Monthly Archives: August 2018

ALL INDIA EX-SERVICEMEN JOINT ACTION FRONT(SAMJHA MORCHA) VOWS TO SUPPORT CAPT AMRINDER on ARMY DAY

Veterans cum Army day was organised  was organised by  All India Ex- Servicemen Joint action Front(Sanjha Morcha)  at the community Hall Phase 6 Mohali.

It was largely attended by the Ex-Servicemen from the  three services from Mohali,Morinda, Fathegarh Sahib , Khanna and Jullundur. Homage was paid to the Martyrs of Defence forces. The veterans recalled the selfless service they had rendered to the Nation but subsequent government failed to recognised their services and sacrifices and instead lowered the status OF DEFENCE FORCES  as compared to the civil service

Capt Amrinder singh could not make it to the venue from Bhatinda due to bad weather, where he had gone to commence the congress election campaign from his native village Mehraj after paying obeisance at Shri Guru Hargobind  Gurdwara. However same was attended by S. Balbir Singh Sidhu,MLA from Mohali who equally praised ESM and ensured that he will fight for the status and recognition of ESM , being himself from defence forces family.

The veterans appreciated and praised the Points included for the welfare of Ex-servicemen in the manifesto released by Congress under the guidance of Capt Amarinder and S. Manpreet Singh Badal. The ESM were confident that if Capt Amarinder Singh comes to power they will get opportunity to serve and contribute in Punjab govt in administrative works.

The details policy and views of  Capt Amrinder were highlighted by Col RS Bopari ,President Sanjha Morcha and was touched in dwtail by maj Gen SPS Grewal. Lt Gen Jasbir Singh Dhariwal , Chief Patron ,Sanjha Morcha highlighted the various Manifesto points concerning ESM welfare included in  Congress manifesto. Col Bhag Singh ,Chairman ESM Committee Punjab Congress wing spoke about betrayal by various central govt from time to time  for granting OROP.

Brig HS Ghuman brought out as to how the govt denied the serving soldiers to cast their e-ballot. The present stations declared by EC has nominal strength of serving soldiers , hence deprived the serving soldiers to cast their votes in Punajb.These  stations have the lowest serving personnel’s than Bhatinda,Ferozpur,Jallander,Amritsar, etc.

All speakers were critical about the way they are being denied OROP and also all speakers showed concern about the present controversy about selection of Army Chief for politicizing the highest post of Army. The other senior officers ,Brig KS Kalon, ,Brig Inderjit and many officers from army ,Navy and Airforce attended the celebration. H/Capt NS Multani also blamed politician for trapping Gen JJ Singh ,an Ex-Army Chief and Ex-Governor into election battle field against another ESM

Brig KS Kahlon.Col RS Boparia President Sanjha Morcha,Lt Gen Jasbir Singh Dhariwal Chief Patron Sanjha Morca,S. Balbir Singh Sidhu,MLA Mohali,Col Bhag Singh,Chairman ESM Cell Punjab congress

It was heartening to see Gen. Bipin Rawat focusing on the Indian Army’s primary duty – fighting wars – at his maiden press conference as the newly-appointed Indian Army Chief. As is the norm, Gen Rawat had to wade through topical question before coming to the core issues – counter insurgency and the future wars. The general sahib, given to garrulity, could not put his best foot forward. His solution to stop jawans from airing their grievances on the social media was prosaic and well worn. The Army chief defended the existing grievance redressal mechanism and, in an apparent play for the galleries, suggested they use the suggestion boxes in army installations. Gen Rawat seems to miss the point. If a jawan risks punishment and worse by taking it to the social media, it is obvious the regular channels are not working.   But the Army chief was in his elements on Pakistan and fighting future wars. Gen Rawat was confident that the surgical strikes have dimmed the Pakistani state’s appetite for stirring up trouble in Jammu & Kashmir. Although over 50 soldiers have been killed since the surgical strikes took place, he repeated that if Pakistan did not accept India’s commitment to peace and tranquility, “this [Surgical strike] method of operational execution will continue.”  In J & K, as the ground situation indicates, the security forces appear to have regained control.But Gen Rawat’s emphasis, however, on Cold Start indicates that India has abandoned its conventional approach for good in favour of keeping the adversary on tenterhooks with the policy of offence is the best defence. India has a long way to go in terms of acquiring the appropriate hardware for the task where the army will have to move fast and communications between commanders has to be spot on.  Moreover, the army will have to factor in Pakistan’s threat to deploy nuclear weapons in a conventional skirmish. As Gen Rawat tellingly added,“ weaknesses have to be overcome and this can only happen if you accept the strategy.” The nation – as also our adversaries – are yet to hear a definitive baptism to Cold Start – and, all that follows from it.

NEW DELHI: The army has firmed up plans to retire its oldest lightutility helicopters, pushing the panic button, as a string of recent crashes have blemished the safety record of the machines.

A South Block source said that the early variants of the Cheetah and Chetak fleet will be replaced by the locally-made advanced light helicopter (ALH), also known as Dhruv.

The source said the army’s aviation wing would replace 41 Cheetahs and Chetaks with new helicopters from the “ALH reserve stock” and the proposal would be sent for Cabinet committee on security approval soon.

The army and air force grounded their fleets of 280 lightutility helicopters last December, concerned if the machines were fit to fly, after three aviators were killed in a crash in West Bengal.

The Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, lifeline of troops in high-altitude areas, including the Siachen glacier, are being cleared for flying in batches by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after carrying out a comprehensive safety check.

The Kamov-226T light utility choppers, to be built with Russia, are to replace these helicopters. However, the $1-billion programme is yet to kick off and the military may have to wait several years for the new machines. Russia will supply 60 helicopters in flyaway condition while the remaining 140 will be manufactured in India.

“The manufacturing line of the ALH is quite stable and the machines are coming out at a pretty steady rate. The Kamovs will take time to come,” a senior officer said. The army operates a mix of 150 Cheetahs and Chetaks.

The design of these helicopters is more than 50 years old and their airworthiness is being questioned after a string of mishaps. Nine personnel were killed in six accidents involving these machines during 2012-15. The Cheetahs play a crucial role in supporting the army on the Siachen glacier, one of the world’s highest battlefields, flying at more than 20,000 feet.

A group of army wives met defence minister Manohar Parrikar in 2015, demanding the helicopters be retired. HAL has licence-produced 625 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. It no longer builds them but is responsible for their maintenance and repair, a cause for concern.

In this photograph released by the Indian Army on January 27, 2017, soldiers are pictured during a rescue operation to find soldiers trapped at the site of a snow avalanche in Gurez sector, some 130 km north of Srinagar. AFP file photo

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 30

Three days after being pulled out alive from snow following a cave-in along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector, five Army men today succumbed to their injuries at an Army hospital in Srinagar, taking the solders’ toll in last week’s snowstorm to 20.The five were airlifted from the Machil sector in north Kashmir’s frontier Kupwara district early Saturday morning, but succumbed soon after they were evacuated in Mi-17 helicopters to Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar today.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The five, belonging to 56 Battalion of Rashtriya Rifles, were shifted to a local unit for medical treatment after being rescued on Saturday. They were unconscious at the time of rescue and needed immediate specialist treatment, but could not be evacuated to Srinagar for over 36 hours. The soldiers may have died due to hypothermia, said sources. “Postmortem will determine the cause of death,” a source said.Over the past one week, Kashmir’s weather has claimed 26 lives. Of these, 20 are from the Army — 15 men, including an officer, were killed in avalanches in Gurez sector in north Kashmir and Sonamarg in central Kashmir.

Machil tragedy victims

• From Maharashtra :Sepoy Dhavale Ganesh Kisan;Sepoy Ambore Balaji Bhagwanrao; Naik Mane Ramchandra Shamrao
• From Tamil Nadu :Grenadier Thamothara Kannan M
• From Gujarat :Signalman Parmar Deva

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, January 22

Two jawans of the Assam Rifles were killed and three others injured when militants belonging to the banned ULFA (Independent) and Corcom today ambushed a convoy near Jagun in Tinsukia district of Assam. Security forces also killed two militants in retaliatory fire.The slain security personnel were identified as Riflemen Ben Naitha and K Wangshu. The militants also snatched weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, from the jawans. “A road-opening party of the Assam Rifles came under an attack on the national highway near Jagun around 7.30 am, leading to death of two security personnel. Troops killed two CorCom militants in retaliation,” Assam Police’s Additional Director General (Special Branch) Pallab Bhattacharyya said.

Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, January 17

Billed as a first of its kind initiative in the country for the welfare of Armed Forces personnel, the Telangana government on Tuesday announced setting up of an Army Welfare Fund for the benefit of families of serving, retired and martyred soldiers.Making a statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao unveiled a slew of measures, including constitution of the Rs 80 crore Army Welfare Fund, massive increase in cash rewards to Army personnel from the state winning gallantry medals and a host of other concessions.The Chief Minister said that he and his Cabinet colleagues would make an annual contribution of Rs 25,000 each towards the fund while legislators from the state would contribute Rs 10,000 each.Army personnel from the state winning Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra will get Rs 2.25 crore (Punjab pays the highest at Rs 2 crore), Mahavir Chakra and Kirti Chakra Rs 1.25 crore (Punjab Rs 1 crore).

Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on Thursday. PTI photo

Mumbai, January 12

Khanderi, the second Scorpene-class submarine that has superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on surface, was on Thursday launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) here.Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre presided over the function to initiate the launch of Khanderi (Yard 11876). The submarine was launched by the Union minister;s wife, Bina Bhamre.

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Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba was also present on the occasion when the submarine was separated from the pontoon on which it was assembled.The state-of-the-art features of the submarine include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapon.The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The stealth features will give it the invulnerability unmatched by many submarines.The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics. All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval task force.It can undertake multifarious types of missions typically undertaken by any modern submarine, that is, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine-laying, area surveillance, etc.Khanderi is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in collaboration with M/s DCNS of France, as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy. The first one, Kalvari, was completing sea trials and would be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy, a defence official said.The Indian Navy’s submarine arm will complete 50 years on December 8 this year.The Submarine Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the birth of the submarine arm with induction of the first submarine, erstwhile INS Kalvari, into the Indian Navy on December 8, 1967, it said.India joined the exclusive group of submarine constructing nations on February 7, 1992, with the commissioning of the first Indian-built submarine, INS Shalki.The MDL built this submarine and went on to commission another submarine, INS Shankul, on May 28, 1994. These submarines are still in service.Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. Khanderi is also the name for Tiger Shark, an MDL official said.The submarine is built according to the principle of modular construction, which involves dividing the submarine into a number of sections and outfitting them concurrently.The equipment is mounted in a special manner and then embarked into the sections. The complexity of the task increases exponentially as it involves laying kilometres of cabling and piping in extremely congested compartments.All equipment has been installed in the submarine, with 95 per cent cabling and piping also being completed.Pressure-testing, setting-to-work and commissioning of various systems of the submarine is currently in progress, and would continue after the launching of the submarine.The important safety milestone of vacuum-testing was completed in the first attempt itself, and within a single day on January 5.This matched the record of ‘Kalvari’, which also completed the vacuum test in one go.Till December, the submarine will undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea, while on surface and whilst dived.These trials are designed to test each system to its fullest capacity. Thereafter, it would to be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Khanderi.This would be preceded by the commissioning of Kalvari later this year. The other four submarines will follow in the wake of Khanderi at intervals of nine months.As per tradition, ships and submarines of the Navy are brought alive again after decommissioning. The first Khanderi was commissioned into the Navy on December 6, 1968 and decommissioned on October 18, 1989. PTI

Islamabad, January 6

Pakistan has provided UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres details of Indian “terrorism and interference” in the country, its foreign office said in a statement on Friday.  Pakistani Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said the country’s Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi met the new UN secretary general to hand over a dossier.”The dossier contains additional information and proof of Indian/RAW interference in Pakistan and involvement in terrorism particularly in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. This is a follow up to the three dossiers, which were shared with the United Nations in October 2015,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.In a covering letter sent, Aziz claimed that the arrest of “Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan and his confessional statement admitting involvement in activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan, and support to terrorist elements vindicated Pakistan’s long-standing position about India’s involvement in such activities”.Jadhav has been accused by Pakistan of planning “subversive activities” in the country. India has acknowledged that Jadhav had served in the navy but said he was not connected to the government.Aziz also said India’s “hostile intentions” could be drawn from recent statement by its political and military leadership, as he asked the UN to “restrain India from activities that were in clear violation of international law and threatened regional and international peace and security”.”Pakistan continues to desire peace with all its neighbours including India. It is convinced that the common objectives of economic development and prosperity for our people can best be promoted through regional cooperation, conflict resolution and peaceful settlement of disputes,” the Foreign Office statement said.”At the same time, however, Pakistan will resolutely defend its territorial integrity and take all necessary measures to counter any threat to its security,” it said. — PTI

People eat food inside a restaurant in Gurgaon. — File photo

Chandigarh, January 2

If consumers are not satisfied with service at a hotel or a restaurant, they can have the service charge waived, the Central government said on Monday.As per the Department of Consumer Affairs, a number of complaints from consumers have been received that hotels and restaurants are following the practice of charging ‘service charge’ in the range of 5-20%, in lieu of tips, which a consumer is forced to pay irrespective of the kind of service provided to him.

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After the government sought a clarification, the Hotel Association of India replied that the service charge is completely discretionary and should a customer be dissatisfied with the dining experience he/she can have it waived off. Therefore, it is deemed to be accepted voluntarily.

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, provides that a trade practice which, for the purpose of promoting the sale, use or the supply of any goods or for the provision of any service, adopts any unfair method or deceptive practice, is to be treated as an unfair trade practice and that a consumer can make a complaint to the appropriate consumer forum established under the Act against such unfair trade practices, a release issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs said.The department has also asked the state governments to sensitise the companies, hotels and restaurants in the states regarding aforementioned provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.The states have also been asked to advise hotels and restaurants to disseminate information through display at the appropriate place that the ‘service charges’ are voluntary and a consumer dissatisfied with the services can have it waived off. — TNS

Ministry of Defence asks forces to be fully stocked up for 10-day intense conflict

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 28

In a move that will change the way India prepares for war, the Ministry of Defence has okayed a policy to maintain total military readiness for a minimum of 10 days, indicating the possibility that future conflicts could be short, swift and sudden.A month ago, on December 30, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, after consulting the armed forces, okayed a policy that says forces should be fully stocked up to last a minimum 10-day intense conflict.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Vice-Chiefs of the three services have been given adequate fiscal powers to maintain this level of readiness, which has opened up the long held back slow-moving procurements. This includes weapons, ammunition, missiles (launched from land, air or sea) and ensuring all radars are functional. In military parlance, this is called the Minimum Accepted Risk Level (MARL).As per the operational doctrine, India is required to maintain a war wastage reserve (WWR) of 40 days of ‘intense war’ and is militarily called the ‘40-I’ level. The ‘40-I’ targets shall be on track as usual but within that, the 10-day intense war benchmarking will be the new normal.  It does not mean reducing higher stock levels of most of the other ammunition types, sources said.The reality is that a ‘40-I’ level is very expensive to maintain. Ammunition being an expendable commodity with a fixed shelf life, maintaining stocks at a full-fledged war requirement level at all times was not a wise move, a senior functionary explained. Wisdom, it was added, lies in maintaining ‘optimal’ stocks as per security contingencies and having the capacity to ramp up production.The Army Vice-Chief would have the authority to spend up to Rs 200 crore for ordnance stores (ammunition) in consultation with the internal financial auditor. The Navy Vice-Chief can authorise expenses up to Rs 80 crore to repair ships and submarines. The CAG had in 2015 pointed out the low levels of WWR.