal.

‘Mike’ Squadron bagged the prestigious chief of staff banner for being the champion squadron.

Speaking on this occasion, defence minister Singh praised the parents of passing out cadets for their decision to send their children to the Armed Forces.

The “grit and grime” at NDA makes cadets tough to face any challenge in their military career, he said.

India has been spreading message of peace, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has also shown that it can be tough and aggressive whenever required, Singh said.

It was also remarkable how the Armed Forces provide humanitarian assistance during natural calamities, the minister said, adding that while other institutions are failing or finding it difficult to sustain themselves, the NDA is the only institution whose glory is rising. — PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi look on, before India-Japan 2+2 meeting, in New Delhi, on Saturday, November 30, 2019. PTI

New Delhi, November 30

In their inaugural foreign and defence ministerial dialogue, India and Japan on Saturday deliberated on the threat posed to regional peace by terror networks operating from Pakistan and asked it to take “resolute and irreversible” against them.

The two countries specifically called upon Islamabad to “fully comply” with its international commitments to deal with terrorism including the steps prescribed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-terror watchdog.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led the Indian delegation while the Japanese side was headed by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defence Taro Kono, officials said.

The talks under the new two-plus-two framework took place following a decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan annual summit last year.

“The ministers underlined the need for all countries to ensure that all territory under their control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries in any manner,” an Indo-Japan joint statement said.

“They noted in this context the threat posed to regional security by terrorist networks operating out of Pakistan and called upon it to take resolute and irreversible action against them and fully comply with international commitments including to FATF,” it said.

India and Japan also called upon all countries to take resolute action in rooting out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupt terrorist networks, eliminate financing channels and halt cross-border movement of terrorists.

“The ministers condemned in the strongest terms the growing threat of terrorism and acknowledged that it constituted a major threat to peace and security in the region,” the joint statement said. — PTI

Photo for representation only.

Jammu, November 30

Two Army personnel were killed on Saturday after an avalanche hit their patrol at an altitude of about 18,000 feet in southern Siachen glacier in the Union Territory of Ladakh, a defence spokesperson said.

An Army patrol operating at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet in Southern Siachen Glacier was hit by an avalanche during the early hours of Saturday, Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said in a statement.

He said an Avalanche Rescue Team (ART) following the patrol immediately rushed and managed to locate and pull out all members of the patrol.

Army helicopters too were simultaneously pressed into service to evacuate the avalanche victims, he said.

Despite the best efforts by the medical teams, two Army personnel, however, perished in the avalanche, the officer said.

It was for the second time that an avalanche occurred in Siachen in the past two weeks.

Earlier on November 18, four Indian Army personnel and two civilian porters were killed in an avalanche in the northern part of the Siachen Glacier.

The Siachen Glacier at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where the soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.

Avalanches and landslides are common at the glacier during winters with temperatures often dropping to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius. PTI

Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Lahore, November 30

The opening of the historic Kartarpur corridor was the brainchild of Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and it will hurt India for ever, a top Pakistani minister claimed on Saturday, contradicting his government’s assertion that the idea behind the initiative was of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

On November 9, Prime Minister Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor to facilitate the visa-free entry of Indian Sikh pilgrims to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev.

While inaugurating the corridor, Khan had told a gathering of over 12,000 devotees, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu: “I had no idea of the importance this place holds. I found out a year ago. I am happy we could do this for you”.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has claimed that the Kartarpur corridor was the initiative of Prime Minister Khan.

However, Pakistan’s Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, a known motormouth considered to be a close aide of Prime Minister Khan, contradicted the government’s claim on Saturday when he told reporters here that the opening of the corridor was the brainchild of Army chief General Bajwa and asserted that it will hurt India for ever.

“India will remember for ever the kind of wound inflicted on it by Gen Bajwa by opening Kartarpur corridor,” he said.

“Gen Bajwa strongly hit India by opening the corridor. Through this project, Pakistan has created a new environment of peace and won itself love of the Sikh community, “he said.

Rashid claimed that the Indian media “played up” the issue of General Bajwa’s extension.

“The Imran Khan government has three more years and Bajwa has got three years in extension and not six months. So our government will complete its tenure,” he said, indirectly referring that General Bajwa is here to back Prime Minister Khan’s government.

General Bajwa did not attend the Kartarpur Corridor’s opening ceremony apparently to avoid any controversy.

In the ground breaking ceremony on November 28 last year, the hug of Congress leader Sidhu with General Bajwa had sparked a controversy.

The inauguration of the corridor came in the midst of frayed ties between India and Pakistan following New Delhi’s August 5 decision to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate the State into two Union Territories.

Notwithstanding a chill in the bilateral ties over Kashmir, India and Pakistan after tough negotiations signed an agreement in October, paving the way for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor on November 9.

The agreement will allow 5,000 Indian pilgrims daily to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib where Guru Nanak spent last 18 years of his life.

In February 1999, the Kartarpur corridor was proposed by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he took a bus ride to Lahore during a peace initiative with Pakistan. It links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district. –

INVITATION TO ALL CITIZENS  FOR  30 NOV TO 01 DEC 2019 10.00 A.M TO 5.00 P.M