The US has exhorted Pakistan to take ‘sustained and irreversible’ action against terrorists such as Masood Azhar and stop providing a haven for banned terror groups threatening to destabilise the region.
Amidst the mounting global pressure on Pakistan to take definitive action against the terror outfits operating from its land, the US State Department’s statement against Pakistan’s penchant to support terror groups puts an additional strain on it to act against the outlawed groups.
In the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, for which Jaish-e-Muhammad claimed responsibility, Pakistan has been under pressure from global powers and international organisations such as EU, FATF to take firm action against the perpetrators operating from its soil.
US State Department: Our views of Maulana Masood Azhar and Jaish e Muhammad are very clear. We reiterate our call for Pakistan to deny terrorists safe haven and block their entry to funds. We will continue to work with the sanctions committee to ensure that the list is updated. pic.twitter.com/bY3ozIb6gH
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said to the reporters at his conference on Thursday, “The United States acknowledges the steps taken by Pakistan and we continue to urge Pakistan to take sustained, irreversible actions against terrorist groups that will prevent future attacks and promote regional stability”.
On the question of whether the US wants to see Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist, Palladino responded, “Our views on Masood Azhar and Jaish-e-Mohammed are well-known. Jaish-e-Mohammed is a UN-designated terrorist group that has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a threat to regional stability. Masood Azhar is the founder and leader of JEM. The US and its allies in the UN Security Council want to update the UN list of terrorist organisations and leaders.”
Capitulating to the rising pressure from the international community, Pakistan reportedly appears to be acting against some of the terrorist outfits and their leaders over the past few days. Pakistan has sealed the headquarters of proscribed terror group Jamaat-ul-Dawa and its wing FIF and detained 120 suspected terrorists as a part of its ongoing crackdown against the terror outfits. As per reports, the Pakistani establishment has held control of 160 seminaries, 32 schools, two colleges, four hospitals, 178 ambulances and 153 dispensaries linked to JuD and FIF in Punjab, Pakistan.
In the aviation world, especially that of fighter aircraft, MiG-21 is an icon. The aircraft entered production in 1959 and over a period of next 25+ years, more than 11,000 MiG-21s of various variants were produced. If we factor into account the Chinese copy of MiG-21, J-7, into account, then more than 14,000 aircraft have been produced till date.
MiG-21 was designed as a high speed, high altitude interceptor, working with ground control interception environment, to shoot down incoming American bombers towards USSR mainland. The way it was supposed to work was this – after radars had identified the American bomber, a ground controller, using information about the enemy and own aircraft, would direct the MiG-21s towards the incoming bomber, placing them in a favourable position to launch their missiles. This mode of operation was also successfully employed by Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) of North Vietnam, in air battles against the United States Air Force (USAF). The North Vietnamese ground controllers would direct and position their MiG-21s in a favourable position with respect to USAF strike aircraft; VPAF fighters would fire their AA-2 ‘Atoll’ or K-13 short-range, infra-red missiles at the USAF fighters and then immediately scoot away at high speed. If not actually hitting the USAF strike aircraft (the infra-red technology wasn’t too great then), the attack forced them to jettison their payload and abort their missions.
Indian Air Force went on to adapt this short-range, high speed, high altitude interceptor for a variety of roles. From air combat to ground attack to reconnaissance to electronic warfare; MiG-21 in IAF service has done what even the original designers had never envisaged when they had designed this aircraft.
After having done all the above, sometime in the 1990s, IAF worked out the most comprehensive upgrade on MiG-21, turning this venerable fighter into a formidable fighting machine – this is how the MiG-21 Bison was ‘born’.
Indian Air Force and MiG-21
Mig-21 Bis of No 15 Squadron ‘Flying Lances’
“In life, you offered this pilot a seat more coveted than that of a king’s; in death, you took an air-warrior to his glorious Valhalla.”
These words by former Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, who led the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Kargil War in 1999, sum-up the feeling which fighter pilots, who’ve cut their teeth on MiG-21, have for this fighter aircraft.
Which is understood because no other aircraft has seen such extensive service in the IAF as MiG-21. IAF and MiG-21 love affair started in 1963-64 when about 09 Mig-21 aircraft, comprising of six MiG-21 PF (Type 76) and three MiG-21 F-13 (Type 74) entered service.
No 28 Squadron, aptly named ‘First Supersonics’, was raised in the early 60s to induct this new fighter from USSR. Interestingly, IAF had evaluated American F-104 ‘Start Fighter’ and French Mirage-III and it seems, IAF pilots had a favourable view of the American fighter. But then Cold War shenanigans and USSR offer of license production of MiG-21 in India tilted the scale in MiG-21s favour.
No 28 Squadron ‘First Supersonics’
Over the years, IAF has operated various types of MiG-21. Overall, IAF has had more than 900 MiG-21s in service since 1963-64; it reached its peak strength in the early 90s when in excess of 20 Squadrons were operating various types of MiG-21s.
In addition to the nomenclature given by the Soviet Union to various types of MiG-21s, IAF also followed its own nomenclature. Which I think was given by HAL and went by (Type-XY).
Various type of MiG-21s operated by IAF is as follows.
This was one of the two types of MiG-21s to be first inducted into No 28 Squadron in the IAF. It was also the second type of MiG-21 to be produced by USSR. Type 74 had one internal cannon and could also carry 2 x K-13 ‘Atoll’ air-to-air missiles. While I don’t have exact numbers of how many MiG-21 F-13 were operated by IAF, my assessment is that no aircraft after the initial lot of 06 aircraft were imported.
MiG-21PF Fishbed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Along with Type-74, this was the second type of Mi-21 which was initially inducted in the IAF. A total of 06 MiG-21 PF (Type 76) were inducted. The main difference between Type-74 and Type-76 was that Type-76 carried an R1L airborne intercept radar but did not have an internal cannon. As the below-mentioned incident shows, this lack of canon was to prove troublesome during 1965 war [1].
“Since the Kutch alert, 28 Sqn had moved to Adampur and was on high alert. Training, especially missile firing drills, radar operations and interception, had been intensified. Leave had been cancelled. India’s first supersonic squadron was itching to show its stuff, especially against the PAF’s F-104. After the first few Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) over Pathankot from Adampur, one flight was moved to Pathankot. Mally Wollen (who had taken over as CO) fired a missile at a Sabre, but it missed because of the ground clutter at low altitude. Unfortunately, he was flying a Type-76, which didn’t have a cannon. When he landed back he is supposed to have said “For a cannon! Just for a cannon!” He was so frustrated that he almost brushed the Sabre with his fin”.
A total of 12 aircraft of this type were operated by IAF.
Mig-21 (Type 77) from No 8 Squadron ‘Eight Pursoot’
This was the first MiG-21 variant which was both masses inducted into IAF and also mass produced in India under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It was an enhanced version of MiG-21 PF (Type 76) and featured an R2L search-and-track radar. Like MiG-21 PF (Type 76), it also did not have internal cannon. However, after experience in the 1965 war, IAF ordered GP-9 gun packs, which could be mounted on the underbelly of the aircraft. However, mounting the GP-9 gun pack meant that MiG-21 FL (Type 77) could not mount an external fuel tank and this impacted the combat radius of the fighter. Combat radius with GP-9 gun pack and without external fuel tank was about 100 miles while with fuel tank it was 140-180 miles [source: Eagles Over Bangladesh – IAF in the 1971 Liberation War (Authors: PVS Jagan Mohan and Samir Chopra)].
Mig-21FL (Type 77) with GP-9 Gun Pack and K-13 AAMAnother image of Mig-21FL (Type 77) with underbelly GP-9 gun pack and K-13 missile
Production of MiG-21 FL (Type 77) started from 1966 onward and a contract for 195 aircraft was placed on HAL. By 1971 war, about 150 MiG-21 FL (Type 77) were in the inventory of IAF; production continued till 1973 [source: Eagles Over Bangladesh – IAF in the 1971 Liberation War (Authors: PVS Jagan Mohan and Samir Chopra)].
The last MiG-21 FLs were retired in 2013.
MiG-21 FL (Type 77) had played a crucial role in the 1971 war. In the aerial combat, its score was:
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter – 04
Shenyang F-6 (Chinese copy of the MiG-19) – 01
Canadair F-86 Sabre – 01
Painting of Flt Lt B B Soni in MiG-21FL (C-750), shooting down a PAF F-104 Starfighter was commissioned by Vayu Aerospace Review (source: bharat-rakshak.com)Painting of Mig-21FL shooting down an F-86 Sabre (source: bharat-rakshak.com)
Six MiG-21s were lost in combat due to various reasons out of which only one was lost in Air to Air Combat – to an F-86 Sabre on the last day of the war [2].
This high-speed interceptor was adapted by IAF in the ground attack role. It took leading part in neutralizing the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) airfields in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, thereby denying PAF any space to intervene in the land battle.
The prowess of IAF MiG-21 FL (Type 77) crew in the ground-attack role is best illustrated in the attack on Governor’s House in Dacca which led to the resignation of the Governor and civilian authority in then East Pakistan Th details of the incident are narrated below
Amazingly, as soon as I alighted from a chopper at Tezgaon on the day after surrender, the first person who came rushing to me was a Russian. He had learnt from another member of our party that I had flown one of the MiG-21s which had bombed the runways. He asked me point blank to tell him honestly which kind of bomb sight we used for such pinpoint bombing and effectiveness.
He said he saw bombs falling for days nowhere else but on the runways. I thanked him for the compliment and reminded him that we were flying their MiG-21s and they should know as to which gun sights they had provided to us. He shook his head in disbelief. He had read the PAF claims that Indian MiG-21s in the east were using laser gun sights. No one was ready to believe the truth that what we actually only used the same old primitive fixed gun sight for our bombing.
The accuracy achieved was through our extensive training practice orientation, selection of attack techniques appropriate to the situation, sheer determination, motivation and guts in the face of enemy fire. The No.28 ‘First Supersonics’ were soon named ‘Runway Busters’ by the C-in-C of EAC, Air Marshal H.C. Dewan. We had earned our spurs and found a place in the history of air warfare.
Another very famous incident associated with MiG-21 FL (Type 77) and the Bangladesh Liberation war is the attack on Governor’s House on 14th December 1971.
MiG-21s of No.28 Squadron and No.4 Squadron plaster the Governor House at Dacca – leading to the collapse of the East Pakistani Regime. Painting by Deb Gohain (source: bharat-rakshak.com)
On 14th December I had just returned from a close-support mission in the morning from Mainamati Cantonment when Group Captain Wollen came rushing to our operations room and said, “Bhoop, a very critical and urgent task has come from Air HQ. There is a very important meeting going on at Circuit House, Dacca and this building needs to be attacked at 1120 hrs.”
I told him that, first it was already 1055 and it required 21 minutes to be at Dacca and then “Where in God’s name is the Circuit House located in Dacca?”
He said, “If you hurry up you can just about make it. Here, I have tourist map of Dacca and here, next to this road crossing is the Circuit House.” I looked back at him, the Circuit House was part of a densely populated area of Dacca and from the air one could see hundreds of road crossings, how was one to pick that one? I simply said, “Yes Sir, it shall be done.” I borrowed that map from him to be taken along and with this, search for that Circuit House after getting overhead Dacca.
For this mission I was taking four MiG-21s loaded with 32 high explosive rockets each. I was strapped in the cockpit of the aircraft and started the engine, just when I saw one of our Flight Commanders waving a paper and run towards me. “Sir, this is for you.” It read, Target is Government House, repeat Government House and not Circuit House. Confirm understood. Best of luck and good shooting. Mall.”
I raised my thumb to confirm that I had noted the change. I quickly scanned the tourist map in my lap and located the Government House and taxied out. At this stage I did not inform of the change to the other three members of my team which consisted of Flight Lieutenant Vinod Bhatia, Flight Lieutenant Raghavachari and Flight Lieutenant Malhi as I did not want to announce this on R/T for the whole world to know.
Airborne and as we were approaching Dacca and had barely a minute to go, I gave the new target to my numbers 2, 3 and 4. I described the rough location of the target and asked them to look for it. Flight Lieutenant Bhatia spotted it first, calling that the target was at 11 o’clock, 500 yards away. It was a magnificent old styled palatial building with a high dome, situated in the middle of a lush green compound. There were quite a few vehicles inside the entrance gate.
I did a “chakkar” around it to reconfirm its identity and then ordered the attack taking the building from broad side. I aimed at the room below the dome, others took on other portions. We did two passes each and fired 128 rockets into the Government House.
By the second attack smoke and dust could be seen rising from many locations from the abode the mightiest in East Pakistan. It obviously broke the backbone of the civilian Government. Two days later General Niazi, the Supreme Commander of the Pakistan Military in East Pakistan was to surrender to the Indian Defence Forces along with 93,000 troops.
C-779 is the same legendary fighter aircraft, which was flown during the air strike on the Governors house in Dacca in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Wg. Cdr. B.K. Bishnoi, CO of the No.28 Squadron, was flying C-779 during that very mission
A trio of MiG-21MFs from No.108 Squadron, in colourful markings used for air combat training
The evolution of MiG-21 continued in USSR and next iteration of the type, which as supplied to third world countries was MiG-21M where M stands for Modernizirovannyy (“Modernised”). It was termed as Type 96 in IAF service. Compared to MiG-21 FL (Type 77), MiG-21 M (Type 96) had an internal Gsh-23L, twin-barrel, 23mm cannon. It had four pylons (2 under each wing) which could carry external fuel tanks (on outer pylons) and missiles. It was the first multi-role version of MiG-21 series.
A further evolution of MiG-21 M (Type 96) was MiG-21 MF (Type 96F) when MF stood for Modernizirovannyy (“Modernised”), F = Forsirovannyy (“Uprated engine”). Compared to MiG-21M, which had R11F2S-300 engine, it had R-13-300 turbojet engine. The MiG-21M/MF also featured the first instance of Zero-Zero ejection seats (pilot could eject even if aircraft was stationary and on the ground).
MiG-21 M/MF started entering service from 1973 onward. A total of 158 aircraft of this type (93 MiG-21M and 65 MiG-21 MF) entered into IAF. It equipped four squadrons and one flight in IAF [3]. As per one ex-fighter pilot, it was a much-loved version of MiG-21. The last of the type was retired from IAF in early 2018.
MiG-21 M/MF also has a strong connection with the Kargil War of 1999.
A MiG-21 MF, piloted by Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Vrc, from 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ was on a photo-reconnaissance mission in the Kargil sector. At the same time, Flt Lt Nachiketa was on a ground attack mission in his MiG-27. While undertaking his mission, Flt Lt Nachiketa’s fighter suffered an engine flameout (engine shut in mid-air) and he had to bail out.
In an attempt to identify the final location of Flt Lt NAchiketa, so that he could pass on the coordinates to rescue team, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja continued to circle in the area. By doing so, he exposed himself to man-portable air defence system (MANPAD) – which are basically shoulder launched surface to air missiles carried by Pakistan Army occupying the high mountains. Subsequently, he was hit by an FIM-92 ‘Stinger’ missile. His last communication was, “Hercules, something has hit my plane, the possibility of missile hit cannot be ruled out, I am ejecting over…(location).” [4]
It is believed he was killed by the Pakistan Army after he’d safely landed on another side of Line-of-Control.
Interestingly, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrow’ during the Kargil War was present Chief of Air Staff (COAS), ACM B.S. Dhanoa.
No 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’Chief of Air Staff, ACM BS Dhanoa, as Commanding Officer of No 17 Squadron during Kargil War in 1999 (source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
Some other pictures of MiG-21 M/MF:
First MiG-21M (C1532) was handed over to the IAF on 14 February 1973 at NasikOld photo of MiG-21M (C1540), from No.37 Panthers Squadron
(5) MiG-21 Bis (Type 75) [NATO reporting name: “Fishbed N”]
The MiG-21Bis (Type 75) is an advanced variant with further improved avionics indicated by the ILS antennae under the nose and on the fin tip.
The airframe has a lifespan of 2,685 hours.
Standard avionics include automatic radio compass, IFF and a Sirena-3 RWR system.
The gyro gun-sight maintains precision up to 2.75 g.
Automatic ranging can be fed into gun-sight.
Full blind flying instrumentation with attitude and heading indicators given by radio-controlled gyro platform.
The aircraft also has a search & track radar.
MiG-21bis [C2776] in a mottled green-yellow Camo Scheme flying over the HimalayasMiG-21 Bis (Type 75) went on to be the most numerous of MiG-21 types to enter service with IAF. A total of 290 of this type were ordered by the IAF.
Incidentally, one of the first squadrons to take part in Operation Safed Sagar, the name which IAF gave to air campaign in Kargil War, was the Srinagar based No 51 Squadron ‘Sword Arm’, the very same Squadron to which Wing Commander Abhinandan belongs. At that time, it was equipped with MiG-21 Bis.
No 51 Squadron ‘Sword Arm’
Shoulder Patch – No 51 Squadron ‘Sword Arm’
MiG-21 Bis of 51 Sqn being readied for the strike during Kargil War in 1999 (source: @leopard212)Another famous incident associated with MiG-21Bis (Type 75) is the downing of a Pakistan Navy Atlantique aircraft in the Gujarat sector.
No 45 Squadron ‘Flying Daggers’
Only a month after Kargil War had been declared as over, on 10th August 1999, IAF radars detected a Pakistan Navy Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft approaching the International Border (IB). The aircraft violated Indian airspace multiple times. As it tried to flee back into Pakistan, Squadron Leader Bundela of No 45 Squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ shot down the Pakistan Navy aircraft with an R-60 air-to-air infra-red heat-seeking missile
Mig-21bis of No 45 SquadronRadar track of Pakistan Navy’s Atlantique MPA before it was shot down by IAF
Incidentally, No 45 Squadron became the first squadron in IAF to be equipped with the indigenous Tejas Mk1 aircraft.
Flying Dagger Squadron with new Tejas Mk1 aircraft (pic source: The Week)
(6) MiG-21 Bison
A pair of Mig-21 Bison
Sometimes towards the late 90s, IAF took a decision to enhance the combat potential of venerable Mig-21. This was the time when Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project had been launched and it was expected to replace Mig-21s in IAF service. However, decision-makers in the IAF rightly felt that the objectives of the LCA program were very ambitious and given the state of India’s industrial capability, unlikely to be realized in the projected time-frame.
Therefore, as an interim measure, a decision was taken to modernize 125 MiG-21 aircraft. The MiG-21 Bis (Type 75), being the ‘newest’ of the type in IAF service were chosen as the candidate for development. ‘New’ here being a relative term because last MiG-21Bis was manufactured at HAL in 1985.
The upgrade was done by a consortium of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and MiG-MAPO along with other Indian agencies. The first two aircraft were upgraded in Russia and joined IAF in 2001. Thereafter, the upgrades were done in Indian by HAL. The first squadron to be equipped with MiG-21 Bison was No. 3 Squadron, ‘Cobras’. The feedback of the first set of pilots who flew the upgraded MiG-21 Bison was [5]:
The pilots termed the aircraft as a ‘revelation’ – They were most impressed by the avionics and new systems, though the airframe and engine were the same. All five pilots reported the change as ‘fantastic’.
No 3 Squadron, CobrasMig-21 Bison of No 32 Squadron ‘Thunderbirds’ displaying the entire set of armaments it can carry
The main upgrades added to MiG-21 are as follows [6]:
Close Combat Missile or Within-Visual-Range missile (WVR) – the one fired by Wing Commander Abhinandan to shoot down PAF F-16D
Ability to fire R-77 missiles
Medium range or Beyond-Visual-Range Missile (BVR)
SURA helmet mounted sight
Used in conjunction with R-73 missile. This allows the MiG-21 Bison pilot to target enemy fighter by simply looking at it; this is called as off-boresight capability because own pilot does not have to position his aircraft behind enemy aircraft. He can target the enemy fighter flying certain degrees to his left or right by simply turning his head towards the target.
New nosecone
New canopy and single-piece windshield
This gives much better visibility to the pilot as compared to older MiG-21 Bis.
Sextant’s TOTEM RLG-INS with NSS-100P GPS embedded GPS receivers
El-Op Head-up Display (HUD)
Sextant MFD-55 LCD display
Autopilot
DRDO’s Tarang radar warning receivers (RWR)
The digital flight data recorder
New liquid-air cooling system
Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) controls
Reduces the pilot workload and allows him to more efficiently manage various functions
Mig-21 Bison equipped with R-77 missiles on inner wing pylon and R-73 missile on outer wing pylon (source: internet)Comparison of the cockpit of Mig-21Bis and Mig-21 Bison
About 5 squadrons of the IAF are known to operate Mig-21 Bison. And the type will continue to be in service till 2025.
(7) Mig-21 Mongol U/UM/US-Mongol (Type 66)
MiG-21UM Type 69 of No.21 “Ankush” Squadron on takeoff roll
Two seat trainer used by the IAF. All of them were imported from either USSR/Russia or eastern European countries. Trainer version had no internal cannon.
It served two main training purposes:
MiG Operational Flying Training Unit (MOFTU): Stage III training where those flying cadets, who’re cleared for fighter stream, are given first exposure to fighter flying
Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) – Given the number of MiG-21 squadrons of various types in IAF, IAF had dedicated squadrons to train new fighter pilots about MiG-21. This happened AFTER the pilots had done their Stage III training and had been posted to a squadron flying MiG-21
Conclusion
MiG-21s of all types have had an illustrious career in the Indian Air Force. More than 80% fighter pilots of the IAF till some time back had earned their spurs on MiG-21. Most fighter pilots have vigorously contested the name of ‘flying coffin’ given to it by the media and lesser informed folks.
But as they say, only constant is change. So, a time will when in near future, when IAF will retire last of its venerable MiG-21s.
In the end, I again quote former Air Force Chief ACM AY Tipnis, for his words best encapsulates the feelings of a fighter pilot towards MiG-21:
Heed not the barbed taunt of “widow-maker” my lovely filly, for you are in fact a man-maker of boys. Were I to go down with you, my soul would have been tortured to have anyone call you my “flying-coffin”;
But I live, so I hope that I am there 10 years from now, along with your many disciples and admirers and our progeny and theirs too, to sing your praises for your half-a-century of relentless, superlative service to the nation and the Indian Air Force.
One day surely you must rest your hard driven limbs, but to each one of us whom you took to your bosom, whether in service or in retirement, you will ever remain “My Fair Lady”!
On International Women’s Day, even as Rahul Gandhi makes a gaffe-filled speech about empowerment women, Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha exposed his sexism and misogyny while trying to deride Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On 8th March 2019, Sanjay Jha the National Spokesperson of Congress tweeted “on a lighter note” wishing Prime Minister Modi a “Happy Women’s Day” and called him a “Drama Queen”. He ended his tweet with “He will be blabbering somewhere soon”.
On a lighter note, #HappyWomensDay to India’s biggest Drama Queen. God bless him. He will be blabbering somewhere soon.
While Congress has harboured the culture of making personal remarks against Prime Minister Modi for as long as one can remember, with this statement, Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha only exposed his own sexist mindset.
In a bid to insult PM Modi, Sanjay Jha insinuated that comparing a man to a woman can be considered a pejorative. In fact, he even insinuated that women are “drama queens” and “blabber”. This type-casting of women, that has been encouraged for a few laughs has helped in institutionalised marginalisation of women. To insinuate that being compared to a woman is an insult, that too on International Women’s Day” only proves the anti-woman mindset that the Congress party harbours while talking tall about women empowerment.
This tweet by Sanjay Jha drew outraged responses from several netizens who didn’t fail to notice the anti-woman bias in the tweet.
Congressi spokesperson attempts to “insult” a man by calling him a woman. On Womens day ! Just how stupid are Congis ???? https://t.co/ecXH9CYLLL
Sanjay Jha Furthering the notion that if there’s someone who in your view is doing drama, its got to be a woman. #WomensDay has been royally mocked. https://t.co/YfPNnE5YGu
Congress’ facade of women empowerment has been exposed several times in the past owing to their actions. Rahul Gandhi has often gone to town talking about how Congress’ prime focus is the empowerment of women, however, when Rahul Gandhi’s close aide, Nikhil Alva was recently booked for sexual harassment, Rahul Gandhi had not issued a single statement.
Earlier too, an FIR was lodged against one Congress IT cell worker named Chirag Patnaik for sexually harassing a female colleague. In her complaint, the aggrieved woman had reportedly written how the Congress IT cell head, Divya Spandan, had then mentally harassed the victim instead of offering her any support.
In October, another sexual harassment case came into light, in which NSUI chief Fairoz Khan had reportedly stepped down from his post following charges of sexual misconduct. NSUI is the student wing of the Indian National Congress.
In fact what could be seen as the biggest irony was when the Congress mouthpiece, National Herald, which was then busy pontificating about the #MeToo movement, audaciously chose not to mention allegations against its own editor.
As a mark of tribute to the victims of the Pulwama terror attack, the Indian Cricket has decided to sport camouflage caps today during its match against Australia today. The two teams face each other for the 3rd One Day International cricket match at Ranchi today in the ongoing 5 match series in India.
#TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces
And to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs #JaiHindpic.twitter.com/fvFxHG20vi
Other than wearing the camouflage cap, the Team India has also decided to donate their match for the match to the National Defence Fund. Before the start of the match, former captain Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Singh Dhoni presented the caps to team members on the field.
Team India captain said Virat Kohli said that they are wearing the special cap for the match to pay respect to the martyrs and their families of the Pulwama attack, and all the players of the team have decided to donate their match fees to the National Defence Fund. He also urged everyone in the country to do the same, to donate as per individual capacities to the Defence Fund and help in education and well being of the children and families of those who lost their lives in the terror attack. “Yeah it is a very special cap and this will be a very special game indeed”, Kohli added.
The caps are specially designed for Team India, they are made using camouflage fabric and have the BCCI logo embroidered on them. The caps were distributed to members of the commentary team as well.
India is leading the series with 2-0 against Australia, having won the first two matches at Hyderabad and Nagpur. Before that Australia has won the two T20 games. Today India has won the toss and elected to bowl first.
The People’s Republic of China, which has repeatedly blocked India’s efforts to designate Masood Azhar a terrorist, is reportedly apprehensive about changing its mind, as it thinks it will make the multi-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) prone to attacks by Jaish-e-Mohammed.
According to an Economic Times report, China is thinking about changing its stand on Masood Azhar and not use the veto to prevent him from getting listed as a terrorist on March 13th when the proposal moved by France and supported by other UNSC permanent members under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 goes under consideration.
For this, it is reported that it will have to exert pressure on Pakistan to tie down security guarantees regarding CPEC. China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou’s visit to Pakistan, this month, is also said to be have been done in this regard.
The $62 billion CPEC project, part of China’s giant programme Belt and Road Initiative, intends to construct modern infrastructures in Pakistan, including highway and railway networks, energy projects, to bolster the country’s economic backbone. According to reports, around 10,000 Chinese nationals are working on the project. Last week, China also sent socio-economic development experts to Pakistan to gear up projects in areas like education and water.
The corridor passes through Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and also Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Balakot is present. It is considered a hotbed of activities of JeM and was recently hit by air strikes conducted by India.
China, reportedly, has acquired a large amount of land near Balakot and the Karakoram Highway that connects Pakistan with China through POK also crosses Mansehra making them prone to JeM’s terror activities.
India has been persistent in its approach to declare Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India had moved a proposal to ban Azhar. In 2016 again, India moved a similar proposal with the P3 nations: The United States, the United Kingdom, and France in the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee. The P3 nations had moved the same proposal in 2017, too. However, all proposals brought no fruit for India, as all of them were blocked by veto-wielding China. Even after the Pulwama attack last month, China has shown no difference in its position.
The Supreme Court on Friday sent the Ayodhya Dispute for mediation between the parties involved. The mediation process is expected to start within 4 weeks and be completed within 8 weeks.
The mediation process will be headed by retired Justice FM Kalifullah and comprise of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu as its other members. Here, we shall take a look at the background of the panel members.
1. Retired Justice FM Kalifullah
Justice Fakkir Mohammed Kalifullah, who is from Tamil Nadu, started his career in law at Chennai. In the year 2000, he was appointed a judge of the Madras High Court. Later, he served as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2012.
One of the landmark judgments of the retired Justice’s career was when he upheld the introduction of Vedic Astrology as a course of scientific study in Indian Universities. He also wrote the judgment for the Supreme Court order on the reformation of the BCCI. He retired from the Supreme Court on the 22nd of July, 2016.
2. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation and is one of the most widely followed spiritual Gurus. The official website of AOL describes him as a “humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher, and an ambassador of peace.”
For quite some time, Sri Sri has made much effort to reach a negotiated settlement over the Ayodhya dispute. The AIMPLB has even expelled a member, Salman Nadwi, for holding discussions with the spiritual leader regarding the issue. Reportedly, Nadwi had offered to support the Mandir if Hindus give up claims to all other disputed Masjids.
It had caused an outrage with the Nirmohi Akhara, a petitioner for the Ram Temple at Ram Janmabhoomi, and BJP MP Subramanian Swamy rejecting any such offer. The Art of Living Foundation had come out and denied any such ‘deal’. Some had also raised questions regarding Sri Sri negotiating with Nadwi considering the latter had supported ISIS in the past.
Last year, in November, we had reported that Muslim petitioners in the matter had voiced their support for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s out of court settlement efforts.
3. Sriram Panchu
Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu is a founder of The Mediation Chambers and has earned himself a reputation for making mediation an instrumental part of India’s legal system. He is the author of the book ‘Mediation Practice and Law: The Path to Successful Dispute Resolution’.
As per Google Books, the book “brings out the art, techniques and skills of mediation. The author walks the reader through a full-length mediation with notes to illustrate different stages. The book also shows how mediators should deal with seemingly dead-end situations and prescribes norms of confidentiality and ethics.”
Panchu is the president of the Association of Indian Mediators and a director on the board of the International Mediation Institute (IMI). He is credited with setting up India’s first court-annexed mediation centre in 2005 and is regarded as instrumental in making mediation a part of India’s legal system.
In the past, Panchu has been appointed as a mediator to resolve a 500 sq km dispute between Assam and Nagaland. The Supreme court has described Panchu as “one of the foremost mediators in the country”.
Apart from the three mediators mentioned here, the Supreme Court in its order has allowed for the induction of more members in the panel for mediation of the dispute. The proceedings will take place at Ayodhya and the Uttar Pradesh state government has been directed to extend all possible facilities for the purpose.
According to inputs gathered by the intelligence agencies, two heavily armed Pakistan backed terrorist groups were waiting to infiltrate into India from Rajouri district near LoC, reports Zee News.
As per sources, one group comprising at least five Pakistan-trained terrorists have reportedly arrived in Nikial in a black colour vehicle directly from Kotli terror camp in the PoK.
The group is reportedly being escorted by allegedly their handler named Haji Arif. They have been recently spotted near the LoC on the other side of the border in the Rajouri sector.
Another group comprising of six terrorists probably from the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba have been spotted near village Mohra Shried at LoC and reportedly waiting for a favourable time to slip into the Indian side.
According to the intelligence inputs received by the security forces, these terrorists are being accompanied by few members of the Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group.
The inputs regarding the possible infiltration attempt by Pakistan-supported terrorists coincides with intelligence warnings that Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) is planning to carry out another Pulwama-style terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir in the next 3-4 days, intelligence sources have warned.
According to the intelligence inputs, the Masood Azhar-led JeM has planned to carry out an IED attack in Qazigund and Anantnag of south Kashmir. This time, they plan to use a Tata Sumo SUV to execute their plans.
In view of the specifics, security has been beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir and the security agencies have been directed to remain on high alert mode.
This warning came hours after a grenade attack was executed at a bus stop in Jammu on 7th March which left one 17-year-old Mohammad Sharik from Haridwar in Uttarakhand dead and at least 30 others injured.
The security agencies arrested a Hizbul-Mujahideen member, Yasir Arhaan in connection with the grenade attack at the Jammu bus stand in the evening. He had later confessed to the crime and, during his interrogation, revealed that the attack was masterminded by the district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kulgam, Farooq Ahmed Bhatt alias Omar.
The grenade blast comes on the backdrop of the Pulwama Terror Attack that martyred over 40 soldiers of the CRPF. India had responded to it with airstrikes within Pakistani territory that led to tensions between India and Pakistan.
How nicely everything has been forgotten. Excitable liberal anchors, out each evening to guide the public consciousness in the moral direction, have almost forgotten that this hangs over the national conscience.
I can barely make out Bishop Franco Mulakkal’s face anywhere in this photo. Can you? Because he has been mobbed by a sea of eager welcoming faces, out with flowers, garlands, cries of joy and coloured powder to welcome their rape accused hero.
Eager welcoming liberal faces. Shining with the holy light of Indian ‘secularism’.
Look at him. Is that a halo around his head?
No, he is actually wearing three levels of armour that protect him from all the outrage of the secular liberal class in India: He works for the Catholic Church, he is accused of committing rape in Communist-ruled Kerala and he has currently taken up residence in Congress-ruled Punjab.
Who can touch him? There is a saying in Bihar’s rural dialect: More saiyyan bhaye kotwal to ab dar kaahe ka? I won’t translate it. Because the full emotion behind these words would get lost in translation.
In case you have forgotten (because powerful secular forces in this country very much want you to forget) let me recount briefly the Bishop Franco Mulakkal case.
It took 3 months from the time the nun filed a rape complaint to merely arrest the Bishop.
Much more than any celebrity or billionaire, it is Bishop Mulakkal case that made our legal system look like a joke. The Catholic Church was even more arrogant. Forget taking action against the Bishop, they did nothing… until Mulakkal himself “requested” to be “temporarily relieved” of his duties.
And within days of his arrest:
He walked out on bail to a boisterous welcome by all his supporters. The grand moment for Indian secularism and liberalism.
Other people, however, were not so lucky. Here is a completely unrelated matter.
As I said, this was clearly a totally unrelated matter as a result of which the media took little or no interest in the issue. Our media had bigger issues to worry about. Such as right-wing internet trolls. They were on the prowl for any roadside goon who has put on a saffron shirt, thus making PM Modi personally accountable for his actions.
Another unrelated matter that the nuns who protested against the Bishop received transfer orders from the Congregation.
Bishop Franco Mulakkal is still a free man today. Still a revered man. Still a hero.
And our Indian secularism and liberalism is still a joke.
Nobody in Indian media was willing to touch this story from the US-based Associated Press. Were they scared? Who knows?
This International Women’s Day, let us not treat women simply as the “Virgin Mary”. Let us give female victims of sexual assault a chance to be believed and treated with respect in the public sphere. Let their voices be heard. Even if it means that the facade of pseudo-secularism will come crashing down.
The Indian Army has decided to deploy more officers in field units with a motive to enhance the operations it Forward areas. As Pakistan continues unprovoked ceasefire violation with firing artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire across Line of Control (LoC), in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, the Indian Army has now put more combat-worthy officers up to the rank of Colonel, who are currently serving at the Army headquarters, to lead the forces from the front at the forward areas.
Almost 229 young combat-worthy officers have been recognised by the Army after it carried out a detailed re-structuring of Army Headquarters, that was started in June 2018, on direction by Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat.
This is roughly 20 per cent of the number of officers posted in the Army Headquarters.
An official from the Ministry of Defence said, “It was felt that combat-worthy officers who are serving in Army HQ should be in field units”.
Though this decision comes at a time of heightened tensions as Pakistan has been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations for almost a month now, following the dastardly Pulwama attack, which consumed the lives of our 44 CRPF soldiers, an officer confirmed that this decision was in the cards as the proposal was part of four studies conducted by the Army for a leaner and more efficient force.
A senior Army officer stated that in a field unit generally around 25 officers are considered ideal but currently they have been functioning with only 10 to 12 officers. “With more officers in the field, the efficiency of the unit will increase manyfold,” the officer said.
However, Army chief General Bipin Rawat has been pressing for reforms in the army to make it more efficient and finally, after 12 such studies on the subject, the Army will adopt and implement the proposal of the recent one.
The government has also approved the proposal for a new deputy chief of the Army staff strategy, to deal with operational and force planning. The office will now have military operations, military intelligence, strategic planning and the newly created information warfare branches under it.
The bold steps which were taken by India to isolate Pakistan globally and the dauntless retaliation to the Pulwama attack by conducting an airstrike deep in Pakistan’s premises has left Pakistan completely spooked. It has been resorting to continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations on the LoC.
Nearly 400 ceasefire violations along the LoC have already taken place this year, including 60 in the last week since the Indian air strikes. The Indian Army has been maintaining strict vigil along the LoC and the International Border (IB) and has been continuously responding to every attack in a befitting manner.
The Supreme Court has sent the Ayodhya Dispute for mediation between the parties involved. The mediation process is expected to start within 4 weeks and be completed within 8 weeks.
Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case: Supreme Court says
mediation process has to start within four weeks and to be completed within eight weeks. pic.twitter.com/zWY82T09Xx
The mediation process will be headed by retired Justice FM Kalifullah and have Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu as part of the panel as well. The Court said that the mediators can co-opt more members into the panel if necessary.
The mediation proceedings are to be held on camera and in Faizabad.
Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case: Supreme Court says mediation proceedings should be held on-camera. Mediation process will be held in Faizabad. It will be headed by Justice FM Kaliifullah and also comprise Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu. pic.twitter.com/6gx9FSogG2
Media reporting on the mediation process will be banned, the Court said. CJI Ranjan Gogoi said, “Court monitored mediation proceedings will be confidential.”
The Supreme Court on Wednesday had reserved its order on the matter of referring the Ram Janambhoomi dispute to a court-appointed and monitored mediation. While the Muslim petitioners were “agreeable to mediation”, Hindu petitioners had opposed it.
Shoulder Patch – No 51 Squadron ‘Sword Arm’
