Saturday, January 26, 2013

Agni V AND INS Vikramaditya to occupy pride of place during 64th Republic Day parade

New Delhi, Jan.25 (ANI): The highlight of the 64th Republic Day, which will take place on Saturday, will be the above 5,000 kms range Agni-V missile.

The advanced long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of being launched from anywhere in any direction and within a few minutes from a self-contained road mobile launcher is being paraded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The state-of-the-art missile, which was successfully flight tested in the month of April last year, has provided the true deterrence capability and brought India at par with the elite group of advanced countries possessing this capability. A mini version of INS Vikramaditya which will join the Naval fleet by the end of this year is being showcased to highlight Indian Navy’s blue water operating capability.

The DRDO will also put on display the Armoured Amphibious Dozer (AAD), an indigenously developed versatile Combat Engineer support equipment with excellent earth moving and amphibious capabilities in varied terrain.  Besides Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System and Naval Sonar will also be on display on Rajpath by DRDO.

The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army includes the Main Battle Tank ‘Arjun’, APC Ambulance tracked, the only Super Sonic Cruise Missile Brahmos Weapon System, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Recce Vehicle,  Sarvatra Bridge,  Mobile Integrated Network Terminal (MINT) and Radio Trunking System Mk-II (RTS Mk-II).  The Army''s Mechanized Columns will conclude with a flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv of the Army Aviation Corps.

The Indian Air Force will showcase its latest acquisitions on its tableaux.  It comprise the new basic trainer aircraft, the Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II and  the new VIP helicopter, the Augusta Westland AW-101.  It will also showcase the indigenous ‘eyes in the sky’ atop the Embraer 145, Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and  the strategic heavy lift aircraft, C-17 Globemaster-III, which will enter service by the middle of this year. 

The Indian Navy’s tableaux depicts a scaled down model of INS Vikramaditya, a large aircraft carrier which will join the naval fleet by the end of this year.  The ship is capable of sustaining at sea for more than 45 days at a stretch.  She is also equipped to carry over 30 combat aircraft at any time giving her the freedom to operate and strike anywhere at sea.  The Navy’s tableau also focusing on INS Chakra, a nuclear propelled submarine.

The parade ceremony will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying wreath.  An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle topped by a helmet.

As per tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag, the National Anthem will be played.  The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute. This year’s Chief Guest in the parade will be His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the King of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The parade will be commanded by Lt. General Subroto Mitra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the parade Second-in-Command.

Param Vir Chakra winners Sub Maj (Hon. Capt) Bana Singh, 8 JAK LI, Naib Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers and Havaldar Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK RIF  and Ashok Chakra Winners Maj Gen CA Pithawalla, GoC, Andhra Sub Area, Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (retd), Major D. Sree Ram Kumar, 90 Field Regiment,  Hon''y Naib Subedar Chhering Mutup (retd), Jammu, Shri Hukum Singh and Shri Govind Singh, both from district Chhatarpur, Madhya  Pradesh and Shri Bhure Lal of district Guna, also from Madhya Pradesh will follow the Deputy Parade Commander on Jeeps.

The marching contingents of Army will include the horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, Mechanized Infantry Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, Dogra Regiment, Garhwal Rifles, Ladakh Scouts, 8 Gorkha Training Centre, Army Ordnance Corps and Territorial Army (Punjab).

The marching contingents of Navy comprising 144 men will be led by Lt. Commander Ajay Kumar Verma and the Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Flight Lieutenant Heena Pore. The marching contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police  Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme. The Camel-mounted band of the BSF and the Ex-Servicemen marching contingent will be another major attraction.

Tableaux from 19 states and Central Ministries and Departments will present the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country. They will also showcase country’s progress in different fields. Twenty one of the 22 children selected for the National Bravery Award–2012 will also participate in the parade. One child has got the award posthumously. In the children’s pageant section, 1,000 boys and girls drawn from Delhi''s two schools, one school from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and one from Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata will present dance and other programmes.

Tornados, the motorcycle display by the Army Service Corps will be a major attraction of the parade. The tornados team consists of 135 riders on motorcycles performing Standing Salute, Ladder Balance, Fish Riding, Back Riding, Long Arm Verma Lotus, ASC Special, Balance Seat and Fish, Sudershan Chakra, Balance Ride Standing, Ladder Lotus, Human Pyramid under the leadership of Havaldar R Balasubramaniam. They will perform breathtaking stunts in a synchronised and synergetic display of mind, body and machine coordination.

The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular flypast by the IAF. The flypast commence with ‘Chakra’ formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in ‘Vic’ formation, followed by the Hercules formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in ‘Vic’ formation. Trailing them will be a Big Boy formation comprising one IL-78, flanked by two AN-32 and two Dorniers. Next in line will be the fighters, - while five Jaguars will fly in Arrowhead formation, another five Mig-29 air Superiority Fighter called the “Tridents” will fly in Fulcrum style. Then the breathtaking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI would fly over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais the Su-30 MKI aircraft will split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky. The flypast will conclude with another Sukhoi Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais. 

The ceremony will culminate with the National Anthem and release of balloons.(ANI)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Insulted' by Mamata, artist to quit panels

Kolkata, Jan 24: Taking Mamata Banerjee's remarks against him as an affront, a leading painter who stood by her side during her campaign to oust the erstwhile Left Front government in West Bengal said he would quit two key panels including the state Fine Arts Board of which he is the chairman.
Days after Banerjee questioned his role in bringing a political change in the state, Samir Aich said he would also put in his papers as the member of a Kolkata Municipal Corporation expert committee. The chief minister attacked the painter, who recently criticised her government on several issues, at a public rally in Canning in South 24 Parganas district earlier this week.
"Samir Aich had walked in a procession for us. I respect him for that. But just because he walked in a procession, he does not become a Trinamool Congress man. He was never in the Trinamool Congress. So why does he claim himself to be a Trinamool man? Please don't do it.
"I know why he is criticising us now. He is now talking at the behest of the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) which spearheads the opposition Left Front)," Banerjee said. 
Aich said Banerjee's comments "insulted" him.
"I don't want to respond to her comments and tell her how many rallies I participated in to bring the political change. I don't need a certificate from her, as I don't have any intention to seek a job. Yes, I feel insulted. So I have decided to quit the two committees," Aich said.
Aich had been one of the prominent faces among intellectuals to support Banerjee's cause since she led the movements in Singur and Nandigram opposing the then Left Front government's move to acquire farmland for setting up industrial projects in 2006-2007.
He participated in her rallies and protests, and became one of the most vocal critics of the Left Front regime in television debates.
However, he fell out with the Banerjee dispensation after he participated in a candlelight vigil over the suicide of a muslim social activist Aminul Islam, whom police allegedly framed in a false case after he helped a raped minor girl lodge a complaint against a local strongman.
Aich also slammed the government over an attack on CPI-M leader and former minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah by Trinamool activists led by former legislator Arabul Islam.
Aich is the latest among a number of intellectuals distancing themselves from the Trinamool regime since it came to power in the state in 2011.
Educationist Sunanda Sanyal, writers Tilottama Majumdar and Suchitra Bhattacharya -- who had also backed Banerjee during the final years of her fight in unseating the Left Front -- have also been sharply critical of her administration.

Supreme Court gives Salman Khan relief

New Delhi, Jan 24: Bollywood star Salman Khan will not face trial in the 1998 blackbuck hunting case in Rajasthan on charges of rioting but under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
salman khan
An apex court bench headed by Justice P. Sathasivam declined to accept the Rajasthan government's plea that film star Salman Khan and four others should also be tried for rioting under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
The blackbuck shooting case dates back to 1998 during the shooting of the film "Hum Saath Saath Hain".
The state government had come to the apex court challenging the Rajasthan High Court order by which it has authorised a lower court to withdraw charges of rioting against Salman Khan and four others.
A complaint was filed against Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre on charges of being involved in hunting of protected blackbucks. 
The actors were accused of poaching two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur in October 1998.

President greets nation on Milad-un-Nabi

 

New Delhi, Jan 24: President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday greeted the nation on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, being celebrated Friday, and said people should be inspired by Prophet Mohammad's message of universal brotherhood and compassion.

"May the message of universal brotherhood, compassion, tolerance and service to humanity preached by the Holy Prophet guide and inspire us all to live a righteous and productive life," the president said in his message, according to a statement.

ATTF chief remanded to 7 days police custody

Agartala: Chief of the outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) Ranjit Debbarma, was today remanded to seven days police custody. 
Debbarma, who was arrested from Mohanpur area, about 20 km from here yesterday, was shifted to the Special Branch custody of the police. 
The ATTF supremo had been remanded to a day's judicial custody by a second class judge yesterday as it was a holiday because of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. 
When he was produced before chief judicial magistrate Biswajit Palit here today, he was remanded to police custody. 
On the way to the court Debbarma told reporters that his struggle for 'liberation of Tripura' would continue. 
He claimed he had been arrested by security forces from Dhaka's Mohammadpur locality on December 30, pushed back through Dawki border in Meghalaya on January 16 and was handed over to Tripura State Rifles (TSR) two days later. 
He said he launched a hunger strike in the custody of TSR on January 22 demanding his production in court following which they produced him before the court yesterday. 
Official sources said Debbarma lived in Dhaka and set up bases in Sylhet and Chittagong Hill Tract. He conducted many subversive activities in Tripura from there and was responsible for many killings, kidnaps, and extortions. 
According to intelligence sources, the insurgent leader had been in transport and garment business in Bangladesh and accumulated capital by collecting ransom from kidnapped persons and lived a lavish life. However, the insurgency was on the wane in the state following pressure by anti-insurgency operation by the Seikh Hasina Government in Bangladesh and due to counter insurgency measures and erection of barbed wire fencing. 
ATTF second in command Chitta Debbarma and many other leaders had surrendered. 
Set up in early '90s, ATTF was fighting a war against the state demanding, among others, deportation of people who entered Tripura after October 15, 1949 (the day Tripura joined Indian Union). 
PTI 

Pawan Hans resumes helicopter services in Arunacha

Itanagar: Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd (PHHL) on Thursday resumed its passenger services between Guwahati and Naharlagun in land-locked Arunachal Pradesh, operations of which were suspended in May 2011 in the wake of the death of then Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a chopper crash. 
A brand new M-172 helicopter with seating capacity of 26 passengers was flagged off by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki at Naharlagun helipad here at a simple ceremony in presence of civil aviation department and PHHL officials besides, host of Ministers and MLAs. 
PHHL commercial helicopter services in the North-East have been suspended since May 2011 after the death of Khandu and four others in a chopper crash at Tawang on April 30, the same year. 
However, the service was resumed in Meghalaya in August 2012, after a gap of fifteen months. 
During June 2011, the Arunachal Pradesh government had introduced a 13-seater (VT-ALPHA Bell 412) chopper of Global Vectra to ferry passengers between Naharlagun and Guwahati for four days in a week. 
However, the service failed to cater to the need of the increasing passenger demand as most of the time the chopper was requisitioned for VIP duties. 
"During 2012 the chopper was requisitioned for passenger service to Roing, Dambuk, Anini and Pasighat for five months when road communication to these places were snapped," SK Parida, Base Manager (Operation) of civil aviation department informed. 
After the state government signed a MoU with PHHL on January 15, the company on wet lease positioned the helicopter here on January 18. 
The chief minister accompanied by Rajya Sabha member Mukut Mithi and Parliamentary Secretary (Tourism) PD Sona had along with officials inspected the chopper yesterday and gave the go-ahead signal to resume the service. 
PTI 

Manipur insurgent organisations call for R-Day boycott

Imphal: Major insurgent organisations, including the United National Liberation Front, have called for a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations in Manipur. 
In separate statements today, the organisations said people should not take part in the celebrations and remain indoors to protest the 'forcible merger' of Manipur with the Indian union in 1949. 
Security measures have been tightened particularly in the four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishenpur and Thoubal, official sources said.
Meanwhile, a powerful bomb was defused yesterday after it was found at Narainsena in Bishenpur district. 
PTI 

Northeast separatists call for Republic Day boycott

Imphal: A massive security alert was sounded across the northeast on Tuesday after separatist rebels announced a boycott of the January 26 Republic Day celebrations, an official said. 

 

"We have placed security forces on high alert to thwart rebels from disrupting the Republic Day celebrations," Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (Northeast) in the Home Ministry, told a news agency on Tuesday. 

 

Five frontline separatist groups in the region have called a boycott of the Republic Day and also a general strike from 1 am to 5.30 pm that day as a mark of resistance against what it termed as "Indian occupation of the region". 

The call has been given by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the National Liberation Front of TWIPRA (NLFT), the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF) and Coordination Committee (CorCom) - an umbrella of seven major separatist outfits - fighting for an independent state for the majority Metei community in Manipur. 

 

These groups are active in Assam, Manipur and Tripura. 

 

The five rebel groups announced their boycott on Monday through a joint statement e-mailed to several media houses. 

 

"There is a clear image of Indian colonial racism manifested in the suppression of human rights under martial and Draconian law such as the Armed Forces Special Power's Act (AFSPA), 1958 and other forms of suspension of fundamental rights," the statement said. 

 

"Extra judicial killings, inhuman torture, fake encounter and sexual harassment in the region are routinely carried out to suppress the freedom struggle of our indigenous people.” 

 

"Freedom and independence is the only solution for the conflict as the region can never be a part of the Indian mainstream.” 

 

"India's Republic Day is nothing but bowing to country's perpetual slavery system when people are standing on the line of survival or extinction and it is becoming an urgency of paramount importance to free the region from this colonial rule," the statement stated. 

 

Separatists rebel groups in the northeast have for years boycotted national events to protest New Delhi's rule over the region, and have staged violent attacks in the run up to the celebrations to make their presence felt. 

 

"We are on full alert and shall see to it that we are able to foil any attempts by rebels to attack," an Assam Rifles official said. 

 

Thousands of Army, police and paramilitary troopers are standing guard in other northeastern states to ensure that militants are not able to create violence ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, particularly in Manipur. 

 

"We are not taking chances. The police across Manipur have been put on high alert and we are bent on thwarting any subversive activity by the militants," Imphal district police chief Konsam Jayanta Singh told a news agency. 

 

Rebel groups often target vital installations like road and rail bridges, oil installations, and security forces as part of their design. 

 

IANS 

SC raps CBI for unwillingness to share info on coalgate probe

New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) The CBI today came under sharp criticism of the Supreme Court for not wanting to share details of its probe in the multi-crore coal block allocation scam with the apex judicial body.

 

Fame came to me much later: John Abraham

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) John Abraham's hunky looks have made more news than the roles he has played onscreen and the former model feels that's the reason he did not get the fame he deserved as an actor.

We've always wanted to come to India: Anthrax bandmember

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) American rock band Anthrax is the last of the "big four" of thrash metal to be coming to India.

Its bass guitarist Frank Bello says though they have been willing to perform in India for years, they got an opportunity only now.

Irregularities in coal blocks allocation: CBI tells SC

New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) Investigations in the coal block allocations have established irregularities by government authorities in allocation of the natural resources and around 300 companies are under its scanner, the CBI today told Supreme Court.
In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the agency said that it is taking up the probe against each and every company which has been allocated coal block since 1993 and "in particular during the period 2006 to 2008.

India to continue to push for Headley extradition

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) India today said it will continue to press for extradition of David Headley from the US after the Pakistani-American LeT terrorist escaped death penalty for helping plot the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and sentenced to 35 years in jail by an American Court.

 

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the Government was "slightly disappointed" over the quantum of sentence, saying the 52-year-old convict should have got a "severest sentence".

Thursday, January 24, 2013

BJP may disagree with Shinde, but core facts cannot be denied: Salman Khurshid

New Delhi, Jan. 24 (ANI): Amid the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demands for resignation of Union Home Minister over his ''Hindu terror'' remark, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday said that the opposition may disagree with the Shinde''s statement but the core facts cannot be denied, which he has put.
Shinde had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting ''Hindu terror'' in the country on Sunday.
Defending the Home Minister Khurshid said: "As a political party, we may have disagreement, because we are operating in an open democracy. The BJP may disagree with the Home Minister''s statement, but the facts cannot be denied."
"Shinde is the Home Minister and he has access to the facts that could be the basis of anything he has said or would say. He may not argue about the facts publicly," added. Khurshid.
However, Khurshid emphasised that the Congress does endorsed the idea of associating terror with any particular colour or religion and said: "Religion must not be made a cover for terror or describing terrorism."
The BJP has threatened to block proceedings in the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament if Union Home Minister was not sacked over the controversial remark.
BJP president Rajnath Singh said Shinde would have to go because his remark has caused nationwide outrage.
He was addressing a protest rally at Jantar Mantar here called against Shinde. (ANI)

Shinde ''Hindu Terror'' remark: BJP is making issue of a non-issue, says Narayanasamy

New Delhi, Jan. 24 (ANI): Minister of State in the Prime Minister''s Office (PMO) V.Narayanasamy on Thursday said the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making an issue out of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde''s ''Hindu terror'' remark, when, essentially, it was a non-issue.
Narayanasamy said there was nothing objectionable in Shinde''s remark, as it was based on facts.
He said the opposition''s demand for Shinde''s sacking from the Union Cabinet is totally unwarranted, and charged the BJP with having double standards on the issue of terror.
Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur.
He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country.
The statement immediately invited condemnation from both the BJP and the RSS. They have demanded Shinde''s immediate sacking from the Union Cabinet, and apologies from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi.
Later, defending himself, Shinde said that he didn''t say anything new and only spoke about saffron terrorism, which has already been talked about many a times in newspapers. (ANI)

BJP threatens to block Budget Session if Shinde is not sacked

New Delhi, Jan. 24 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday threatened to block proceedings in the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament if Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was not sacked over his controversial ''Hindu terror'' remark.
 
BJP president Rajnath Singh said Shinde would have to go because his remark has caused nationwide outrage. He was addressing party supporters at Jantar Mantar here.
 
"Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must apologise for the Home Minister''s chaotic remark. Sonia Gandhi will have to come out and clarify Shinde''s statement. We will not let the upcoming parliament session function if Shinde is not sacked," said Singh.
 
"BJP doesn''t discriminate anyone or do politics on the basis of caste, race and religion. But Congress is doing dirty votebank politics. The Home Minister''s remark has hurt the sentiments of the patriotic people of the country," he added.
 
Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country.
 
The statement immediately invited condemnation from both the BJP and the RSS.
 
Shinde refused to comment on Thursday when asked about the BJP''s nationwide protests against his remarks. (ANI)

BJP indulging in diversionary tactics: Renuka Chaudhary

New Delhi, Jan. 24 (ANI): Congress Party spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary on Thursday criticized the BJP''s ongoing agitation against Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, saying that the country''s main opposition is merely diverting the public''s attention from its own internal problems, including the fact that one of its leaders (Nitin Gadkari) had to give up his post due to charges of corruption against him.
 
"It is a diversionary tactic. There are a lot of rifts in the party. Just to distract the people, they are doing this agitation," she said. 
 
"It is just they are hiding there loopholes. They have problems amongst themselves. Our party has cleared it that, terrorism has nothing to do with any colour. They are agitating for no reason," she said.
 
"He (Shinde) is the Home Minister and he must have the facts before him when he made the statement," she added.
 
Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country. 
 
The statement immediately invited condemnation from both the BJP and the RSS. They have demanded Shinde''s immediate sacking from the Union Cabinet, and apologies from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi. 
 
Later, defending himself, Shinde said that he didn''t say anything new and only spoke about saffron terrorism, which has already been talked about many a times in newspapers. (ANI)

Shinde needs to understand he is Home Minister of India: Rajnath

New Delhi, Jan 24 (ANI): BJP president Rajnath Singh on Thursday attacked Sushil Kumar Shinde for his recent "Hindu terror" remarks, saying that he needs to understand that he is the Home Minister of the country.
Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country.
The statement immediately invited condemnation from both the BJP and the RSS. They have demanded Shinde''s immediate sacking from the Union Cabinet, and apologies from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
"Shinde needs to understand that he is Home Minister of the country and cannot make such remarks," Singh said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Shinde refused to comment on Thursday when asked about the BJP''s nationwide protests against his remarks.
The BJP is holding nationwide protests from today against Shinde for his recent "Hindu terror" remarks. (ANI)

Tuki inaugurates helicopter service in Arunachal Pradesh

Naharlagun, Jan 24 (ANI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki inaugurated the regular passenger helicopter service at the helipad here on Thursday.
A 26-seater brand new Mi-172 helicopter of the Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited (PHHL) after a gap of 20 months took to the sky with 9 passengers on its inaugural flight to Guwahati.
Its six-day schedule (except Sunday) will be departure and arrival - Naharlagun at 8 am and Guwahati at 9.20 am, Guwahati at 11 am and Naharlagun 12.20 pm, Naharlagun at 1 pm and Mohanbari 1.55 pm, Mohanbari 2.45 pm and Naharlagun at 3.40 pm.
Rajya Sabha member Mukut Mithi, Education Minister Bosiram Siram, legislators Techi Kaso and Karya Bagang, officers of PHHL and civil aviation department including secretary Manoj Kumar Sahoo, assistant directors Adil Toko and R N Pathak were present. 
The Global Vectra helicopter with a Bell 407 chopper also has been operating in the state including flying to Guwahati, Anini, Dambuk, Menchuka, Pasighat, Roing and Vijoynagar. Its service to Anini, Menchuka and Vijoynagar is likely to continue.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had suspended the PHHL service in the North Eastern region from May 5, 2011 after two helicopter crashes - one on April 19, 2011 of a Mi-172 and the second on April 30, 2011 of an AS350 B3."
In the first accident, the Mi-172 helicopter with 23 persons on board flying on the Guwahati-Tawang sector crashed at the Tawang helipad while landing, killing 17 persons, including two crew members and two others had succumbed to their injuries, while the other on April 11, 2011 had claimed the lives of five, including then chief minister Dorjee Khandu.
PHHL is presently providing helicopter support services to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim governments, union ministry of home affairs, Guwahati and Oil India Limited. The company has deployed Dauphin N and N3, Bell 206L4 and 407 and Mi-172 helicopters for the service. (ANI)

Gadkari threatens I-T officials with revenge when BJP comes to power

Nagpur, Jan 24 (ANI): Former Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari, who was given a rousing reception on his arrival in Nagpur on Thursday, described the charges against him as a conspiracy by the Congress-led UPA Government, and threatened to sort out the income tax officials involved in conducting raids on his firms.

Officials of the income tax department had raided the offices of Gadkari''s Purti group of companies. His companies are under the scanner for alleged financial irregularities.

Gadkari said he knew who all were conspiring against him, and said where would income tax officials hide when the BJP comes to power.

"Congress is on its way out of power and IT department should realize this. Once the Congress will be out of power, where will you go. There will be no Sonia or Chidambaram to protect you," he said on his arrival in Nagpur.

Gadkari said it was a political conspiracy to malign his image by highlighting issues to which he was not connected.

"False allegations were made against me with issues that I had nothing to do with. I am going to fight it out till I come clean," he said.

Gadkari said there was only one ruler in Congress while the others were her (Sonia Gandhi''s) servants.

The BJP has alleged that the ruling Congress Party misused the income tax department to target opponents, as it had done with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

This is the second time Gadkari has threatened I-T sleuths. (ANI)

Monday, January 21, 2013

lalruotmawi xmas la ----