Supreme Court directs flak at errant babus and cops

New Delhi, August 8
“In this country you need huntering (flogging) to make you work,” the Supreme Court today said while venting its anger on babus and top police officials for their failure to respond on an issue related to punishing errant cops who refuse to register FIRs on public complaints.

“Is this Ramrajya in this country...So this is swaraj. This is the concept of swaraj,” said a bench of Justices B.N. Agrawal and G.S. Singhvi, while lamenting the attitude of the top bureaucrats and the frequent complaints of citizens that policemen do not register FIRs promptly.
SC directs flak at errant cops, babus
Babus, top cops invite SC ire – ‘You need flogging to make you work’

Babu's as Cops: Bureaucrats occupying seats of power in MOD are akin to the cops who do not take cognizance of the Ex- Servicemen woes. The Pay Commission anomalies are synonymous to Babu's emptying the pockets of the Defence Forces Personnel. The Armed Forces have been reduced to a force without teeth.

An NRI Victory: Right to Information Act

Activists of Association for India’s Development U.S. demonstrating outside the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C., demanding that the Indian government withdraw its amendments to curtail the Right to Information Act.

After persistent efforts from volunteers of the Association for India’s Development, the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., has implemented India’s landmark Right to Information Act, 2005, bringing its operations fully under the act’s purview.

However the path of getting RTI to the U.S was not all that rosy. Volunteers of AID have been campaigning since November of 2006 to get the Indian Embassy officials in Washington to implement the RTI act. A number of emails and phone calls were made. Later, realizing that the communication with the embassy officials was proving to be futile, a few volunteers started communicating directly with the Chief Information Commissioner in India, Wajahat Habibullah, seeking his intervention. The Central Information Commission issued an order around April 2007 bringing all the missions abroad under the purview of the RTI act. It took 90 days more of campaigning by AID volunteers to get the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. to accept its first RTI petition.
An NRI Victory: Right to Information Act

The great indian hope trick

Victorious Hockey Team: Berlin 1936
Here's the billion rupee question to ask before you settle in front of your TV sets later today to watch the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics: will India defend its record of sending the largest Olympic contingent only to fetch the least number of medals? The answer - unless, of course, you're the sort who believes everything in this world to be maya - is a pretty resounding yes. But even if it's in hushed tones, India does have medal hopes in its star-studded shooting squad and some skillful archers and boxers.

China owes its sports superpower status to a decades-long policy aimed at gaining supremacy in world sport. While Indians half-heartedly try to clip seconds, the Chinese cut whole minutes.

To change the face of Indian sport, we must first change our mindset. Infusion of new ideas, and hiring top notch planners and coaches are crucial - as is, of course, respect for our sporting heroes long after they have hung up their spikes.

The upside: we have nothing to lose but Olympic shame. The Sports Authority of India is part of the great Indian rope trick!
The great indian hope trick

Defence Forces: From times immemorial, the soldier has always reveled in sporting activities. With the evolution of the modern army fame in the area of sports field brought prestige to the Armed Forces. In the last three decades, one has seen a steady decline in standards. The unit level sports and games has steadily taken a back seat. The reason is not difficult to fathom: The Generals and Commanders show least interest and have no time to encourage sports and games, as most of their energies are directed towards their own career profiling and enhancing their promotional avenues.

Latest Beijing 2008 Olympics NewsFind out the latest syndicated news from The Beijing 2008 Olympics. Follow the preparations and build up to the Beijing Olympics then the breaking news and results from the Games themselves. Current feeds include the BBC, ESPN and CBC (Canadian) Olympic News, plus the latest releases from the US, British and Australian Olympic Teams.

Beijing Olympics 2008

India decades of Olympic mediocrity
Resurgent China readies epic show to welcome world
Olympic Schedule
Schedules by Sport

Supreme Court slams Centre, says even God can’t save India

The apex court says people who are vexed with the approach of the government on various issues are filing PILs before it

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to amend the law for launching criminal prosecution against those who illegally occupy official houses, and said that even God will not be able to save this country.

“We are fed up with this government,” the apex court said, adding: “They don’t have the guts to differ with the opinion of the clerks.”

“Even God will not be able to save this country. In India even if God comes down he cannot change our country. Our country’s character has gone. We are helpless,” a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi observed.

The apex court said people who are vexed with the approach of the government on various issues are filing PILs before it.

“You complain about judicial activism when you are in power. When you are not in power you come to us for remedy,” the bench remarked.

The bench gave vent to its anger as the Additional Solicitor General Amarender Saran bluntly told the court that the Union government has decided not to amend Section 441 IPC (criminal trespass) for prosecuting squatters of government accommodation in the country.
SC slams Centre, says even God can’t save India
Govt accommodation: Apex court slams Centre for refusing to amend law

Corollary: "If even God can't save India from bureaucrats", Can God save Indian Defence Services plundered by the Bureaucrats?

Army lets women be soldiers for life

Photo courtesy Bharat Rakshak
The move comes after HT carried a series of reports highlighting gender bias in the forces and triggered a debate. It will give the women officers their rightful place in a male-dominated military culture, some 15 years after they were allowed into the armed forces.

National Defence Academy and other service-specific training institutions will no longer be the exclusive domain of male cadets. Lieutenant General Punita Arora (retd), the first lady to don the three-star rank in India’s military history, told HT, “The girls have proved their worth in the armed forces. They deserve it.”

However, women will continue to be accepted only in responsibilities more in tune with generally accepted notions of gender. Close combat would essentially imply serving in the infantry, armoured corps, flying a fighter aircraft or sailing on a warship.

A senior army officer said the existing cadre of women officers is unlikely to benefit as permanent commission would come with its own terms and conditions. Defence ministry figures show there are just 945 women out of 35,377 officers in the army, 739 out of 10,563 officers in the air force and 236 out of 7,336 officers in the navy. HT had recently reported that several lady officers were opting for corporate sector with the government dithering on permanent commission.
Army lets women soldiers for life
National Defence Academy may let in women cadets
Armed Forces crack their glass ceiling: allow permanent commission for women
India’s first woman permanent commission officer by 2013

UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES
Indian Armed forces trains in the art of war besides the academic curriculum, it also gives ample scope to acquire new skills constantly. Activities like river rafting, para jumping, rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering or even desert safaris. When it comes to adventure and sports, there’s no place like the armed forces. Why should the women be left out? A very wise decision taken by MOD to straighten its record.

Indian Athletes Aim for Gold on Billionaire's Buck

Young Indians are training for this summer’s Olympics with the backing of a London-based billionaire steel magnate, the Wall Street Journal reports. Lakshmi Mittal was dismayed by India’s poor showing at Athens in 2004—where the burgeoning superpower earned only a single silver, while arch rival China won 32 golds—and founded the Mittal Champions Trust to identify and support promising athletes.

Mittal, who left India as a young man, has committed $10 million so far, and 10 athletes whose training he's supported will compete in Beijing. One young archer, training in the program's camp at Bangalore, who had no means to pursue Olympic dreams, not only trains but sends money home to support his family. "I am so fired up that whatever is expected of me to win, whatever effort's expected, I will do it," he said.
Indian Athletes Aim for Gold on Billionaire's Buck
India decades of Olympic mediocrity

Cricket Crazy Country. The nation's love for cricket has sidelined all other sports and games activity to almost a diminishing zero. The Defence Forces, Veteran Organisations, Schools, Colleges and Universities need to get into the act of resurrecting the sports and games arena of the Nation.

SCPC awards may be deferred

Photo courtesy The Telegraph
The government may defer the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission award by a year or even two to reduce the fiscal burden of the recommendations that proposed a 28 per cent across-the-board salary increase for an estimated 4.5 million central government employees. Final decision could be taken as early as next month, well before six states head for elections to their legislatures. Of these, the Congress-ruled Delhi is crucial, being home to a large percentage of the country's central government employees.
6th Pay Commission awards may be deferred

Main Battle Tank: Speed and Shock effect of Arjun

The Arjun main-battle tank may not be combat-ready even after 33 years of development work, but this has not deterred Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from offering another "experimental" tank to the Army.

DRDO's offer and induction of tanks and their subsequent up gradation projects have always been a source of worry for the Army, which urgently needs to upgrade the "speed and shock effect" of its mechanised forces. The Defence Forces for the present are Shocked at the 34 year cycle tank development and each agonising trial bringing in a new set of challenges to evaluate the ever changing parameters of the Tank.

DRDO need to learn from the Chinese. The readily available off the self products from China and other South East nations will prove very cost effective to procure for our Defence Forces. DRDO should confine to products that will enhance a Jawan's (soldier) performance and give him a cutting edge advantage over the adversary.

Media Reports that shock and awe:
DRDO
Arjun tank not being thrust on the Army: DRDO
DRDO tries to ram Arjun tanks down Army throat
Now, a tank of worms crawl out of DRDO’s Arjun
Concerns over sabotage in Arjun tank trials

SCPC: All India Veterans meeting on 13 Aug 2008

Dear colleagues,

To button up the details of our proposed meet on 13 Aug, the following six veterans met at 1100 hours July 20 at the residence of Admiral Barin Ghose:
-Admiral Barin Ghose
-Maj Gen Satbir singh
-Maj Gen P Renjen
-AVM RP Mishra
-Wg Cdr CK Sharma
-Lt Gen Raj Kadyan

The decisions arrived at, after weighing and examining various options, are as follows:
(a) Date and time of meeting: 1100 hours on Wed, 13 Aug 2008.
(b) Venue: DSOI, Arun Vihar, Sector-29, NOIDA. (Note- Venue changed)
(c) Attendance; Maximum ESM groups must be represented only Offiicers (Due to space time and adm constraints).
(d) Nomenclature: The set-up will continue to be called Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM).
(e) Agenda- To discuss:

Short term aims related to the ongoing struggle against Sixth Pay

Commission recommendations, including date of next action and methdology to be adopted, our response if our OROP demand is not accepted or is partially accepted etc.

Long term aims to focus on the various problems being faced by the ESM community and think up ameliorative measures.

Selection/election/nomination of a core group/nucleus to spearhead the movement.

Selection/election/nomination of regional heads to coordinate the Movement in repective Regions, States and metros.

Commencement of membership. It was decided to levy a membership fee of Rs 500/- per officer. Attendees are requested to deposit the amount with Wg Cdr CK Sharma on 13 Aug during the meeting. Necessary forms will be prepared and kept ready at the venue. (Wg Cdr Sharma has very kindly agreed to take on the responsibilty of being the interim treasurer). The amount collected will be utilised solely for running the movement.

Logistics: The meeting will culminate into a simple working lunch on contributory basis. All are requested to clear the dues before departure. Sponsorship by ESM Business Bodies are welcome for the noble cause to defray expenses for this and subsequent planned events.

Best regards,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan (Retd)
Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement

Energy war: India and China face off in Central Asia

On the streets of Tashkent and Dushanbe, Bollywood numbers incite local people to break into impromptu jigs. And in the war-torn dustbowls of Afghanistan, American workers are building schools and hospitals in the middle of non-stop gunfire. The Indians are doing the same, at the risk of their lives. This is the soft side of the story — efforts to woo the Central Asian Republics.

The hard truths of the world's sudden love for the region are hidden behind the barbed wire fences and camouflaged battle gear. In the past few years, military bases have cropped up across the region. The Americans have several bases in Central Asia, including Afghanistan. The Russians, Nato and Chinese too have established military posts in the region. Even India can claim to have set up an air defence unit in Tajikistan.

Already branded villains of this scary scene, the two Asian countries will continue to guzzle more oil to feed their booming economies, even as demand for oil would fall in the industrialized world. In a report last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) spoke about two future scenarios — the growth of "long-term demand led by China and India..." and "the supply threats, including increasing conflict...."
Energy war: India and China face off in Central Asia
Amazing Statistics: California Uses More Gas than China

Pay panel award implementation from August 2008

IBN-CNN Image
A 13-member committee of secretaries, headed by cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, screening the proposals is said to be “at the fag end” of the process. Over 3.3 million government employees are expecting a hike. The pay panel had submitted its report on March 24, 2008. The government could announce the implementation this month, as revealed by highly placed sources.
The committee screening the pay panel’s suggestions was formed at the insistence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following complaints from several quarters. Its report will be submitted to the cabinet.

The screening committee also includes the revenue and secretaries in the finance ministry, the home secretary, the defence secretary and the special secretary (internal security) in the home ministry. The secretaries of the departments of personnel and training, pension and pensioners’ welfare are also its members.
Pay panel award implementation from August

A Real Life Hero Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri

Border is a 1997 blockbuster Bollywood war film based on the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. J P Dutta directed and produced this war epic which stars Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Pooja Bhatt, Sharbani Mukherjee and Tabu.

The movie won numerous awards including Best Film at the Filmfare awards. Director JP Dutta won Best Director at the same award function while his father OP Dutta won Best Dialogues.

The movie is an adaptation from real life events that happened at the Battle of Longewala fought in Rajasthan (Western Theatre) during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War. It is about how a band of 120 soldiers of the Punjab regiment of the Indian Army headed by Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri successfully defended their post all night against a whole Tank regiment of the Pakistani Army, until assistance came from the Indian Air Force the next morning. The fim was critical and commercial hit in India.

Cast:
Sunny Deol - Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
Jackie Shroff - Wing Commander Andy Bawa
Suniel Shetty - Captain Bhairon Singh, B.S.F.
Akshaye Khanna - 2nd Lt. Dharam Vir Bhan
Sudhesh Berry - Subedar Mathura Das
Puneet Issar - Subedar Ratan Singh
Rakhi - Dharam Vir's mother
Pooja Bhatt - Kamla (Dharam Vir's fiancee)
Tabu - Kuldip Singh's wife
Sharbani Mukherjee - Bhairon Singh's wife

The film was shot on location in the desert near Bikaner where the set for the Longewala Border Security Post was put up atop a sand dune for the Indian Army portion of the film and also in Jaisalmer where the Indian Air Force portion was shot. The equipment, ammunition and weapons were all actual Indian Army equipment that were used by the Filmmakers.

J P Dutta's brother was an Indian Air Force pilot who died in a MiG crash in 1987, the film is dedicated to him. While making the film, Dutta referred to diaries he had written at the time about his brothers experiences. The movie shows many soldiers including BSF Captain Bhairo Singh and Second Lt Dharam Vir being killed. However, in real life, the Defenders at Longewala lost only 5 soldiers in the battle. Filmfare Award for Best Newcomer Role was coveted by Akshay Khanna.
Battle of Longewala
Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
LOC Kargil
Interview with JP Dutta
Longewala battle hero files defamation suit

Comments: The real life of Maj KS Chandpuri which is so different from that depicted by Sunny Doel's reel life enactment. Brig KS Chandpuri who inspired leadership and thwarted the enemy advance is all about his tactical skills and appreciation, that achieved minimum causalities to own troops.

Other posts in the Blog:
Brig KS Chandpuri shares battle experience: Indo Pak War 1971
Battle of Longewala: Indo Pak War 1971