Punjab CM says Army not for building bridges or cleaning roads, would set bad precedent

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. File photo

New Delhi/Mumbai, October 31

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has criticised the central government’s unprecedented decision to rope in the Indian Army for rebuilding the Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai as deplorable and an admission of the failure of the government and the Indian Railways.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Army’s job is to train for war and protect the country’s borders, not to build bridges and clean the roads, said Captain Amarinder, warning against the serious implications of such misuse of the Indian Armed Forces by utilising their services for non-emergency civilian jobs.Whatever the urgency of the situation, it does not merit such a decision, which would have adverse long-term implications as it could encourage the civilian authorities to seek Army help for major civilian works every time they find themselves ill-equipped to handle an infrastructural or other challenge, the Chief Minister said, in a statement.Urging Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to refrain from diverting critical defence resources of the country to civilian works, the Chief Minister said it would set a bad precedent.The minister, said Amarinder, was making the same mistake that Major General BM Kaul, GOC of ‘Red Eagles’ 4th Division, had made before the 1962 war with China. The scandalous misuse, by him, of military manpower to build accommodation cost the Indian Army heavily during the Sino-Indian war, the Chief Minister said.Observing that these kind of acts led to severe downgradation of the defence services then, Captain Amarinder warned that the Army would end up suffering similar lowering of its status if the defence ministry does not withdraw its decision to use the armed forces for building civilian bridges in Mumbai.Citing reports that the Army’s services will be utilised in building a new bridge at Elphinstone station and at two other suburban train stations in Mumbai, the Chief Minister termed the move as atrocious, and said the central and state governments should put their own resources at the disposal of the Railways if the situation was so urgent and serious. The Defence Minister, instead of being party to this decision and announcing it with such pride, should have categorically rejected any such suggestion in the interest of the Armed forces, Amarinder said.

Army to clean high-altitude tourist spots: Sitharaman

Centre has told the court it was considering a proposal by both EC and Law Commission to impose life ban on politicians convicted in criminal cases. File photo

New Delhi, November 1

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the central government to set up special courts to exclusively try politicians facing criminal cases so that the trial in such cases is expedited.

A Bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Navin Sinha gave the central government six weeks to detail its plans for setting up such courts, including the estimated budget.

The court wanted to know the status of 1,581 cases involving lawmakers since 2014 as well as the number of new cases that have been filed since.

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

The central government has told the court it was considering a proposal by both Election Commission and Law Commission to impose life ban on politicians convicted in criminal cases.

The court will hear the case on December 13. — IANS/PTI

Vikramdeep Johal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11

“Saragarhi: The True Story”, a documentary by UK-based journalist-filmmaker Jay Singh-Sohal, will be screened at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire tomorrow to mark the 120th anniversary of the epic frontier battle.It features footage from the site that falls within Pakistan’s unruly tribal region. The day shooting took place on the Samana mountain range, the Pakistan Army was fighting Islamic State militants 40km away at Rajgal. Filming also took place in the UK and India.Jay Singh-Sohal says: “It’s been a long but fulfilling journey to research, film and promote for the first time the bravery of the Sikhs at Saragarhi. It’s a personal endeavour; I’ve myself been inspired by it because it speaks to the shared history and values that make me proud to be both British and Sikh, and I know many others in my community feel the same.”On September 12, 1897, 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Regiment of Bengal Infantry had fought to the last man against 10,000-odd tribesmen during an uprising on the North West Frontier between colonial India and Afghanistan.According to the filmmaker, who has also penned a book on the battle, the Sikhs who fought for Britain on the frontier were “rightly rewarded and honoured” for their bravery and devotion to duty. “Today, we must continue to remember the sacrifices they and others made in such conflicts which might not be so well known, but are vitally important,” he adds.Gurinder Singh Mann, a historian and head of the Sikh Museum Initiative, says, “After the Anglo Sikh Wars (1840s) and the annexation of Punjab, many Sikhs were looking for employment. As a result, several regiments were formed in the British Indian Army over the subsequent decades. The battle at Saragarhi stresses the importance of the role the Sikhs played as part of the Empire.”The heroic tale is also the subject of two delayed Bollywood projects, one an Ajay Devgn production and the other being handled by veteran director Rajkumar Santoshi. In the latter, the lead role of Havildar Ishar Singh is being played by Randeep Hooda.

• SANJHA MORCHA GREETS ALL VETERANS HAPPY DEEPAWALI AND BANDHI CHHOR DIWAS
• ROUGHING UP OF SOLDIERS KASHMIR MUST STEP BACK FROM THE EDGE
• RE 1/MINUTE SATPHONE CALLS FOR ARMED FORCES
• 30 YRS ON, AFT FINDS CAPT’S ORDERS WERE VITIATED
• ARMY CHIEF IN VALLEY, BRIEFED ON SECURITY
• 9 CIVILIANS INJURED AS PAK POUNDS RAJOURI, POONCH 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL, THREE LABOURERS AMONG VICTIMS
• CBI TO LOOK INTO PRIVATE DETECTIVE’S ALLEGATIONS IN BOFORS CASE
• GOVT: CENTRAL FORCES CAN’T BE SUBSTITUTE FOR STATE POLICE ISSUES SOPS FOR THEIR DEPLOYMENT AS HC STAYS WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM DARJEELING
• AND NOW, DISSENT IS A POLLUTER? BY BRIG GURINDER SINGH & COL DILBAG DABAS
• INDIA HAS UPPER HAND OVER PAK BY G PARTHASARATHY
• HALEY: INDIA CAN HELP US KEEP EYE ON PAK

Lt Swati Mahadik with her children at the passing-out parade. PTI

Chennai, September 9

In an inspiring example of grit and courage, the wife of Col Santosh Mahadik, who was killed fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir nearly two years back, today joined the Army as an officer after 11 months of gruelling training.Swati Mahadik, 38, a mother of two, was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army Ordnance Corps.Her husband Col Mahadik, a recipient of the Sena Medal for gallantry, was killed in an anti-terror operation in Kupwara in north Kashmir in November 2015.An officer from the elite 21 Para Special Forces, he was known for always leading from the front. Col Mahadik was the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Following in her husband’s footsteps, Swati had joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in October last year.Present at the passing-out parade were her proud family members — daughter Kartikee, 12, son Swaraj, 7, mother-in-law Kalindi Ghorpade, father Babanrao Shedge and her mother.Swati had already crossed the upper age limit for joining the Army and it was only after the Army and Ministry of Defence specially relaxed the age limit for her that she could initiate her new career goals.Later, she told mediapersons how she had silently resolved to join the Indian Army at the funeral of her husband in November 2015. She sent both her children to boarding schools and then appeared for the Staff Selection Board (SSB), which she cleared.After undergoing several rounds of physical fitness and medical examinations as part of the five-tiered selection process, she was selected to join the OTA.Also at the passing-out parade was Lt Nidhi Dubey, the widow of another soldier, the late Naik Mukesh Dubey.Welcoming two such gritty widows to the armed forces, the Indian Army said in a tweet: “Salute the spirit. Both Lt Swati Mahadik and Lt Nidhi Dubey have strived hard to become officers today after their husbands passed away. Both of them have made all of us proud.” Agencies

‘Uniform was his first love, now mine’I wanted to be close to him (Col Mahadik) by joining the Army. Uniform was his first love and that is why I have decided to join the Army so that I can wear the uniform. I want to give a way of life to my children which he would have given to them. —Lt Swati Mahadik

click to open the article of Economic Times

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/pm-narendra-modi-facing-backlash-as-discontent-over-indias-slowdown-deepens/articleshow/61045652.cms?utm_source=AMPusers&utm_medium=emailshare&utm_campaign=socialsharebutton&from=mdr

Our Correspondent

Palampur September 7

A veteran outreach/interaction programme was organised at the Palampur Military Station today. The basic objective behind the programme was to reach out to the veterans, honour and resolve the problems of ex-servicemen, which they usually face after retirement and also to commemorate a mark of respect and recognition of their services rendered for the security and integrity of the nation.Brig SK Verma (retd), Director, Directorate of Sainik Welfare, HP, gave an insight into various welfare schemes and entitlements of veterans and projects being undertaken by the Centre and the state government.Maj-Gen VS Ranade, General Officer Commanding, Dah Division, addressed the veterans and stressed the facilities available to the veterans at local station, state and Central government levels. During the event, several information counters were established to make the veterans aware about various ongoing and upcoming projects in the field of job placements, education facilities, resettlement, pension entitlement and other veteran-related issues.Online Jeevan Praman Registration and Aadhaar card registration were made available to the veterans.The event witnessed attendance of veterans from Palampur tehsil and nearby areas. Station Commander, Palampur Military Station, Brig Charandeep Singh, SM & officer in-charge, ECHS Polyclinic, were also present.

NEW DELHI: The first three women fighter pilots of the country are set to script history next month when they will fly military jets after completing a strenuous training in the coming three weeks.

Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singhwere commissioned as flying officers in July last year, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.

“You will be glad to know that their performance has been on par with other pilots despite the streneous and demanding nature of flying,” Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said addressing a press conference.A senior IAF official involved in training of the three women pilots said they will steer the combat jets next month.Currently, the three women pilots are flying Hawk advanced jet trainersThe IAF chief said the next batch of three women trainee pilots has been selected for the fighter stream in July and is presently undergoing stage-2 of fighter pilot training.

“On successful completion of training, the three women fighter pilots will be commissioned into the fighter stream in December this year,” Dhanoa said.

Lockheed and Sweden”s Saab are in a two horse-race to equip the Indian military with at least 100 single-engine jets that have to be produced locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s ”Make-in-India” plan. Reuters file photo

New Delhi, August 29

Lockheed Martin is closing in on an international deal for F-16 fighter planes, and has offered to eventually build all the jets at a proposed plant in India if it wins a bigger order to supply the Indian Air Force, a top executive said.

The US defence giant and Sweden’s Saab are in a two horse-race to equip the Indian military with at least 100 single-engine jets that have to be produced locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make-in-India’ plan.

Randall L. Howard, who leads F-16 business development, said Lockheed is offering to make India the sole F-16 production centre, so eventually it will make the planes not just for India, but also for other countries.

Lockheed is closing its F-16 production line at Forth Worth, Texas, and will supply new orders from a new facility at Greenville, South Carolina. But the plan was to eventually build the planes in India, Howard told Reuters.

“Our next customer, which we believe to be very soon … we will produce those aircraft out of that (Greenville) facility,” he said. “As you look beyond that, the opportunity for India is to then move all of that into India and that’s what’s being proposed … to have a single production line in India that would service the new production requirements of global demand, the global market.”

India’s government is set to issue a formal request to Lockheed and Saab over the next few days to provide information about their plans to design, develop and produce combat jets in India, a government official said.

The planes will be produced under a new ‘strategic partnership’ policy under which the foreign aircraft maker will collaborate with an Indian firm to develop a world-class indigenous aeronautical base that India has struggled to build for decades.

Lockheed has picked Tata Advanced Systems as its local partner, while Saab has not yet announced its Indian collaborator to produce the Gripen E aircraft that it has offered to the air force.

Howard said the plan to relocate the F-16 plant to India enjoyed the support of the US government after initial concerns it would conflict with President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ campaign under which he has pressed for companies to invest in the United States and create jobs.

Howard said winning the Indian contract worth billions of dollars would protect thousands of jobs at Lockheed in the United States as well as at dozens of components suppliers, since the Indian facility will come up gradually.

“We will start with an assembly, you can’t go from ground zero, from a standing stop to full production in a week. You have to phase it in.”

India’s Air Force is running short of hundreds of aircraft as its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft programme is dogged by delays and quality issues.

Modi’s government last year cleared the purchase of 36 Rafale combat jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, scaling back a plan to buy 126 planes, leaving the Air Force scrambling for replacements. Reuters