Yogi Adityanath had made the controversial remark at a rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday. “Congress people used to serve terrorists biryani, but Modiji’s Sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Army) gives them only bullets and bombs.

NEW DELHI: 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was reprimanded sharply by the Election Commission on Friday, five days after he referred to the Indian Army as “Modiji ki Sena”, or Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s army, at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh. “Be careful in your utterances in the future,” news agency PTI quoted the poll body as saying.

Yogi Adityanath had made the controversial remark at a rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday. “Congress people used to serve terrorists biryani, but Modiji’s Sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Army) gives them only bullets and bombs. That’s the difference. Congress people use “ji” for terrorists like Masood Azhar, but under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP government is breaking the backs of terrorists by striking their camps,” he said.

The comment was not received well by opposition leaders and former army officials, who maintained that apolitical entities such as the armed forces should not be dragged into electoral politics. “It is shocking to hear the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister referring to the Indian Army as the ‘Modi Sena’. Such blatant usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Even Union Minister VK Singh rebuked Yogi Adityanath, saying that the “army does not belong to any individual but to the entire nation”.

Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas (retired) asked the Election Commission to look into possible violation of the poll code, following which it sought an explanation from Yogi Adityanath yesterday.

Yogi Adityanath made the remark despite the Election Commission issuing clear instructions last month that the armed forces, being “apolitical and neutral stakeholders in a modern democracy”, should not be brought up in poll campaigns.

Guilty on 2 counts: ‘Fraternising’ with a local, ‘away from place of duty in operational area’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 31

Major Leetul Gogoi, who is facing court-martial proceedings, is likely to lose seniority as a punishment for “fraternising” with a local woman in Srinagar last year.

Army officials here in Delhi confirmed that the court-martial proceedings against Major Gogoi had been completed and the same will need to be okayed by the Army headquarters. Major Gogoi will have the option of appealing against the verdict.

Loss of seniority would mean Major Gogoi would not pick up his next rank of Lt Colonel as per schedule on completing 13 years in service. The delay in his promotion will depend on the quantum of loss in seniority that is finally okayed.

The court martial was ordered in August last year after a court of inquiry against Major Gogoi had issued orders to initiate disciplinary action on two counts — for ‘fraternising with locals in spite of instructions to the contrary’ and being away from the place of duty while in an operational area.

Major Gogoi was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on May 23 last year from a Srinagar hotel along with a local woman and another soldier. The detained woman was 19 years old and had gone with the officer of her own volition, Jammu and Kashmir Police had said. Hence, no police case was made out. However, the Army rules did not allow Major Gogoi to be let off without punishment.

During the court-martial proceedings, the woman had expressed her unwillingness to depose and informed the Army authorities that she had given a statement before a magistrate and the same should be treated as her final stand.

She also said that she had become a friend of the Army officer through his fake Facebook profile where he had named himself Ubaid Arman. The court-martial process against his driver, Sameer Malla, who was facing charges of unauthorised absence from the unit, was also completed recently in the Kashmir valley and he is likely to be given a “severe reprimand”.

Immediately after the incident came to light last year, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said exemplary punishment would be given to Major Gogoi if he was found guilty of any offence.

Major Gogoi hit the headlines after he tied a man to a jeep purportedly as a shield against stone-pelters during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha byelection on April 9, 2017. Gen Rawat had then awarded him and supported his act.

Rajmeet Singh

Completing two years in office, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh turned 77 this week. While there was a bash to celebrate his birthday, his tenure so far may not call for as grand a celebration. The roll-out of development schemes has been painfully slow and poll promises are yet to be met.

This said, Capt Amarinder continues to play on the front foot in the political arena. Outsmarting his rivals within the party, mainly those eyeing the top seat, he has reaffirmed his position as the undisputed leader of the Punjab Congress.

Securing a two-thirds majority in the 2017 Assembly elections followed by consecutive wins in the byelections to the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha and Shahkot Assembly seats with huge margins, the CM, strengthened by a divided Opposition, is now working on ‘Mission 13’ — winning all 13 Lok Sabha seats.

Capt Amarinder is credited with instilling a sense of security in all sections by eliminating organised crime, cracking murder cases of Hindu right-wing leaders and busting Khalistani modules. At the same time, he has addressed Panthic issue by initiating action — though only partially — on the emotive issue of sacrilege and the police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura.

The special schemes launched to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and pushing for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor are his other accomplishments that has won him praise. But that’s half the story.

Capt Amarinder has given virtually a free hand to bureaucrats to run the government. In private, his Cabinet colleagues and party legislators admit the government’s performance has been below expectations, mainly owing to lack of delivery of government schemes.

In the saddle for 24 months now, the narrative of under-delivered poll promises is being played up by the Opposition. Given the financial crunch, promises like free smartphones under ‘Captain Smart Connect Scheme’, Rs 2,500 unemployment allowance and a job for each family remain a distant dream. The government intent of ending the sand, transport and cable mafia is not visible on the ground.

The involvement of a number of party MLAs in sand mining is a case in point. The government has been found wanting in prompt action as illegal mining continues unabated, despite the government bringing in a new sand and gravel policy.

Basking in glory for being the first state to disburse Rs 4,736 crore under farm loan debt waiver scheme ‘Karja Kurki Khatam, Fasal Di Puri Rakam’ benefiting five lakh small and marginal farmers and other Congress-ruled states replicating the Punjab model, the government is now bringing in a scheme for landless farmers and farmhand.

Though the government may be given credit for initiating administrative reforms, tackling corruption continues to be their Achilles heel. The much promised legislation on ‘Conflict of Interest’ to bring MLAs and ministers under its purview is still at the discussion stage.

Also, the exodus of Punjabi youth to foreign lands is indicative of the rising problem of unemployment.

Under the ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar and Karobar’ schemes, the government claims to have helped 6.26 lakh  youth — 761 per day. The Opposition, however, is not impressed. It says the government has been using  private colleges to host ‘Rozgar Melas’ to send out the impression it is generating employment.

• AGRICULTURE: Farm distress hurt Akalis, continues to haunt Cong
• FINANCE: Despite intent, affirmative action missing
• HEALTH: Negatives, and positives, in face of serious challenges 
• EDUCATION: Chapter of dissent
• LAW & ORDER: Gangs reined in 
• TRANSPORT: Old monopoly rules
• Sidhu leads charge, but not much change on the ground

Washington, March 12

Pakistan has assured the United States that it will deal firmly with all terrorists and take steps to de-escalate tensions with India, a top White House official said on Monday.

Such an assurance was given by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a call with the US National Security Adviser, John Bolton, the latter said in a tweet.

“Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan,” Bolton said.

“The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and would continue steps to de-escalate tensions with India,” tweeted the US national security adviser.

Bolton’s call with Qureshi came during the ongoing visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. On the first day of his official visit, the top Indian diplomat met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The United States continued to maintain pressure on Pakistan, according to a readout of the meeting issued by the State Department.

“Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Secretary Gokhale discussed the importance of bringing those responsible for the (Pulwama) attack to justice and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said.

Pompeo affirmed that the United States stood with the people and Government of India in the fight against terrorism, he said.

“They noted the strength of our partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation, including on counterterrorism,” Palladino said.

Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.

Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26.

The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. PTI

Ganiv Kaur from Jammu celebrates with her family after being commissioned as an officer during a passing-out parade at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai on Saturday. Her father Col Harjinder Singh (L) is a Sena Medal awardee. PTI

Chennai: Ganiv Kaur had topped the merit list of JAG Branch (Women) of the Army. She is the fourth generation officer in her family to wear the uniform and the first woman from Jammu to top the list.

A total of 172 cadets were commissioned as officers, including those hailing from Bhutan and Afghanistan, on Saturday.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh presented the Sword of Honour and a silver medal to the academy under officer Siddharth Bhawnani, a gold medal to cadet Sandhya and a bronze medal to battalion under officer Noyonika Binda.

They are true epitome of valour; they wear the Olive green with great pride. This Women’s Day, meet these brave-hearts who serve the Army with great enthusiasm

Mona

Valour and honour these women wear on their sleeves, literally. With their indomitable spirit, grit and training, the women officers of Indian Army are the true representatives of nari shakti — that, by the way, was Oxford dictionary’s Hindi word of the year in 2018!

This Women’s Day we meet these brave-hearts who don the olive green with pride.

Childhood dream:Capt Priti Sharma

Capt Priti Sharma was fascinated by the olive green and the brass on the shoulders right from her childhood. A fitness freak, with an ambition to serve the country, she did not look beyond the Army, ever. “Joining the Force, I could fly in the sky, literally,” says the officer, who had her basic para training.  Be the fitness that she asserts is up to the next level since she joined Army or pursuing mountaineering that’s her passion, she next dreams of climbing the Everest.

“While serving the motherland, this is one field that lets you be. An officer is an officer, no man-woman distinction here, and courage, valour and strength are the words that we live by”. 

Proud soul Lt Col Shubhra Sambyal

When barely seven, little Shubhra was intrigued by her father’s friend who would show up at their house every now and then in uniform, and motivate her and her brother about being part of the prestigious Indian Army. “Now that I don olive greens just like him, I know how prestigious it is,” says Lt Col Shubhra Sambyal. A true believer of nari shakti, she insists, “Women are  tougher biologically for they are  the ones who give birth; also mentally they are way more resilient.”

“It is about time women support each other through different walks of life to emerge stronger in the times to come.”

Dream come true:Major Euthica

From Patna, Major Euthica’s inspiration to don the greens came from the serial Aarohan. “Seeing Pallavi Joshi as a cadet fuelled my dreams and the course of my life was set.” Schooling in Patna, college in Pune, it was Army next. “Women are already empowered, they don’t need any extra push. All women need today is the freedom to make decisions and a platform to showcase their abilities. Be it any field, they would prove their mettle.”

“Know your strength and don’t stop till you have achieved your aim.”

True strength:Capt Bhavna Syal

Army running in her blood, Capt Bhavna Syal is third-generation in the Indian Armed Forces. Part of the Republic Day Parade, Capt Bhavna insists, “I couldn’t think of any other profession that gives so much pride and dignity.” At the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, she credits her success to the lady officers who led them on. “Our commanding officer was a very motivating lady, who gave us a heads-up on every challenge that came our way.”

“Gender is a social construct and no challenge is insurmountable. Give your 100 per cent, and anything that you can think, you can achieve.”

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken necessary steps to ensure that women, who were earlier inducted for Short Service Commission (SSC), will now be granted PC in the Armed forces.

New Delhi, February 21

D S Hooda, a former Northern Army commander and main architect of the 2016 surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK, will head a Congress task force on national security.

Party president Rahul Gandhi met Hooda and discussed the modalities of the panel.

“The Congress president is setting up a ‘task force on national security’ to prepare a vision paper for the country,” a party statement said.

Hooda will lead the panel and prepare the paper in consultation with a select group of experts, it said.

Hailing the step, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, “Yet another positive and welcome step towards a strong nation and stronger national security by Congress President @RahulGandhi. The experience that Lt Gen (Retd) D S Hooda brings in, will benefit the nation in the long run.”           

In another tweet, she said, “The only thing they will find is Surgical Strike and How’s the josh?! :))”

Reacting to the development, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the Congress couldn’t have had a better officer to advise them on national security.

“Lt Gen Hooda is a credit to the uniform he has worn. I had the privilege of having him as my security advisor when he headed 16 corps in Nagrota,” he tweeted.

The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of politicising the surgical strikes.

On September 29, 2016, the Army had carried out the strikes on seven terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in retaliation to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month.

Last December, responding to a question during a panel discussion at the Military Literature Festival in Chandigarh, Hooda had said that in hindsight, it would have been better had “we done it (surgical strikes) secretly”.

He had also said the initial euphoria about the success of the surgical strikes was natural but the constant maintenance of the hype around the military operation was unwarranted. PTI

Lt Gen Hooda to lead Congress panel

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 17

Notwithstanding heavy casualties in the Pulwama blast, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has come to the aid of Kashmiris living outside the state.

After the deadly suicide bombing that left at least 40 CRPF men dead, there are reports pouring in from various parts of country that Kashmiris are facing backlash and are being targeted and harassed.

The CRPF, which is running a round-the-clock helpline ‘Madadgaar’ in Kashmir, tweeted on Saturday evening stating if any Kashmiri needed help, he or she should contact them.

“Students and public, presently out of Kashmir can contact @CRPFmadadgaar on 24×7 toll-free number 14411 or SMS at 7082814411 for speedy assistance in case they face any difficulties or harassment,” the tweet read.

After the tweet was posted, the CRPF said it had received many calls from students who needed help.

Assistant Commandant Gul Junaid Khan, who is heading the ‘Madadgaar’ helpline, said they got calls from Kashmiri students.

“Mostly the students calling us have a lot of apprehensions. We got calls from Jammu with Kashmiri residents telling us that their ration supplies had finished. We provided them supplies through our local unit,” Junaid, a Kashmiri himself, said. “We also got calls from students from Dehradun and they wanted to come to Kashmir for some days. We are talking to the local police about the issue.” The officer said they were providing assistance to the people who were calling the helpline through their local units.

CRPF Director General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, who arrived in Kashmir on Friday a day after the deadly blast, said the helpline for Kashmiri students at this point was a service to the nation.

“The ‘Madadgaar’ helpline has been doing excellent work for almost a year and a half now and we will continue to do our service to the nation,” Bhatnagar told The Tribune.