Archives for October 2016

New Delhi: The BJP-AAP war of words on cross-LOC surgical strikes today intensified as the Arvind Kejriwal-led party accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of “demeaning” the armed forces and threatened to file a police complaint against him.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra called Parrikar “Shah Rangeela”, the Mughal Emperor who it is claimed indulged in merrymaking instead of paying attention to his empire, and said while a high alert has been issued across the country, the Defence Minister was busy “celebrating over the corpses of martyred soldiers”.

It also lashed out Parrikar for his remarks comparing the army to Hanuman.

On October 1, at an event in Dehradun, Parrikar had made a reference to the Ramayana in which the monkey god crossed an ocean in a single stride after he was reminded about his extraordinary powers by Jamwant.

“Indian troops were like Hanuman who did not quite know their prowess before the surgical strikes,” Parrikar had said.

Addressing a news conference, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said by giving such a statement, Parrikar was insulting the army which has time and again proved itself and did a remarkable job in the 1948, 1965, 1971 and Kargil war with Pakistan.

The AAP said it will approach the police to file a complaint against Parrikar in the matter.

Its attack came on a day Parrikar questioned the “loyalty” of those who doubted the Army and sought proof of surgical strikes across the LoC.

BJP had earlier accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of seeking proof in the garb of his statement congratulating the PM and army on the surgical strike.

AAP also alleged that BJP was doing politics over surgical strikes and claimed that such a military operation was not carried out for the first time as being “tom-tommed” by the saffron party.

“BJP’s GVL Narsimha Rao said that for the first time the army has been made aware of its capability. By saying this, we are demeaning the military and its sacrifice. Such statements are shameful and both Parrikar and Rao should apologise to the armed forces,” Sanjay Singh said, adding that in the last 15 years, surgical strikes were carried out nine times.

The AAP leader’s criticism came after posters congratulating the Prime Minister came up across Delhi and also in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

Mishra asked whether Parrikar has forgotten that army has been honoured with 21 Param Vir Chakra and 63 Ashok Chakra awards.

“You are not aware of army’s strength, which is why the BJP is kneeling before (PDP chief and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister) Mehbooba Mufti.

“Parrikar is not aware of army’s strength which is why you invited the ISI to investigate the Pathankot attack. Give army the free hand and then it will show the enemy its place,” Kapil Mishra said in his blog post.

On Tuesday, Mishra had publicly taken on Mehbooba at an event here asking her if she considered Burhwan Wani and Afzal Guru as terrorists or not, inviting protests from her entourage. Later he left the venue, saying he does not want to share the dais with her.

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister, Mishra said even Narendra Modi has not applauded the army. “They have made a 56 inch stage and the show is on.”

(Agencies)

Agra/New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today questioned the “loyalty” of those who doubted the Army and sought proof of surgical strikes across the LoC even as he made it clear that there is no need to give out any video of the operation.

Describing the cross-LoC operation as “100 per cent perfect surgical strike”, he said the borders of the country are secure under the Narendra Modi government.

However, he warned that one has to remain vigilant against “certain elements” who don’t owe their loyalty to the country completely.

“No one had doubted bravery of our forces ever, but for the first time recently some people are doubting,” he said, maintaining that he would not like to take names.

Highlighting the news report of CNN News18 in which a Pakistani police officer has admitted that surgical strikes did happen, Parrikar said, “There is now no more reason to release video or to give any proof.”

Parrikar, who was speaking at a BJP organised public meeting, said that many ex-servicemen have shown willingness to fight on the border if required.

“Some ex-servicemen wrote to me and said that they are ready to fight on the border if need arises. I salute them,” said the minister, adding, “Our nation carries the heart and courage to carry this task out.”

He also said that the forces and citizens will have to be vigilant against “frustrated” terrorists who will try and attack because of the shame they have been put to as a result of the surgical strikes.

(Agencies)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily from October 7 to 18 as it asked the Cauvery Supervisory Committee to visit the river basin area of two states for an assessment of the ground situation and report back to it by October 17.

The bench of Justice Dipak Misra sand Justice Uday Umesh Lalit directed the release of 2,000 cusecs of water every day for 12 days, after Karnataka told the court that in compliance with the court’s September 30 order, it has started releasing water to Tamil Nadu and by October 6, it would release 3.1 TMC of water.

The court had by its September 30 order had asked Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day from October 1 to 6.

The court said that the Supervisory Committee would comprise the Central Water Commission’s Chairman, member, and Chief Engineer, the Chief Secretaries of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu or their nominees, the states’ Chief Engineers or their nominees and a representative each from Kerala and Puducherry.

Noting that Karnataka has already made a statement that it has started to release water in pursuance to the September 30 order, the court earlier on Tuesday asked it to indicate the quantity of water it could release daily basis from October 7 to 18 – the date when the court would be hearing various applications and appeals by both states.

Giving half an hour time to Karnataka’s counsel V.N. Raghupathy, the court adjourned the hearing for this period. On the resumption, state’s Advocate General M.R. Naik told the court that they can release 1,500 cusecs every day. He said that it was on the basis of instructions he has received from the highest level in the government.

While agreeing to send their representative to the supervisory committee, Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the bench that the better course would be that based on shortfall in rains, the share of all the parties be reduced proportionately.

On couple of occasions, the hearing saw temperatures soaring as Karnataka resisted the bench’s suggestion for release water to Tamil Nadu for 12 days from October 7 as senior counsel Fali Nariman, appearing for the state, urged the bench not to pass an order which the State can’t implement.

He told the court that even on earlier occasions, he had urged the court not to pass orders which Karnataka would find difficult to comply with but the court went ahead which subsequently created all the problems, and he had to face flak.

As he asked on what basis the court had earlier directed Karnataka to release firstly 15,000 cusecs, then 12,000 cusecs and then 6,000 cusecs of water, the bench said” “We went by arithmetic”.

“But arithmetic does not work with ground reality,” Nariman told the court, noting it was “just impossible” for Karnataka to do anything. “It is not just the government of Karnataka. It is about millions of people.”

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi reiterated that top court had no jurisdiction to direct the constitution of the board, citing material to back his contention.

As the bench said it can still be set up, he said that it was a recommendation by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the court can direct the CMB’s setting-up only if it converts that recommendation into a decision.

He also asked if the board could be constituted at an interim stage when the hearing on the challenge to the tribunal award was still pending.

At this, Naphade told the court that Karnataka wanted to see that the board was not set-up and the central government was “playing into their hands.”

He wondered why court was adopting such a soft treatment of politicians, referring to an apology by former Karnataka Chief Minister S..M. Krishna in a contempt case.

In response, Justice Mishra said: “It is not a question of X or Y personality. There may be some genuine difficulties, which we may not be able to visualise sitting here.”

(IANS)

Bikaner: Two ABVP activists threw ink at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his comments on surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads across the LoC, in Transport Nagar of Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.

ABVP activists yesterday raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party national convener and threw ink at him, Kote Gate police station Assistant Sub-inspector Birbal said.

Following the ink attack, ABVP activists Dinesh Ojha and Vikram Singh were taken into custody, he said.

Kejriwal was here to visit the house of AAP worker Hiralal Sevta to console him on his wife’s death.

Reacting to the ink attack, Kejriwal wished the attackers “well”. “Hmmm… God bless those who threw ink at me. I wish them well,” he tweeted last night.

Earlier, several activists of a right-wing group yesterday showed black flags to Kejriwal in Nokha town when he was on his way to Bikaner from Jodhpur.

In a rare gesture, Kejriwal had on Monday “saluted” Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads across the LoC.

At the same time, he had urged the Centre to counter the smear campaign by Pakistan and international media, but BJP alleged that Kejriwal had in the garb of his statement questioned the Army’s “assertion” on surgical strike and “insulted” the armed forces.

Claiming that Kejriwal “sought proof” on the anti-terror operation, the BJP had yesterday asked him not to belittle the armed forces by getting influenced by Pakistani “propaganda”.

(PTI)