Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 22

In the past two years, the Ministry of Defence has showed its intent of bridging gaps in battle readiness. But over the next three years the Narendra Modi-led government needs to implement the same by procuring fighter jets, artillery guns, bulletproof jackets, torpedoes and helicopters among other items.Though policy changes have been made, a case of increasing the limit for Foreign Direct Investment is pending. Expectedly, the ‘Make in India’ agenda has taken some time to show on ground.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has been at the helm since November 2015 and his biggest challenge is to reduce the import bill and dependence on imports from the US, Russia, Ukraine and France. India yet again emerged as the world’s largest buyer of weapons and military equipment, accounting for some 14 per cent of all such international imports, a report of the Sweden-based think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in March this year.Parrikar has announced an amendment to the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) that gives more importance to local products.The Modi government has taken key decisions to have an indigenous artillery gun programme, make the light transport aircraft in private sector in India and produce the Russian Kamov light utility helicopters here, but everything will take time to fructify. The three services collectively need around 1,000 copters. Conversely, the purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France in a fly-away condition and the decision to procure 145 ultra light howitzers (ULH) from the US is still not done.The indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, is on sea trials and so is the conventional sub Kalvari.A deepening military alliance with Japan has formalised a US-India-Japan grouping, a fact not palatable to Beijing while New Delhi has deepened ties with countries involved in the South China Sea.Focus of the MoD will have to be on building roads along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Four strategic railway lines have been approved and will need attention.

Achievements

• Key decisions taken to have an indigenous artillery gun programme, make the light transport aircraft in private sector and produce the Russian Kamov light utility helicopters in India
• Amendment to the Defence Procurement Procedure that gives more importance to local products, hence increased focus on ‘Make in India’
• Indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant and conventional sub Kalvari are on sea trials

Downside

• India remains the biggest importer of weapons and military equipment, accounting for some 14 per cent of all such international imports
• Procedures are taking long, which is holding back changes. The purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France in a fly-away condition and procurement of 145 ultra light howitzers from the US is yet to be sealed
• Demand to increase FDI limit from existing 26 per cent

Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, with APS and AGPS students at Nyoma village of Leh district. A Tribune photo

Jammu, May 18

Thirty students from remote areas of the Ladakh region have been sponsored by the Army to study in Army Public School (APS), Beas, in Punjab, Drona Boys Hostel in Udhampur and Army Goodwill Public School (AGPS) in Pehalgam.The students interacted with Lieutenant General DS Hooda, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, at Nyoma village of Leh, before they proceed to APS and AGPS Schools run by the Army, said Defence spokesperson Col SD Goswami.Lt Gen Hooda encouraged the students to not only do well in academics but also excel in sports.“Assistance in providing quality education to the students of the Ladakh region will go a long way in the progress of remote areas of the country,” said Col Goswami.The sponsored project by the Army is conducted under the “Operation Sadbhavana”. — TNS

Col Jasjit Singh

Aizawl, May 13

Suspended Commandant of Assam Rifles Col Jasjit Singh, one of the main accused in a case of smuggled gold robbery, was today remanded in police custody for 72 hours by a local court.Singh was arrested on May 5 after eight Assam Rifles personnel, who allegedly waylaid a vehicle on December 14 night on the outskirts of Aizawl and robbed it, claimed they committed the crime at the behest of the Commandant.The Assam Rifles personnel had reportedly decamped with 52 gold bars worth around Rs 14.5 crore, a cellphone and Rs 75,000 in cash after threatening the driver of the vehicle at gunpoint. — PTI

New Delhi: Another money trail has been traced in the alleged multi-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. CNN-News18 has learnt that a crystal dealer, Suraj Prakash Mehra, was in regular touch with AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel.

Mehra was allegedly in touch with Michel and Danish national Christine Spliid when India was finalising the AgustaWestland deal. Documents show that Mehra’s twin children are partners with Christine Spliid and Christian Michel in UK-based company Beetle Nut Home Ltd.

CNN-News18 also tried to track down the names listed on the books of Mehra’s Crystal and Lifestyle. It was found that almost all the addresses of shareholders were completely fake. The company Yogya Infotech which holds 15,000 shares in Crystal and Lifestyle has a bogus address.

Even the company Minarva Buildtech (P) Limited, which holds 25,000 shares in Crystal and Lifestyle, does not exist at the given address.

The home of a minority shareholders Karan Sethi, who is also a director along with Suraj Parkash Mehra in the company, was tracked down. Karan’s father PK Sethi said that came across Christian Michel’s name through TV channels and newspapers. He claimed that Karan is currently in Mumbai.

The address mentioned in the name of Suraj Parkash Mehra was also found locked.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 8

An Army jawan slipped to death today while patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of Kupwara district.Sepoy Kishori Lal, a resident of Dhar village of Kishtwar, slipped and fell into a gorge while patrolling the anti-infiltration fence along the LoC, an Army statement said.“The soldier was immediately evacuated by a helicopter to Army Base Hospital in Srinagar. However, he succumbed to his injuries,” said defence spokesperson Col NN Joshi.The slain soldier was involved in reconstructing the anti-infiltration fence damaged due to heavy snowfall this year, he said.“Speedy resuscitation of the anti-infiltration is undertaken every year soon after the snow melts. This is vital to maintain a robust anti-infiltration posture and prevent infiltration of terrorists through the highly treacherous areas along the LoC,” said Colonel Joshi.He said the slain jawan had joined the Territorial Army last year.“Born to a family of farmers, he is proudly remembered by his peers for his indomitable spirit, high camaraderie quotient, commitment towards duty and thrust of achieving higher goals,” the spokesperson said.“He was physically tough and was a natural choice for his team to undertake challenging tasks. He proved it last month when he was part of a detachment which repaired a critical portion of the fence in record time,” the spokesperson added.Paying tributes to Sepoy Kishori Lal, Lt Gen Satish Dua, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Chinar Corps, saluted his courage and selflessness.“Sepoy Kishori Lal volunteered to supervise the work in the most difficult part of the terrain,” the GOC said.The soldier’s body was flown in an Army helicopter from Srinagar to Kishtwar for last rites at his village with full military honours.

Brig BB sharma from Dehradun to take over the responsibility as President Uttrakand Unit of Sanjha Morcha. 
Brig B B Sharma , is from  GRENADIERS, DEC 75 . Commanded 19 GRENADIERS , on LC during Kargil .

Tibri Brigade . Mostly served J&K . Interests Trekking Garhwal & Kumaon Hills .
Coaching Visually challenged children as a volunteer with National Institute of Visually Handicapped , Dehradun
A great social workers and always ready to help ESM faternity.

Sanjha Morcha welcomes him in the folds of the family of Sanjha Morcha and wish him all the best and ensure him full cooperation from all the front.

BRIG B B SHARMA WRITES

Dear Col Khera Sir ,

It was a pleasure talking to you . I look forward to working with the Sanjha Morcha and be of some use to the ESM of the state of Uttrakhand . Though Uttrakhand has the largest number of ESM , unfortunately , they are not being looked after due to lethargy and lack of interest of the powers to be .

The important post of Director Sainik Kalyan has been vacant for past 5 years . I have appeared twice for the interview but the vested interests have ensured that the appointment remains vacant .