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PM bats for ‘no-first-use’ global policy on N-arms
April 1: IAF’s special day
AFT: Army promotion process inconsistent
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Delhi Police wins custody battle of 2 top IM operatives
Delhi HC upholds life term for Katara’s killers
Bullets found on road outside Taj hotel
Guru's hanging & no gallows for Bhullar
show govt's double standards: Mirwaiz
BEST drivers call off stir
Manekshaw's statue to be unveiled
Apex court orders status quo on highway liquor vends
Maoists tell Bihar voters to boycott poll
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PM bats for ‘no-first-use’ global policy on N-arms
New Delhi, April 2 While noting that India has a 'no-first-use' policy, he said that “no single country can undertake the journey alone” and there was a need for an “agreed multilateral framework” that can involve all states. “For nearly half a century, the international community has tried different approaches to this issue but these have often been partial and discriminatory,” Singh said addressing a seminar here on “A Nuclear Free World: From Conception to Reality”. “I submit that what is really needed today is to bring an end to Cold War thinking. What is needed today is agreed multilateral framework that can involve all states possessing nuclear weapons. What is needed is to focus on practical measures that reduce nuclear dangers by reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in security doctrines,” he emphasised. Pointing out that more and more voices are speaking out that the sole function of nuclear weapons should be to deter a nuclear attack, he said, “If all states possessing nuclear weapons recognise that this is so (nuclear weapons are only for deterrence) and are prepared to declare it, we can quickly move to the establishment of global no-first-use norm.” The Prime Minister said that in many ways this can open the way to gradual reduction and finally elimination through a nuclear weapons convention. “Such a convention would require necessary verification. It would also require political measures to ensure that stability is maintained as the level of nuclear arsenal approaches zero,” he said. Talking about India, he said despite being a nuclear weapon state, the country remained “convinced that a nuclear weapon-free world would enhance our security. Consequently, our nuclear doctrine lays emphasise on a credible minimum deterrent and a no-first use policy. The doctrine reiterates India's continued commitment to the goal of nuclear-weapon-free world." He said as a “responsible nuclear weapon state that remains committed to non-proliferation, India supports the idea of a nuclear-weapon-free world because we believe that it enhances not just India's security, but also global security.” — PTI
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April 1: IAF’s special day
The Indian element consisted of six officers and nine technicians, then known as ‘Hawai Sepoys’ The Squadron had its beginnings from Drigh Road, Karachi in Undivided India and the day also coincided with the Air Force receiving its first batch of trained pilots from Royal Air Force, Cranwell, which included HC Sircar, Subroto Mukherjee (later the first Indian Chief of Air Staff), AB Awan, Bhupendra Singh, Amarjit Singh and J N Tandon.
The squadron took part in the Burma Campaign during the Second World War and all post-Independence was and major operations and has operated from several airbases across the country. Known as the Tigers, No.1 Squadron is presently based at Gwalior and flies the Mirage 2000. Incidently, April 1 also happens to be the anniversary of three other IAF units, No.2 Squadron “Winged Arrows” that flies the Su-30, 114 Helicopter Unit “Siachen Pioneers” with Cheetahs and 115 Helicopter Unit “Hovering Angels” with
Chetaks.
The 12th Battalion of the Grenadiers celebrated its golden jubilee on April 1. The battalion was raised on this day in April 1964 at Nasirabad by Maj MS Sidhu. During 1965 Indo-Pak war, the battalion was deployed in Punjab Sector, following which it was moved to NEFA and then on to Gulmarg in 1970. The battalion took part in Operation Cactus Lily in the Uri Sector and successfully beat back enemy attacks on its posts. It has also participated in Operations Rhino, Trident, Pawan, Vijay and Rakshak and was the first to be inducted into Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peacekeeping Force.
Oman Air Chief on
visit to India
Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, Air Vice Marshal Matar Ali Matar Al-Abaidaniw as in India this week on a goodwill visit. He met his Indian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha in New Delhi and discussed matters of mutual interest. The IAF and Oman Air Force have several aircraft in common which include the Jaguar, Hawks, C-130, Dornier and Pilatus and has conducted periodic joint exercises. India has close defence ties with Oman, which lies on the western edge of the Arabian Sea and overlooks the sea route into the Persian Gulf. India is a defence equipment supplier to the Gulf state and in fact, the primary weapon of the Oman Army is the INSAS rifle made by the Indian Ordnance Factory.
Vice Admiral Nair is Chief of Materials
Vice Admiral KR Nair, has been appointed as the Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy. Prior to this, he was serving as Controller Warship Production and Acquisition. He will be responsible for the construction and maintainence of warships, weapons, maritime equipment, provisioning of spares and the functioning of naval dockyards. (Ajay Banerjee and
Vijay Mohan)
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AFT: Army promotion process inconsistent
Chandigarh, April 2 The Tribunal, in its order passed yesterday, ruled that the Defence Ministry and Army Headquarters must review their notified promotion policies in a manner that informal and inconsistent practices are not allowed to creep in that could seriously jeopardise natural justice and equality within the organisation. Allowing a petition filed by an officer of the Judge Advocate General’s Department, Col RK Tripathi, who was not empanelled for promotion to the rank of Brigadier, the Tribunal observed that the MS Branch conducted a number of promotion boards by clubbing senior and junior batches and drawing comparative merit of candidates of different seniority and reckonable batches, which is an illegal practice not supported by any rules. “Unfortunately, the higher authorities in Army HQ and the MoD have failed to exercise any supervision. Such a practice is fraught with dangers of erosion of natural justice and the system can be ruined by favouritism and nepotism,” the Tribunal said. The petitioner had contended that in seven selection boards, rules and procedures were violated by the MS Branch, which is responsible for the management of the officer cadre in the Army. By subjecting him to compete with his juniors, the respondents enlarged the field of choice and thereby prejudiced the interest of the applicant which is not acceptable. Observing that the entire process of allotment and utilisation of vacancies in question was done in an inconsistent and illegal manner, the Tribunal held that the MS Branch was unable to explain its action or produce policy letters in support of its contentions.
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Delhi Police wins custody battle of 2 top IM operatives
New Delhi, April 2 Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash passed the order after Special Cell of Delhi Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) exchanged heated arguments to take the custody of Tehseen and Waqas, who were wanted for their alleged roles in the February last year Dilsukhnagar blasts in Hyderabad. Tehseen and Waqas, along with other alleged IM operatives, Mohd Maroof, Wakar Azhar and Mohd Saqib Ansari, who all were arrested by the special cell last month, were produced before the court in muffled faces after expiry of police custody. The special cell sought extension of their custody for 15 days on the ground that they have to be interrogated to know about the whereabouts of others members of the terror outfit. However, NIA opposed the police's plea saying that being a federal investigating agency, they should be permitted to formally arrest Tehseen and Waqas, a Pakistani national, in Dilsukhnagar blasts case. Special Cell's prosecutor Rajiv Mohan countered the claims of NIA saying they have arrested these accused first and they need to interrogate them to unearth the conspiracy. "You cannot curtail the rights of local police in the name of NIA Act... They (NIA) have not arrested the accused. We (special cell) had not stopped them (NIA) from arresting these accused," Mohan argued. He said that some more wanted IM operatives, including its co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal, was to be arrested on the basis of the interrogation of these accused persons. — PTI
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Delhi HC upholds life term for Katara’s killers
New Delhi, April 2 A Bench comprising Justices Gita Mittal and JR Midha would hear arguments on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to the three Yadavs -- Vikas, Vishal and Sukhdev. As many as 23 “chain of circumstances stand proved beyond reasonable doubt” against the Yadavs, sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court in 2008, the HC ruled. In the 1193-page judgment, the HC used “honour killings” at 12 places and held that “the case of the prosecution squarely brings the murder of Nitish Katara within the meaning of the expression honour killing.” The victim was a business executive and son of “Honour killing is a class of offences by itself. Its motivation stemming from a deeply entrenched belief in the caste system, it is completely unacceptable. It needs serious examination as to why such murders are not categorised as separate offences in the penal provision,” the HC said. Citing experts, the Bench said the perpetrators of such crimes “are mostly eminent and extended members of the family and community of the victim resulting in many cases of honour killing going unreported and these unreported cases are never brought to justice.”
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Bullets found on road outside Taj hotel
Mumbai, April 2 Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindra Shisve told reporters here that the road-repairing crew discovered the bullets which were concealed under pavement blocks on the road between the Gateway of India and the Taj Hotel. The road was being used as a pay and park facility. Shisve said the cartridges were discovered when the pavement blocks were shifted. “The bullets appeared to have been left here a long time ago,” he said. The bullets have been sent to the government's forensic laboratory at Kalina in suburban Mumbai for analysis. "Cartridges like these are used in licensed weapons in India," Shisve said.
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Guru's hanging & no gallows for Bhullar
show govt's double standards: Mirwaiz
New Delhi, April 2 "Guru's hanging is still being debated in the Kashmir valley…why was he hanged?" he asked while talking to reporters at the 'Pakistan Day' function at the Pakistan High Commission here. Many other separatist leaders from Kashmir were present at the function. He asserted that Kashmir was a political problem which could only be resolved by adopting a political approach. "It is important to respect the views of Kashmiris…a solution can only be found by involving India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris.'' Asked how he looked at the prospects of a Narendra Modi-led government coming to power at the Centre, he said it was entirely for the people of India to decide whom they want to become the country's Prime Minister.
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BEST drivers call off stir
Mumbai, April 2 The Maharashtra Government had to intervene as commuters were put to great inconvenience due to stir.
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Manekshaw's statue to be unveiled
New Delhi, April 2 Amritsar-born Manekshaw was the Army Chief during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Fighting a war for the British Army against the Japanese in 1942, he received nine bullet injuries. A Sikh orderly Sepoy Sher Singh saved him from certain death. Manekshaw was decorated with a Military Cross for his courage. He died at 94.
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Apex court orders status quo on highway liquor vends
New Delhi, April 2 The High Court had directed the state government to amend its excise policy disallowing liquor vends on state highways and service lanes. A Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam also issued notice to the PIL petitioners in the High Court - Arrive Safe Society of Haryana and others, the National Highway Authority (NHAI) and the Punjab Government - seeking their response to Haryana’s plea within two weeks. The Supreme Court Bench had passed a similar order on March 26 on a related plea filed by Punjab. The High Court had passed an order on July 30, 2013 asking Punjab and Haryana to remove liquor shops on national highways. The two states framed their respective fresh excise policies accordingly.
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Maoists tell Bihar voters to boycott poll
Patna, April 2 "Though they have always been against elections, this is a new method adopted by Maoists. They are now using bulk SMS," DGP Abhyanand said. — PTI
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New Delhi, April 2
After a tug of war, the Delhi Police today had its way when a special court granted it 13-day custody of Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives Tehseen Akhtar, Zia-ur-Rehman alias Waqas and three others by brushing aside claims of NIA to quiz them first.
Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash passed the order after Special Cell of Delhi Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) exchanged heated arguments to take the custody of Tehseen and
Waqas, who were wanted for their alleged roles in the February last year Dilsukhnagar blasts in Hyderabad.
The Delhi High Court today upheld the conviction of Vikas Yadav, son of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav, and two others for the abduction and “honour killing” of Nitish Katara in 2002 for allegedly having an alleged affair with Bharti, sister of Vikas.
April 1 has special significance for the Indian Air Force. It was on this day in 1933 that its first flying outfit, No.1 Squadron was raised with four Westland Wapiti aircraft.
