China was on Thursday miffed over Indian moun taineers naming a previ ously unnamed peak in Arunachal Pradesh after the 6th Dalai Lama, reit erating its territorial claims over the area. A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NI MAS) scaled an unnamed and unclimbed 20,942 ft high peak in Arunachal Pradesh and decided to name the summit after the 6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso, who was born in 1682 in the region of Mon Tawang. NIMAS, located at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, functions under the Ministry of Defence. Naming the peak after the 6th Dalai Lama is a tribute to his timeless wisdom and his profound contributions to the Monpa community and beyond, said a Defence Ministry press release. When asked for his re action, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media brief ing here, “I’m not aware of what you mentioned.” “Let me say more broadly that the area of Zangnan is Chinese territory, and it’s illegal, and null and void for India to set up the so called “Arunachal Pradesh” in Chinese territory. This has been China’s consistent position,” he said.
Can release Kangana’s Emergency with cuts: Censor board
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that a certificate would be issued to Kangana Ranuat’s film Emergency if certain cuts were made, as recommended by its revising committee. Row over biographical drama…
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that a certificate would be issued to Kangana Ranuat’s film Emergency if certain cuts were made, as recommended by its revising committee.
Row over biographical drama
Sikh organisations, including SAD, objected to the Emergency movie, saying it misrepresents community
The film, set for release on Sept 6, was stalled for want of certificate from the CBFC
Producers moved the Bombay HC, which then told the censor board to take call by Sept 25
The movie, which was initially slated for release on September 6, has been embroiled in a battle with the censor board for non-issuance of certificate for its release. Ranaut, who has directed and co-produced the film, besides playing the lead role of former PM late Indira Gandhi, had accused the CBFC of stalling certification to delay the release.
The biographical drama was caught in a controversy after some Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, objected to it, accusing it of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong.
A Division Bench of Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla last week come down heavily on the CBFC for not taking a decision on the issuance of certificate for the movie. The HC had then said the censor board could not sit on the fence and had to take its decision one way or the other as it would otherwise amount to curtailing the freedom of speech and expression. The court had directed the CBFC to take its decision by September 25.
The movie’s co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises had moved the HC, seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for its release. On Thursday, the Bench asked the CBFC if it has “good news” for the movie. CBFC’s counsel Abhinav Chandrachud told the court that the board’s revising committee had taken its decision. “The committee has suggested some cuts before a certificate can be issued and movie can be released,” he said.
Senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani, appearing for Zee Entertainment, sought time to take a decision on whether or not the cuts can be made. The Bench then posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.
The alleged humiliation of an Army officer, and his fiancée suggests police high-handedness, but has another equally disturbing aspect, which impinges on the armed forces
Arun Prakash is a former chief of Indian Navy
In a recent incident in Bhubaneswar, a young woman accompanied by her fiancé was allegedly subjected to brutal physical violence and profound humiliation by police personnel. Her fault? She remonstrated with duty personnel in a police station for not registering a complaint.
A source of concern for the military has been the progressive blurring of lines between them and the home ministry’s central armed police forces. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) (AP)
Such an incident is unlikely to shock the average citizen because he/she is used to the rude and heavy-handed behaviour of the police as well as frequent instances of complainants or “victims” being subjected to violence and branded “perpetrators”. The reason is that the Indian policeman has retained the mentality of a colonial oppressor, the only difference being that while earlier he wielded the lathi at the behest of our British rulers, he does so now for his current political masters.
So, where is the leadership of our police forces, which should provide supervision and guidance to the constabulary in the performance of its prescribed duties? Although law and order is a state subject, officers of two central cadres — the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) — play a key role in state police operations. Authority over the police force is held by the state’s chief secretary, an IAS officer, and the force is headed by a director general of police (DGP) assisted by several additional DGPs, all belonging to the IPS.
It is these functionaries who should be leading and managing the police rank and file in the efficient discharge of policing functions, namely, maintenance of law and order, prevention and detecting of crime, traffic management, and ensuring public safety. Sadly, the performance of the police forces in all these aspects remains dismal. So low is the confidence in our police personnel and so belligerent their behaviour, that the ordinary citizen hesitates to approach a constable or the police station for help.
The Bhubaneswar incident has another equally disturbing aspect, which impinges on the armed forces. The woman’s male escort, a serving officer of the Indian Army, was also, allegedly, manhandled, humiliated and illegally detained by the Odisha police. The growing indifference and disrespect being shown by civilian authorities towards members of the country’s military is cause for serious concern, which requires a deeper probe and remedial action.
The roots of the extant civil-military relations can be traced to the obsessive fear in the mind of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, of a military takeover of the fledgling State. This led to a downgrading of the top military leadership while the status and pay of both civil servants and the police saw a sharp increase after Independence. While this was par for a new democracy, another act of omission that contributed to the steady decline in the military’s status in the State’s hierarchy was the failure of post-Independence governments to accord formal recognition to the country’s armed forces.
Apart from 49 Group A Services inherited from the British that constitute the huge government bureaucracy, three new All India Services — IAS, IPS, and the Indian Forest Service — were created by Article 312 of the Constitution. However, the functions, responsibilities and status of the armed forces, their chiefs and senior leadership, found no mention anywhere in the Constitution, in an act of Parliament or in the government’s Rules of Business. This lack of a defined status has been used by the bureaucracy, with tacit political approval, to downgrade the standing of India’s military.
Successive pay commissions, using arbitrary equivalences, as well as a devious stratagem, termed non-functional upgradation — accorded to the civil services, but denied to the military — have steadily depressed the military’s emoluments, relative to the other services. Since emoluments form the basis for deciding seniority in the government’s pecking order, military officers have found themselves, repeatedly, superseded by civilian and police personnel, who were, earlier, equal or junior to them in rank/precedence with consequences in public image/prestige.
Another source of concern for the military has been the progressive blurring of lines between them and the home ministry’s seven central armed police forces (CAPF). Growing steadily in strength, the CAPF today are 1.1 million strong. As in the state police forces, the leadership of six of the seven CAPF has also been garnered by IPS officers, who use military rank badges. Since the CAPF constables wear camouflage uniforms, they are indistinguishable from the military and both are often clubbed together as security forces.
The past decade has seen the last vestiges of the Nehruvian legacy swept away. Major policy shifts seemed to bring a sharper focus on defence matters. Amongst significant developments were the 2016 and 2019 cross-border retaliatory strikes on Pakistani territory, the 2020 constitution of the Chief of Defence Staff, and the creation of a department of military affairs. The expectation that the last two would bring about an improvement in the military’s status/standing has, so far, been belied. At the same time, while political mileage is extracted from the military’s achievements, the MoD relentlessly wages legal battles against veterans and widows.
There are other issues, too, impacting the military’s public image and its self-esteem. While disregarding the seniority principle in promotions, and dangling post-retirement carrots may guarantee a compliant military leadership, this must be weighed against certain drawbacks: One, a military leader beholden to the establishment for promotion, loses credibility within the service; two, the quality of his advice becomes suspect; and three, high-level military decisions may be skewed to please those dispensing favours.
The Bhubaneswar episode is just the most recent instance in a widespread phenomenon wherein military personnel are treated with disrespect by unsympathetic civil authorities. Today, the question uppermost in the mind of every jawan will be, if a commissioned officer can be slapped around and locked up by a police constable, what can happen to me, my family or my old parents, back in the village?
The politician and bureaucracy must take urgent and pragmatic steps to restore the confidence of the military that their uniform and selfless service will be accorded respect and regard by civilian authorities. Anything that undermines the elan and esprit de corps of our military can only be detrimental to the country’s security.
Arun Prakash is a former chief of Indian Navy. The views expressed are personal
Odisha custodial assault: Army veterans seek action, question silence of PM,RM &HM
Brig Inder Mohan Singh ‘a letter under coverage of India Today .
The letter, written by senior veterans under the banner of the Indian Ex-Services League (IESL), questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the assault on an Army officer’s fiancée in Odisha, and called for action from the top leadership.
The Army officer’s fiancée (R) was allegedly sexually assaulted at Bharatpur Police Station on September 15.
Veterans raise concerns over violence against military personnel
Veterans express disappointment at lack of response from PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah
They call for direct communication line for veterans with leadership
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, Indian military veterans have raised serious concerns regarding the growing incidents of violence against serving personnel and their families. The letter, written by senior veterans under the banner of the Indian Ex-Services League (IESL), questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the assault on an Army officer’s fiancée in Odisha, and called for action from the top leadership.
The letter, dated September 24, specifically draws attention to the assault and humiliation of Brigadier A Pradhan’s daughter, who was reportedly mistreated in Odisha. Brigadier Pradhan, President of the IESL’s Odisha chapter, along with his daughter’s fiancé, a serving officer, has become emblematic of the deep frustration felt by military families regarding the silence of India’s top leadership on such incidents.
While the veterans acknowledged the media interaction of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Madhya Bharat area, they expressed disappointment at the lack of response from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, noting that similar incidents in opposition-ruled states have received far greater attention. The letter underscores that while certain events have prompted national outrage and political action — such as the high-profile case of a trainee doctor in West Bengal — the incidents in Odisha, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, and Rajasthan have been met with an “unsettling silence.”
The veterans emphasised the importance of military ethos and the respect for rank and service, criticising the military leadership for what they described as its passive response to these troubling incidents. “Veterans who are 20 to 30 years older than the current military leadership have followed the military ethos of respect for higher ranks,” the letter stated, implying that the same respect has not been reciprocated.
The letter also touched on the politicisation of military promotions, expressing concern over the unpredictability and influence on military leadership decisions since the current government came to power. The veterans warned that these developments, particularly the ongoing theatre command reforms, could further complicate matters by creating four new four-star generals, potentially leading to more silence and inaction on critical issues.
Furthermore, the veterans invoked historical precedents, citing incidents where military personnel had taken a stand against misconduct by civilians, such as the well-known thrashing of Surinder Singh Kairon, son of the then Punjab Chief Minister, after he misbehaved with an Army officer’s wife. The veterans hinted that had the recent incident taken place in a state with more military presence, the response may have been more forceful.
In an unprecedented move, the veterans also suggested that the CDS and military leadership establish a WhatsApp line to allow veterans to share their views directly, indicating a deepening divide between the rank and file of the military and its leadership.
The letter concluded with a pointed question: would the military leadership honour the sacrifices of veterans and their families by taking up these issues with the Prime Minister? The veterans, clearly frustrated by the current situation, urged the country’s top military leaders to speak up and defend the honour of those who have served.
This open and candid letter has stirred conversations within the military community and beyond, raising questions about the treatment of serving personnel, veterans, and their families, as well as the military’s place in India’s current political climate.
Chilling details of Army officer, his fiancée assault case in Odisha emerge
Woman claims she was repeatedly kicked, dragged by her hair
Odisha Police suspends five officers
Chilling details have emerged of the ordeal faced by an Army officer and his fiancée, who was allegedly sexually assaulted at Bhubaneswar’s Bharatpur police station. The incident happened when they had gone to lodge a complaint against miscreants who had waylaid them when they were returning home in Bhubaneswar on September 14.
The woman, who was also arrested by the police, was granted bail by the Orissa High Court on Thursday considering the gravity of the allegations. Narrating her harrowing experience to the media, the woman said she was repeatedly kicked on her chest before a police inspector assaulted and also flashed her.
Here is a timeline of the events:
September 14: Midnight
A peaceful evening turned into a nightmare for an Army officer and his fiancée as they were returning home in Bhubaneswar. The couple was suddenly chased by a group of unidentified goons. Fearing for their safety, they rushed towards the nearest police station.
September 15: 1 am
Breathless and scared, the couple arrived at the police station to file a complaint. However, little did they know that the worst was yet to come.
September 15: Between 1.30-3 am
In a horrific turn of events, the couple alleged that they were brutally assaulted by the police officers. The woman alleged that she was stripped, sexually assaulted and physically tortured.
The Army officer and his fiancée had approached Bharatpur police station to file a complaint about road rage. However, what followed was a harrowing experience for the couple.
Bra Pulled off, Was hit till I bled” I Inside the Odisha Horror With Ankita Pradhan I Barkha Dutt
Both China and India through talks were “able to reduce their differences and build some consensus besides agreeing to strengthen dialogue to accommodate each other’s legitimate concerns”
China and India were able to “reduce differences” and build “some consensus” on disengaging troops from friction points to end the standoff in eastern Ladakh and agreed to maintain dialogue to reach a resolution acceptable to both sides at an “early date”, Chinese Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
Under the guidance of two leaders, China and India have maintained communication with each other through diplomatic and military channels including between two foreign ministers and China’s Foreign Minister and India’s National Security Advisor and through the border consultation mechanisms, Zhang Xiaogang said.
Both China and India through talks were “able to reduce their differences and build some consensus besides agreeing to strengthen dialogue to accommodate each other’s legitimate concerns”, Zhang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told a media briefing here.
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“The two sides agreed to reach a resolution at an early date acceptable to both sides,” he said.
He was replying to a question on the talks between the two countries on disengagement from the remaining friction points especially Demchok and Depsang to end the over four-year-long military standoff in eastern Ladakh resulting in a freeze of relations between the two countries.
Zhang referred to the meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as well as the recent meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Russia between Wang and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
On September 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, while commenting on the talks between Wang and Doval, said the “front-line armies of the two countries have realised disengagement in four areas in the western sector of the China-India border, including the Galwan Valley”.
In his reply to the question, Zhang didn’t comment on the progress of the disengagement from the remaining areas including Depsang and Demchok but said both sides will continue to consolidate the outcomes.
“We will continue to consolidate the outcomes we have reached and respect bilateral agreements and confidence-building measures to safeguard peace and tranquillity at the border,” he said.
His comment respecting bilateral agreements came as Jaishankar while addressing an event hosted by Asia Society Policy Institute in New York on Tuesday said there were a series of agreements between the two countries that went into greater and greater detail on how to make sure the border remained peaceful and stable.
“Now the problem was in 2020, despite these very explicit agreements, we saw that the Chinese — we were all in the middle of Covid at that time — moved a large number of forces in violation of these agreements to the Line of Actual Control. And we responded in kind,” he said.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann admitted to Mohali hospital
Sources say Mann fainted thrice and is undergoing medical examination
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been admitted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali.
According to information, Mann was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday late night. Sources said he fainted thrice and is undergoing a thorough medical examination.
The exact nature of ailment was not disclosed, however, sources said the CM is stable now. The Fortis management remained unavailable for a comment.
A few days back, Mann had to return to Delhi from Mohali airport after he complained of low Blood Pressure.
More details are awaited.
Sikhs have made remarkable contributions to the top leadership of the INDIAN AIR FORCE
Sikhs have made remarkable contributions to the top leadership of the INDIAN AIR FORCE, with four holding the position of Chief of Air Staff.
Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh was the first and only officer to achieve the five-star rank, serving as Chief from 1964 to 1969, and playing a pivotal role in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.
Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh modernized the IAF’s fighter fleet during his tenure from 1981 to 1984.
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief from 2017 to 2019, led the force during the 2019 Balakot airstrike.
Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, appointed Vice Chief in 2023, has now joined the ranks of these distinguished leaders. Together, they exemplify the significant role Sikhs have played in shaping the IAF’s legacy. Indian Air Force Indian Air Force (IAF)
Col साहब को सच बोलने की ऐसी सजा…किसने दी Gen साहब को खुली चेतावनी !!
