Bangalore, February 11
Almost the entire fleet of the Indian Air Force is in the process of being upgraded to support better weapons, latest radars and avionics, a move that not only would add to the might of the force but also ensure better safety for pilots. The only exception would be the MiG 21, which is slated for a phase out over the next two-three years.

Various fighter planes, including the Mirage (French-origin), the Jaguar (the UK) and the Sukhoi-30 MKI (Russian), are all set to get new systems. While an upgradation of the last lot of the 120 MiG 27 series fighters was completed in 2009 by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the MiG 29 jets — largely based in Punjab — are presently undergoing a similar process. Russia has been doing the upgradation job under a $964 million programme.

Apart from upgrading the existing fleet, the next lot of the light combat aircraft Tejas will get a more powerful engine -- General Electric 414, the same that powers the Boeing F-18. The upgrade programme will enhance the ability of the IAF to remain potent in tackling the latest threats that ride on technology to be stealthier, quicker and deadlier.

The Sukhoi-30 will get the latest of the radars called active electronically scanned array (AESA), which allow the pilot to detect an incoming threat much earlier and provide better situation awareness. Frontline fighters of the US air force like the Boeing F-18 already have this radar. The DRDO and the HAL have been given the task to produce the AESA radar for the Sukhoi-30.

For the Mirage, the IAF is hoping to sign a $2.1 billion deal by March. “The negotiations have been concluded and a report has been submitted to the Defence Ministry. We are trying to conclude this deal (with French company Dassault) by the end of this fiscal,” Air Chief Marshal PV Naik said yesterday.

Under the programme, the IAF looks to extend Mirage’s life by 20 or more years by integrating a modern glass cockpit for better situational awareness, improved avionics, a new electronic warfare suite, sensors and weapons.

The last of the upgrade is for the Jaguar -- two global companies will submit their proposals soon. The Jaguar is slated for re-engineering as the new engines sought by the IAF will not fit into the existing frame. Some 60 jaguars are flown by the IAF and a key squadron is based at Ambala. 

MiG 27: Upgradation process completed in 2009 by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

MiG 29: Russia doing the upgradation job under a $964 million programme

Tejas: A more powerful engine, General Electric 414, to be fitted in the next lot of the aircraft

Sukhoi-30: It will get the latest of the radars called active electronically scanned array; DRDO and HAL doing the job

Mirage: Life to be extended by 20 or more years by integrating a modern glass cockpit for better situational awareness

Jaguar: Slated for re-engineering as the new engines will not fit into existing frame

Hyderabad, February 11
The Telangana movement is set to enter a decisive phase with the agitators calling for an indefinite non-cooperation from February 17 as part of a strategy to mount pressure on the UPA government to introduce a bill on creation of a separate state in the coming budget session of the Parliament.

As part of the non-cooperation movement, Telangana Joint Action Committee has asked people not to pay taxes, power bills and water cess as a mark of protest. The government employees across Telangana will stay away from their duties, barring the emergency services like hospitals.

“We are appealing to people not to purchase tickets while travelling in state-owned buses,” the JAC Chairman Prof M Kodandaram told reporters while releasing their action plan.

The Telangana employees would launch pen-down stir while teachers would boycott the ongoing census work. As a prelude to the non-cooperation movement, the Telangana activists would take up extensive campaign in every nook and corner of the region on February 13.

After a “Jail Bharo” agitation on February 15, the Telangana activists would storm the houses of people’s representatives of the region the next day, demanding their resignation and participation in the agitation. There would be a dawn-to-dusk blockade of National Highway connecting Telangana with coastal Andhra on February 19.

“If there is no response from the Centre even after that, the entire Telangana would remain shutdown indefinitely from February 22,” Prof Kodandaram said.

Adding to the Congress government’s woes, the ministers and party MLAs from Telangana are planning a visit to Delhi on February 14 to meet the Central leaders in a “last ditch attempt” to convince them to grant statehood.

The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had tasted the ire of Telangana women at his Rachchabanda (mass contact) programme held in Warangal, the nerve centre of the statehood movement, on Thursday.

New Delhi, February 11
The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a plea by Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in the December 2001 Parliament attack case, for being shifted from Tihar jail in the capital to a prison in Jammu and Kashmir or Pathankot in Punjab.

A Bench comprising Justices Aftab Alam and RM Lodha passed an order seeking the Centre’s response after Afzal’s counsel pleaded that his client be moved to his home state where his family, including his mother aged above 80 and 11-year-old son, was living.

Advocate Kamakshi Singh Mahilwal argued that Afzal’s family members were finding it difficult to come all the way to Delhi every time they wanted to meet him at the high security Tihar jail. 

Mumbai, February 11
Nationalist Congress Party chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is again caught on the back foot over his association with controversial people. This time Pawar's alleged links with Shahid Usman Balwa, promoter of DB Realty who has been arrested by the CBI in connection with the 2G telecom scam, is coming to haunt him.

As questions are being raised over Pawar's alleged proximity to the DB group, the Maratha strongman had to come out publicly today and deny that he had any links with Balwa. “I have read in the media that he is 32 years old and I am 70. How can he be my friend," he told reporters at an event in Kolhapur today.

However few in Maharashtra are taking Pawar's denial at face value. It is no secret that Pawar enjoys a close relationship with Vinod Goenka, Balwa's partner in DB Realty. Goenka's family is associated with Dynamix Dairy Industries, a major supplier of milk products in western Maharashtra, which has its operations in Pawar's pocket borough Baramati. Thanks to Goenka's association with Pawar, Dynamix is today one of the biggest supplier of condensed milk in the country and enjoys a monopoly position with transnational companies buying most of their requirements from this company.

Caught up in yet another controversy, Pawar today denied that he or his family had a stake in Dynamix. “The dairy is owned by Schreiber Foods Inc of the US and another company and nobody else has a share in it,” Pawar said. However this is the first time Pawar had categorically denied any links with Dynamix.

Incidentally, Shahid Balwa, whose family owns two modest restaurants in Mumbai with some experience in the construction industry, emerged as a major real estate tycoon only over the past few years. According to the buzz in the real estate trade in Mumbai, Balwa entered the big league only after he tied up with Goenka. 

Lucknow, February 11
A rebuffed lover today shot dead his 16-year-old schoolgirl before attempting to commit suicide. While the girl died on the spot, he is battling for his life at the Trauma Centre of the Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical College University hospital.

Ashish Verma, 22, reportedly accosted Krishna Nagar resident Sakshi while she was on her way to school this morning and asked her to sit on the pillion seat of his Pulsar motorcycle. When the girl refused an angry Ashish pulled out a country-made pistol from his jacket and shot the girl from the point-blank range. As the girl collapsed on the ground after being hit from close range her family members and neighbours rushed out on hearing the commotion. — TNS

BRIEFLY

Kalmadi aide held
Pune: The CBI on Friday arrested former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi's close aide Shekhar Deorukhkar in the multi-crore rupee overlays scam in connection with last year's mega sporting event. Deorukhkar is the fifth person to be arrested in the scam in which nearly Rs 600 crore worth contracts relating to the Games' overlays project are under the scanner of various agencies. — PTI

Fatwa on abortion
New Delhi: From now on, ask a 'holy Muslim doctor' before you go for an abortion, the Darul Uloom- Deoband has ruled in its latest fatwa. The highest Muslim school has ruled, "If a holy Muslim doctor advises that a woman is unable to bear birth pangs, then a less than three months old pregnancy can be terminated but if it is more than three months old, the abortion is absolutely unlawful". — PTI

Cops justify firing
Jalpaiguri: The police had to fire in self-defence as they were left with no alternative after being attacked by armed GJM supporters at Sipchu here on February 8, Divisional Commissioner Amarendra Kumar Singh said on Friday. Singh said the forces had to fire out of compulsion in the face of sustained attack by the morcha volunteers, after exercising other options. — PTI

Tragic end to race
Lucknow: A constable of Uttar Pradesh police died while taking part in a physical endurance test for promotion in Gorakhpur district, police sources said here on Friday. Constable Shambhunath fell unconscious while running on the track during the test, they said. — PTI