Recruits celebrate after the passing-out parade at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre. PTI
Current Events :
Shimla, December 12
Governor Bandaru Dattatreya today visited ARTRAC, its waste paper recycling plant and vocational training centre here. He lauded the Army for running these ventures to protect environment.
The Governor interacted with Army personnel posted there. Chief of Staff Lt General Atul Solanki apprised him of the working of ARTRAC.
“The Army is capable of handling every situation. The country is proud of the brave soldiers,” he added.
Later, he also visited the waste paper recycling plant at Summerhill. The plant was set up in 2013 and ensures productive use of waste paper.
The Governor said the soldiers were doing a great work. Such efforts should be made by others too. in
He also visited the vocational training centre of the Army, where training in computer operation, sewing, weaving and cooking is imparted. — TNS
(From left) Former financial adviser to MoD Amit Cowshish, journalist Rahul Bedi, former army chief General VP Malik and Lt Gen Arun Sahni (retd) during the session on Make in India and nation’s security. ravi kumar/htAmanjeet Singh Salyal
Amanjeet.singh@htlive.com
Chandigarh : Due lessons have not been learnt from the Kargil war and India is still vulnerable, requiring development of new weapons systems. However, as the defence ministry was too protective of public sector units, private sector companies were not being allowed to come forward, former Army chief General VP Malik (retd) said on Friday at the Military Literature Festival (MLF).
“I still feel there is too much protection given to the public sector by ministry of defence. There is a nexus which has developed over 50 years… and they try to protect them both for political and other reasons. We are not giving level playing field to our private sector. They are not just followers, they have to be partners and then you will find faster development and weapons,” he said during a panel discussion on Make In India and the nation’s security.
Too much secrecy and confidentiality was a problem in the case of development of weapons, Gen Malik added, calling for more transparency as “everybody today knows which weapons systems are being developed.”
India should have built enough indigenous defence capacity platforms, said the former Army chief, who headed the forces during the Kargil War.
Parliament should hold debates on the reasons leading to this failure, he added, leading the chorus on urgently streamlining the defence procurement processes making them facilitators and not hurdles “in our endeavour to endow our forces with the cutting edge weaponry”.
Dispelling the notion that the Army preferred importing weapons from abroad, Gen Malik categorically said the abject failure of the public sector to fully deliver the required weaponry was the only reason for this.
Every country, whether it is the UK or France, has got an autonomous body, which has the expertise under one roof for procurement-related issues and the same model should be applied here, he suggested.
Echoing Gen Malik’s views the former financial advisor (acquisition), defence ministry, Amit Cowshish, questioned the ambiguity and mistrust around objectives laid down under Make in India as far as defence acquisitions were concerned.
“There is no clear cut policy and framework to achieve avowed goals under the new slogan, he said, adding that indigenization cannot be the sole criterion to reduce costs. What was needed was “an overarching organisation to process and deliver on our defence needs in a time-bound manner.”
Cautioning against the temptation to tag defence matters with mere sloganeering, Lt General Arun Sahni (retd) wanted more funds allocated for upgrading weapons. “We need a more serious approach where accountability is fixed for producing unusable products at the public sector institutions working in the sphere.”
The panellists also concurred that India should leverage its advantage of being the largest importer of weapons while dealing with foreign exporters.
Earlier, moderating the session, journalist Rahul Bedi highlighted the gross mismatch between India’s capabilities and achievements till now. “On one side we have launched ballistic missiles and still we can’t make INSAS (family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle and a light machine gun) rifles”, he said alluding to the Make in India campaign.
The MeT official said the night temperature is likely to improve in the coming days. Tribune file
Jammu, December 7
The night temperature continued to trend downward in Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh as Drass remained the coldest place in the region recording minus 25.4 degrees Celsius, a Meteorological Department official said on Saturday.
Srinagar experienced its coldest night in the season so far with the mercury falling 0.6 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal.
The MeT official said the night temperature is likely to improve in the coming days due to a western disturbance which is likely to hit the two Union Territories on Wednesday, bringing another spell of snow and rains.
He said Drass in Kargil district of Ladakh was the coldest recorded place in the region with a night temperature of minus 25.4 degrees Celsius against the previous night’s 24.3 degrees Celsius.
Leh town, also in Ladakh, was reeling at a minimum of 15.9 degrees Celsius, the official added.
Foggy conditions engulfed most parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, as the Sun remained hidden behind the clouds in the morning, the official said.
He said the minimum temperature in Jammu and Kashmir’s winter capital Jammu marked a slight dip and settled at 8.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below season’s average.
Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir was the coldest recorded place in the Valley with a low of minus 5.9 degrees Celsius followed by the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Katra, which serves as the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu region, recorded a low of 8.7 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding Bhadarwah township of Doda district was, however, the coldest recorded place in the region with a minimum of 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Director of the Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said the night temperature is expected to improve from Monday night ahead of a fresh spell of widespread moderate snow or rain in the plains of Jammu and Kashmir and Kargil district of Ladakh from December 11 to 13 with main activity on December 12.
However, there will be a dip in the day temperature during the wet spell which is also likely to impact surface and air transportation on Thursday in view of heavy to very heavy snow in the higher reaches of Pirpanjal, Zojilla Pass, Zanskar, Banihal top and Mughal road, he said. PTI
A protester throws a teargas shell back at security personnel during a protest against the Citizenship Bill in Guwahati on Wednesday. PTI
Shillong, Guwahati, December 11
The Army was on Wednesday called out in Tripura and Guwahati in Assam, the epicentre of anti-CAB protests, as several parts of the region plunged into chaos. An Army spokesperson said a column each had been deployed in Kanchanpur and Manu in Tripura while another had been asked to be prepared for any eventuality in Bongaigaon and Dibrugarh in Assam.
Curfew was imposed in Assam’s Guwahati for an indefinite period amid violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Imposed at 6.15 pm, it was extended for an indefinite period. Tens of thousands of protesters against CAB descended on the streets of Assam, clashing with the police and plunging the state into chaos of a magnitude unseen since the violent six-year movement by students that ended with the signing of the Assam accord.
Though no party or student body had appealed for a shutdown, protesters, mostly students, fought pitched battles with security personnel, including in front of the secretariat, the seat of the BJP government. The police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged the protesters, who fought back.
Annual India-Japan summit may be hit
New Delhi: Uncertainty surrounds the annual India-Japan summit in Guwahati later this week. Sources said there was no change of venue as of now. Assam Deputy CM presented the ground situation to External Affairs Minister as protesters burnt down the ramp built for welcoming Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi. TNS
Recruits celebrate after the passing-out parade at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre. PTI
ibune News Service
Srinagar, December 7
As many as 404 recruits from J&K were inducted into the Army at a passing-out parade on the outskirts of the city on Saturday. This is the second batch of J&K youth that has been inducted into the Army after the abrogation of Article 370.The passing-out parade was reviewed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt-Gen K J S Dhillon, and was attended by over 1,000 parents and relatives of young soldiers from the J&K, besides number of civil and military officers.
“404 young soldiers from Jammu and Kashmir were recruited into the Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment after completing one-year strenuous training,” an Army official said.He said the passing-out parade of the soldiers, belonging to different areas of Jammu and Kashmir, was conducted at the regimental centre of JAKLI at Rangreth on the outskirts of the city here.
The Corps Commander congratulated the young soldiers for their immaculate parade and impressed upon selfless service towards the nation.
He praised them for coming forward to join the security forces and also highlighted the vital role played by their parents in motivating their wards to join the noble profession.
The recruits who distinguished themselves in varied facets of the training were also felicitated.
Members of the Sikh community at an event to mark the 10th anniversary of EcoSikh in Washington.
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, December 11
Members of the Sikh community pledged to support the plantation of Guru Nanak Sacred Forests in Punjab and other parts of India while participating in an event to celebrate EcoSikh’s 10th anniversary in Washington.
As per a press release issued today, over 250 participants pledged their support to combat climate change by planting forests in Punjab and other places in the world. Guests enthusiastically donated and pledged to fund the planting of 100 Guru Nanak Sacred Forests to help EcoSikh reach its target of planting 1 million trees to mark the Guru’s 550th birth anniversary. EcoSikh has planted 120 mini forests of 550 trees of native species in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Jammu and Chandigarh.
Shubendhu Sharma, the keynote speaker at the event, said, “The world is facing an environmental crisis and it is affecting the health of our children. Planting a forest is the best investment for our collective future.”
EcoSikh’s global president Rajwant Singh, said, “Climate change is the greatest threat facing the world and world religions have a great role to play in addressing the issue. We feel that planting a forest in our backyard, schools, colleges and gurdwaras can go a long way in purifying our surroundings and making a dent in carbon sequestering.”
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.
Lotus print
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
By apologising for 1984, Singh engaged meaningfully with the Sikh community ht
Shashi Shekhar
When the sad event of1984 took place, Gujralji went to the then home minister, PV Narasimha Rao, on that very sad evening, and said to him that the situation is so grave that it is necessary for the government to call the army at the earliest. If that advice had been heeded, perhaps the events of 1984 would not have unfolded.” These are the words of the former prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh. He was speaking at an event organised to mark the 100th birth anniversary of the late former PM Inder Kumar Gujral last week.
This statement attracted a strong response. There were questions askedabout the rationale and timing of the revelation. Why did Singh choose this moment to bring up the issue? The assembly elections are due in Delhi in a few months. Will this not cast a negative impact on the Congress’ prospects? Since Rajiv Gandhi was thePM at that time, should he not be held singularly responsible?
Singh is thought of as one of the mostserious and sincere leaders of our times.In public life of more than half a century, he has spoken with gravitas on publicplatforms. Here, we must remember the relationship between Rao and Singh. When Rao, in 1991, became the prime ministeraccidentally, he made Singh the finance minister. Singh himself said that he was able to initiate the revolution of economic liberalisation only because he always had Rao’s support and advice.Earlier this year, when he was honoured with PV Narasimha Rao National Leadership and Lifetime Achievement Award, Singh not only accepted it humbly, but also praised hissenior generously in that award ceremony. Given this background, what does this grave accusation prove?
I have never doubted Singh’s intentions. Let me narrate a personal anecdote from December 2006.The PM was travellingto Japan and we were a part of his media entourage. As the plane took off fromDelhi for Tokyo, the PM’s media adviser, Sanjaya Baru, told me to meet the PM ina little while. When I met Singh, I mentioned to him that assembly elections were approaching in Punjab and Uttarakhand.I said, “You are the first Sikh PM of thecountry, and a section of the Sikh community doesn’t think favourably about theCongress. Wouldn’t it be good if you holda public meeting in Amritsar, visit the Golden Temple, and pray there? This willbe good not only for politics, but alsofor India’s spirit of harmonious coexistence.” I also suggested that he shouldhold meetings in the Sikh majority areas of Uttarakhand. Characteristically, Singh remained quiet.
In those days, the conventional media narrative was that the Congress was not making use of the PM’s stature in election campaigning. After our meeting, Baru came to my seat, patted my shoulder, and said, “You have increased my work. Boss has instructed me to chalk out a plan for Punjab and Uttarakhand visits.” While I had not meant that this ought to be a work plan for the PM, what came across was Singh’s sensitivity to issues in the country. Later, he not only visited Harmander Sahib, but also tried meaningfully to woo the Sikh community with his words.
Earlier that year, during a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Singh, said: “I have no hesitation in apologising to the Sikh community. I apologise not only to the Sikh community, but to the whole Indian nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our Constitution… On behalf of our government, on behalf of the entire people of this country I bow my head in shame that such a thing took place.”
That was turning point. Whenever Operation Blue Star or the atrocities on the Sikh community are discussed in Indian history, the noble intentions of the Sikh prime minister of the Congress must also be mentioned.
So, despite being sensitive and compassionate to the Sikhs, and despite having immense respect for Rao, why did Singh say something which would raise a controversy? It is an intriguing question, which only Singh can answer. The statement, however, has the potential to affect political developments and the narrative around the tragedy of 1984.
Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan
The views expressed are personal
