Indian Deputy High Commissioner stands outside as Jadhavs meet; no consular access given: Islamabad

A glass screen separating them, Kulbhushan Jadhav interacts with his mother and wife in Islamabad. PTI

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 25

Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother Avantika and wife Chetna today met him in Islamabad for the first time since he was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016. Tried by a military court on charges of espionage and terrorism, he has been sentenced to death. The meeting was carefully choreographed. Avantika and Chetna reached Islamabad this afternoon. Accompanied by Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh, they met Jadhav at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building amid high security. The meeting lasted nearly 40 minutes. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)From their arrival till their departure, mediapersons closely followed each step with a wall-to-wall coverage of the meeting, which the Pakistan Government claimed was testimony to its “humanitarian” face.“This is a very important day for Pakistan, being the birth anniversary of our founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It was in this light that this day was chosen for the humanitarian meeting of  Jadhav with his wife and mother,” said Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson.Images released by Pakistani officials showed Jadhav speaking with his wife and mother through the intercom and a glass interface as JP Singh stood outside. The Pakistan Foreign Office confirmed there was no consular access since the Indian diplomat was kept at a distance, observing the visuals. “This meeting was not consular access as we had told India its diplomat would ‘see’ the meeting but would not be allowed to speak or participate,” the spokesperson responded to queries after Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif claimed otherwise in an interview. The Pakistan Foreign Office reiterated the charges against him, calling him the face of Indian terrorism. “His passport bears a Muslim name, Hussein Mubarak Patel, which clearly is not Commander Jadhav. India has been unable and unwilling to provide an explanation about how and why an authentic Indian passport was used on a false ID, not once but at least 17 times, as Commander Jadhav travelled in and out of India. Indian silence is telling,” Faisal remarked.Sources said today’s meeting will have no bearing on the case being heard by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for consular access to Jadhav. The court had in May ordered an interim stay on Jadhav’s execution pending completion of trial. News channel CNN-News18 quoted Harish Salve, who argued Jadhav’s case in the ICJ, calling the meeting a “farce”.  The Pakistan Foreign Office, meanwhile, said it was not the trio’s “last meeting”.

In new video, Jadhav hails Pak for meeting

Kulbhushan Jadhav. File photo

Islamabad, December 25

Pakistan today issued a new video of Indian prisoner on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav in which he is purportedly seen thanking the Pakistan government for arranging a meeting with his wife and mother.The video message played by the Pakistan Foreign Office during a press conference after Jadhav’s meeting with his family was recorded before their meeting, officials said. The meeting came after the International Court of Justice had asked Pakistan, in May, to stay his execution.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, who died in a Lahore jail in 2013, said Pakistan played a “cruel joke” by not allowing Jadhav to meet his wife and mother freely and dubbed the entire exercise a “drama”.Kaur found no “humanism” in the meeting. “When it was held under such tight security and close relatives are separated by a glass screen, it has little meaning,” she said. Having lost her brother four years back in Pakistan, Kaur said she could fully understand what Jadhav’s family must be going through at this hour.BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, meanwhile, said Jadhav and his family should have been allowed to meet in private. “They should have been allowed to meet in private. Instead, they were called to the Foreign Ministry’s office and made to meet on camera… What kind of a meeting can this be? She must be wanting to talk to her husband to find out how he had been all this while? How will a couple feel when somebody is watching them talk to each other,” asked Swamy. Congress leader Manish Tewari, on the other hand, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should bring back Jadhav and asked whether his government had the determination to do so. “narendramodi Mr. Prime Minister you need to bring this Gentleman back home. Does your government have the determination to do what it takes and walk the talk?????? (sic),” Tewari tweeted along with a picture of Jadhav. — Agencies

PETITION.

No PG / 05/2017                                      Dated  21 Nov 2017.

 To,

            The Council of States,

            Rajya Sabha, Secretariat. (Petitioning Sabha)

            New Delhi Pin 110 001.

 ARTICLE 51A – FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES NOT INCLUDED IN DEFENCE SERVICES RERULATIONS (DSR) & CHAPTER X CORRUPTED TO ILLAGALLY FORCE POSTAL BALLOT ON SOLDIERS ON MILITARY DUTY IN INDIA INCLUDING J&K.

Sir,

            I, the petitioner Brigadier Hardip Singh Ghuman, Shaurya Chakra Retd, resident of # 1043 Sector 71, SAS Nagar, Punjab Pin 160071 (Tele – 0172- 2224636); President AIVCG, an apolitical & secular NGO; strive for excellence in all spheres of individual / collective activities, so that the Nation constantly rises to higher level of endeavour & achievement Article – 51A (Encl-1); omitted from DSR, despite request to RM, ignored.  

Sheweth

1.         India is a sovereign, secular, democratic republic of India. Apolitical & Secular Armed Forces (AFs) under oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India, responsible for protecting sovereignty & integrity of India, at any cost, placed at strategic places throughout India, as also to protect Law & Order; a State Subject – Article 35A, for which State Govt. compensates wages for that duration – ignorant of Fundamental Duties / RP Act since DSR Chapter X corrupted (Encl-2) – ‘a service voter is a voter with service qualification’ when ‘service qualification’ ceases on posting back to India.

2.         AFs posted in India, submit wrong declaration – Form No 3 for Postal Ballot; not objected by single service EC / MoD since it suits convenience of Politicians. AFs not granted NFU/OROP despite shortage of Officers – not in best National Interest.

3.         Govt. constituted KSB & RSB at each State, to settle grievances of AFs & Veterans since Welfare of AFs on concurrent list, who failed to take note of: –

(a)       Soldiers not enumerated at Duty Station, where subjected to all local taxes, when taxation without representation is tyranny & only those listed in Rolls have right to vote. Soldiers cannot leave Duty Station on holidays/festival days, known to PM / RM but not enumerated at Duty Station by single service EC, hence denied equal democratic right, to elect best Qualified, Secular Candidate, instead registered at hometown, overlooking chances of promoting regionalism in AFs, ignoring Article 51A – omitted from DSR.

(b)       After ‘Blue Star Operations in Punjab’, Soldiers illegally taxed upto 1994, till objected by Secy. RSB since not enumerated at Duty Station, when taxation without representation is tyranny.

(c)        Law & Order, a State Govt. subject & AFs deployed to maintain Law & Order, when State Govt. fails Article 35A; have same electoral right applicable to State Govt. Employs’. The J&K problem would have been resolved long back, if EC / MoD had impartially implemented RP Act / Rules / SC rulings & not corrupted Chapter X of DSR. BJP won 2014 elections based on apolitical & secular votes of AFs, except FM.

(d)       Previous RM/FM introduced E-voting, without clarifying E-voting is applicable to those posted abroad. EC & MoD also failed to clarify the same. Consequently Soldiers posted in Gujarat & HP again not enumerated at duty Station. MoD failed to evolve foolproof registration system for Soldiers at Duty Station after 2014 elections who are paid best wages possibly for bending law of the land suiting convenience of Politicians.

(e)       Right to be registered in Electoral Rolls is applicable to ‘ordinarily ordinarily’. DSR Chapter X if not corrupted (Encl-2), J&K problem would have been resolved long back.

(f)        Apolitical War Veterans brought the above anomaly to the notice of 3 Chiefs during 2004 (Gen VK Singh), without any outcome since DSR is corrupted. Due to selfless efforts of MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar to uphold election law; Soldiers voted at Duty Station – 2014 elections for the 1^st time (Encl 3)

(g)       2017 EC again registered Soldiers posted in India & abroad, at their home town, with chances of promoting regionalism, overlooking 2014 elections. Service Qualification ceases on posting back to India, illegally forced on Soldiers posted in India / J&K where they sacrifice life maintaining Law & Order a State Subject including J&K.

4.         RM requested to amend DSR in line with SC rulings of 1971 & 2013 ignored due to which Solders on Military Duty in Gujarat & HP again registered at hometown. Need exists to create Multi Service EC & MoD in best National Interest.

5          Physical Fitness Officers. Minimum fitness standard mandatory for AFs Officers for which Officer Ration rations sanctioned at peace stations in best interest of ‘Combat Fitness’; withdrawn by RM/FM without fear of Electoral Loss, since E-postal Ballot illegally introduced for those posted in India/abroad, without objection from EC / 3 Chiefs, at the cost of risking National Sovereignty / Integration overlooking Article 51A.

6.         Law & Order a State Subject, but J&K Govt. took no notice of ‘Stone Pelting on Soldiers on Military Duty’ amounting to assault on sovereignty of our Nation, who protect State Govt. / Public Property when Civil Administration fails. If need be President Rule imposed & the State Police takes orders from AFs under AFSPA to prevent violence. Army Law permits trial of Civilians by Court Martial since Stone Pelting on Soldiers on Military Duty amounts to offence against ‘sovereignty of our Nation’ ignored.

7.         Meaning of Service Qualification. Naga Land – 1967 elections; 12 Assam Rifles under command Army, voted at Duty Station, to block entry of un-desirable elements – upheld by SC, AIR 1971 SC 2123. Based on corrupted Chapter X of DSR; AG issued SAO 16/S/72 that AFs entitled to vote through Postal Ballot, not objected by MoD / EC suiting convenience of Politicians. SC ruled, ‘service qualification’ cannot takeaway right to be registered at place of posting, if residing there ignored.

8.         Prayer. Lord Krishna said ‘if you are right don’t give-up’. No Nation can afford to have its Officers lacking physical fitness. Rations to Officers posted in Peace Stations, may please be restored without further delay in National Interest.

9.         Chapter X of DSR may please be amended in line with SC ruling of 1971 & 2013 i.e. right to be registered at place of posting cannot be taken away including J&K and Article 51A Fundamental Duties be added as a new Chapter.

10.       Multi Service EC consisting of AFs, IPS & IAS may be constituted since single service EC failed, not objected by single service MoD even after 2014. Foolproof registration system at duty station may be evolved & Regimental Centers be directed to register only those posted abroad for E-postal Ballot & Service Officers posted to MoD.

11.       Commission may be constituted for AFs / Veterans in place of KSB / RSB & Stone Pelting on Soldiers on ‘Military Duty’ – an offence against Sovereignty of our Nation; may be tried under Military Law in best National Interest to settle J&K problem.

12.       OROP & NFU may be settled since there is huge deficiency of Officer who function on more than one post.

 Yours faithfully,

Brig HS Ghuman, SC, War Veteran.

President AICVG NGO Registered.

Copy to:-

RM, MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, MLA Balbir Sing. Secy.RSB Punjab & KSB, Col of PROA & MROA, GOC-in-C West Comd. IEXSL & IEXSM.   

The INS Kalvari submarine. AFP

Cmdre Mukund Kunte (retd)

THE second INS Kalvari, a made-in-India diesel-electric submarine, was commissioned on December 14 in Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock by the Prime Minister with an invigorating speech, which is his style. For conventional submarines, the name of the game is “Sea Denial”, their primary role being interdiction of the enemy’s trade and energy routes, blocking its ports and attacking land targets with missiles. A few weeks ago, another entrant into the Navy was the stealth frigate INS Kiltan (the second) commissioned by the intrepid Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. It was a pleasure to see her perform in military style, standing strong and erect while climbing the steps to proceed on board. Incidentally, the first Kiltan commissioned in Vladivostok in 1969 was, like the first Kalvari, wholly built by the Soviets. And look at the change — the process of training, building and fitting out has become indigenous, which has been our quest to achieve a higher degree of self-reliance. It exemplifies our shift from a “buyer’s Navy to a builder’s Navy”.  It was in 1966 after she was elected Prime Minister that Indira Gandhi gave nod to the acquisition of four, followed by another four, submarines from the USSR, making it possible for us to decisively win the 1971 war. The decision to take a nuclear-powered submarine on loan in the 1980s was made to gain experience in nuclear propulsion at sea – but there was a spinoff, viz handling of a small reactor would give us an insight into operating such reactors for generating power for civilian use.As for a “Builder’s” Navy, Mrs Gandhi had inaugurated the submarine construction programme on May 6, 1984, also in the Mazagaon Docks. The PM garlanded and broke a coconut following this Sanskrit invocation by Mrs Suhasini Mulgaonker :“Shri Rashtren vruta jale vinihita 

rashtrasya rakshanvita

Deshapritikruta prashastrajanita

tantradnyata nirmita

Satputrairghatita varimjjanrata nauka adhombhasrutaah

Jeeyat bharatata sada prakatita

nausainya sampat bhruta.

(This project of submarine construction is of great honour to our country’s skill and excellence in technology and science. Long live our Navy and its able men).We observed Vijay Diwas on December 16 to mark the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops. In 1971, we had come into our own because our intrepid PM did not hesitate to approve Admiral Nanda’s innovative plan (it, in fact, surprised even the Russians) to carry out a missile attack on Karachi. In fact, that operation was by led by INS Kiltan and resulted in damaging/sinking of the destroyer Khaiber, mine-sweeper Muhafiz and MV Venus Challenger, which was carrying war material.The ‘Make in India’ slogan has now been fully honoured. It is unfortunate that an irresponsible ‘opposition’ continued to object to both HDW submarines and Bofors (shoot & scoot) guns. The latter went on to save our honour in the war in 1999 and, as for the submarines, we would have been in the export market today.

Air Commodore DV Khat pays tributes to the Param Vir Chakra winner, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, on his martyrdom day at his memorial in the Mini-secretariat complex on Thursday. Tribune photo: Himanshu mahajan

Kin pay tributes to Param Vir Chakra Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon on his martyrdom day at his memorial inside the Mini-Secretariat in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan

Kin pay tributes to Param Vir Chakra Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon on his martyrdom day at his memorial inside the Mini-Secretariat in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan

Ludhiana: Tributes were paid to Param Vir Chakra Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon on his martyrdom day at his memorial situated inside the Mini-Secretariat here on Thursday. The district administration organised a memorial meet in the memory of the brave Air Force officer. Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Agrawal, Air Commodore DV Khat, former Indian Air Force jawans paid tributes to the martyr. The DC said: “The officer laid down his life for the nation. We pay heartfelt tributes to the martyr. His bravery will be remembered throughout the life.”He was a pilot of a Gnat detachment based in Srinagar for the air defence of the Valley against Pakistani air attacks. On December 14, 1971, Srinagar airfield was attacked by Sabre aircraft. Flying Officer Sekhon was on duty. Nearly six enemy aircraft were overhead and they started bombing the airfield. In spite of the danger of attempting to take off during the attack, Sekhon took off and immediately engaged a pair of attacking Sabres. In the fight that ensued, he secured hits on one aircraft and set another on fire. —TNS

REMEMBERING VALOUR AND SACRIFICE

British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith interacts with a UK soldier during the joint exercise in Mahajan Field Range. Tribune Photo

Our Correspondent

Abohar, December 14

The “Exercise Ajeya Warriror-2017’’, the third in the series of joint exercises of the Indian and British armies culminated on Thursday at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near the Sriganganagar-Bikaner highway. The fortnight-long exercise had commenced on December 1.The closing ceremony was attended by observers and senior military dignitaries from both the armies. Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, British High Commissioner in India and Major General Robert Harry Talbot Rice from the United Kingdom and Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, STRIKE 1, and Major General Rupinder Singh, General Officer Commanding, Cockerel Division, from the Indian Army were present on the occasion.Set in the backdrop of growing terrorist activities worldwide, the first and second editions of the exercise were conducted at Belgaum (India) and Westdown camp, Salisbury Plains Training Area, UK, in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Representatives of both the armies conveyed immense satisfaction over the learning content of the exercise and were hopeful of more such exchanges in the future.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8

The Kashmir valley was saved in 1947 due to military action stemming from a strong advice given by a Subedar of the 1st Sikh battalion of the Indian Army to his officer.On realising that it was impossible to defend just the Srinagar airfield from the Pakistan army-backed armed raiders, the Subedar suggested to his boss Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai: “Sahib let’s go find the enemy rather than wait for them to arrive.”Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, a noted historian, narrated this anecdote at a session on the first Indo-Pak war (1947-48) on the opening day of the Military Literature Festival here this morning.Col Rai heeded the advice and moved his troops towards Baramulla, some 34 miles north-west of Srinagar. That, Capt Amarinder said, changed the course of the fight. In all, 462 marauders were killed. In the meantime, the troops of the 1st Patiala moved up to Zoji La and held onto the pass for the six months, stopping the ingress of the raiders from the eastern flank. The two — 1st Sikh and 1st Patiala (now rechristened 15 Punjab) — secured a total of 27 gallantry awards among themselves, including 1 PVC, the highest war-time gallantry award.Capt Amarinder said on October 25, when VP Menon, the then secretary of states, led a delegation to Srinagar, “there was panic”.Dr Harish Khare, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Group of Newspapers, said: “Who did what to whom remains a matter of subjective interpretation even after 70 years. We have an Indian version, a Pakistan version and rather mischievous British version.”“Many questions remain unanswered. What was the role of British leadership? Could things be different had an Indian General been given command of the Army (a British was the commander then). Could there have been a better timing for accepting a ceasefire? Many of the present narratives flow from the mistakes we made, not made, or presumed to be made,” said Dr Khare.Lt Gen AK Mukherjee (retd) narrated how a company of 13 Field Regiment wore the uniform of 1st Sikh and when artillery guns arrived they reverted to being gunners (their original role). They fought a very decisive battle to save Uri.Brig IS Gakhal (retd), who is from the Sikh Regiment, narrated interesting anecdotes on role of the 1st Sikh. Brig MS Gill (retd) listed the surprise caused by tanks at Zoji La that led to the advance towards Drass and Kargil. Maj Gen Shivdev Singh (retd) suggested that the battles of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh could not be seen in isolation when studying the war.

Commandant of the IMA Lt Gen SK Jha awarding a Gentleman Cadet at the Accoutrement Ceremony. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 3

The much awaited Accoutrement Ceremony (after the allotment of Arms and Services) for autumn term 2017 for the 141 Regular Course, 124 Technical Graduate Course and 25A University Entry Scheme took place at the Vikram Batra Mess in the Indian Military Academy today. The ceremony is held after the allotment of the arms and services two weeks ago. The ceremony was presided over by the Commandant Indian Military Academy Lt Gen SK Jha and the senior veterans of each Arm and Service. Various trophies and medals awarded during the ceremony to the Gentlemen Cadets standing first or second in the Order of Merit, on being commissioned into the respective Arms and Services included – Madras Regiment Medal to Chandrakant Acharya, for being first in infantry and the 3 Gorkha Rifles Medal to Amarpreet Singh Dhatt for standing second in infantry. Mechanised Infantry Medal and Trophy was bagged by Rishabh Kumar. Army Ordinance Corps Medal was awarded to Inderjit Singh. Regiment of Artillery Medal and Trophy was awarded to Hemant Poonia, who stood first in artillery. The ceremony signifies a momentous occasion in the lives of the Gentlemen Cadets wherein they are welcomed into the folds of their respective regiments and services. It marks the beginning of an association of a lifetime.

Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the Indian Military Academy Maj Gen JS Nehra reviews the parade at the IMA on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 5

Some days ahead of the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy, the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor’s parade was conducted today at the historic Chetwode drill square, where 363 Indian and 78 foreign Gentlemen Cadets displayed enthusiasm, vigour and zeal in drill movements performed by them.Maj Gen JS Nehra, Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the Indian Military Academy, reviewed the parade. He complimented the Gentlemen Cadets for good parade. He asserted that the efforts of the faculty and the hard work of the GCs were evident from the crisp and coordinated movements. He said he was hopeful that the standards would improve further  when the final passing out parade would take place on December 9 .He also complimented the Gentlemen Cadets for the hard work put in and for having finally reached the threshold to a world filled with challenges and responsibilities of protecting the boundries of the country . He said the GCs had been taught repeatedly to ‘lead by example’ and the soldiers who would be under their command should look up to them with pride.“The duty of the IMA to train the GCs ends hereinafter, after which they will step into their units and regiments, who will groom them further and make them responsible and competent leaders”, he said.The event was a success and was witnessed by a large number of schoolchildren, residents and Army personnel with their friends and families.

WORLD opinion and economic necessity do matter. And that is why the Modi government finds itself constrained to explore a rolling back of the ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets. The notification was a natural progression of the Modi government’s strategy to use the cow as a tool for consolidating the Hindu vote bank. It appeared to look the other way when Hindutva vigilantes resorted to extortion and lynching; the state governments too failed to prosecute them; the lumpens demanded a comprehensive anti-cattle slaughter law. Largely from urban areas, these Hindutva cheerleaders were uninformed about the role of cattle slaughter (not cows alone) in our daily lives and its integrality of rural livelihoods.But it is unpardonable for the Modi government now to pretend to be surprised at the consequences. That is what policy making is all about. Didn’t it know the ban will hit more than the meat industry? Or that the cattle let loose were extracting environmental costs and destroying the livelihoods of Hindus, Jains and Muslims alike? The fact is only 30 per cent of the carcass is used for meat. The rest goes into the making of at least 50 items of daily use. As far as cows go, the Modi government needn’t have burnt the midnight oil to frame laws or its leaders to go around stumping for the cause and leave unbridgeable social tensions in their wake. All that the government had to do, if the cow cause was actually close to its heart, was to implement in spirit a Supreme Court order upholding anti-cow slaughter laws in about 20 states.However, utopian visions come crashing down in the actual world. And that is what happened with the ban. New Delhi’s obsession had begun to disrupt rural lives. Prices of many downstream products from shoes to buttons were bound to shoot up. A study showed it would cost over Rs 5,000 crore annually to feed all the bulls in Maharashtra alone. For outsiders, India began to look like Pakistan Lite without the bomb blasts. The political reward from the ban began diminishing when benchmarked against the costs of rural distress and foreign opprobrium. Irresponsible politics invariably produces bad politics.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre will mark its 100th year in 2019. Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 13

Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik has demanded a special package from Union Cultural Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma for the development of Jallianwala Bagh on the completion of 100 years of the massacre.After meeting Dr Sharma in New Delhi recently, Malik said the minister had assured him of all help while asserting that Jallianwala Bagh is a national monument and the Centre is committed to its development.Malik told the minister that in April 2019, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre would mark its 100th year and to pay a befitting homage to the martyrs, the Union Government should grant a special package for the development of the historical monument so that visitors should know how the people of the country had fought and laid down their lives during the Independence struggle.Malik said he had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh from his discretionary grant for the monument’s development. He added that the work of painting Jallianwala Bagh was in progress.The MP said new sanitary fittings and renovation work of washrooms, a water cooler with an RO system, installation of ceiling fans in the visitor gallery, repairs of fountains and lighting were going on.He added that the main emphasis was to restart the documentary on the massacre.