Antony acts on Gens plaint,fast-tracks arms acquisitions 

Border Infra,Rly Lines To Get Boost For Quick Troop Mobility 

Rajat Pandit TNN 

New Delhi:With an eye on both China and Pakistan,the government on Tuesday approved aslew of measures to fast-track acquisition of weapons as well as boost infrastructure development along the borders for faster mobility of troops and equipment.
The new steps significantly include seeking the Planning Commissions sanction for 14 strategic railway lines,mostly along the western and eastern fronts,for quick troop mobilization and logistics sustenance in times of conflict,sources said.
An empowered committee has also been constituted under defence secretary Shashikant Sharma to examine the detailed project reports of the Armys proposed capability development plan on the Northern Borders worth Rs 26,155 crore that is slated for completion by 2020-21.
There is already an ongoing Rs 9,243 crore project for infrastructure development in the Eastern Theatre by 2016-17.All this is critical since China can now move around 30 divisions (each with over 15,000 soldiers) to the borders within 30 days to outnumber Indian forces by at least 3:1 after undertaking massive infrastructure development all along the 4,057km Line of Actual Control.Beijing,in fact,has recently taken to holding regular air and land combat exercises in the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to flex its military might.
The new fast-track measures came after defence minister A K Antony held an almost two-hour long meeting with General V K Singh and his top brass on Tuesday,a day ahead of the slated testing of Indias most ambitious strategic missile,the over 5,000km range Agni-V.
This was the third review meeting to plug critical operational gaps in Indias military capabilities,highlighted by Gen Singh in his confidential letter to the PM on March 12,in the face of two inimical neighbours and the reality of large land borders.The meeting expressed satisfaction at the progress of procurement cases for the 4th regiment of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles at a cost of Rs 4,100 crore and two regiments of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers for Rs 2,136 crore.
The new BrahMos regiment,with the missiles Block-III version that has steep dive capability to take out targets hidden behind a mountain range,will be deployed in Arunachal Pradesh,with the first three catering for the western front with Pakistan.
The meeting also discussed the Armys proposed procurement of 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers,which India is to buy from the US in a direct government-to- government deal worth $647 million.These airmobile artillery guns will be needed for the new mountain strike corps (70,000 soldiers) being planned after the raising of two new mountain infantry divisions,with 1,260 officers and 35,011 soldiers,in Assam and Nagaland.

ON TOP GEAR 



14 STRATEGIC RAILWAY LINES 

EASTERN: Murkongseld-Pasighat-Rupai Misamari-Tawang North Lakimpur-Along-Silapathar;WESTERN: Patti-Ferozpur;SOUTHERN: Jodhpur-Shergarh-Phalsund Jodhpur-Jaisalmer;CENTRAL: Rishikesh-Karanprayag-Chamoli Dehradun-Uttarkashi Tanakpur-Jauljibi Tanakpur-Bageshwar;NORTHERN: Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch Pathankot-Leh Srinagar-Kargil-Leh;SOUTH-WESTERN : Anupgarh-Chhattisgarh-Motigarh-BKN 

COMMITTEES 

Empowered committee headed by defence secretary to monitor capability development plan on the northern borders worth Rs 26,155 crore,slated for completion by 2020-2021 Empowered committee headed by Army vice-chief to fast-track equipment for special forces.These include advanced assault rifles,carbines,all-terrain multiutility vehicles,GPS navigation systems,modular acquisition devices,laser range-finders,underwater vehicles and combat free-fall parachutes Committee to examine Armys case for attack helicopters and other combat aviation assets.Army Aviation Corps wants a mix of reconnaissance,utility,tactical battle support,armed and attack helicopters as well as tactical airlift fixed-wing aircraft in the long term

PROPOSED ACQUISITIONS 

4th regiment of BrahMos missiles for Rs 4,100 crore Two regiments of Pinaka rocket launchers for Rs 2,136 cr 10,000 Konkurs-M anti-tank guided missiles for Rs 1,223 cr * 10,000 3UBK-Invar missiles for T-90 S tanks for Rs 1,386 cr * 15,000 3UBK-Invar missiles for T-90 S tanks for Rs 2,079 cr * Two troops of Heron UAVs for Rs 1,200 crore from Israel * 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers for $647 m from US

Tatra row: Natrajan,Rishi quizzed by CBI for 9time 


Natarajan and Rishi have refuted the allegations of any wrong doing.Vectra,which has controlling stake in Tatra Sipox UK,and is at the centre of CBI investigations into alleged irregularities in the supply of all terrain vehicle components to the public sector BEML which assembles and supplies these vehicles to the Army.Along with Natarajan,Rishi was questioned for the ninth time on Wednesday.
It was in the light of information provided by Natarajan and Rishi,the agency found it necessary to search residences of the retired Army officials and the Vectra employee to try and gather documents that could help the agency.sources said.The CBI is looking for a link between Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh who the army chief claims offered him a bribe -- with Rishi through the two retired army officers.TNN

Cloaked daggers and writ petition in Supreme Court (April 20, 2012)

Volume 29 - Issue 08 :: Apr. 21-May. 04, 2012
INDIA'S NATIONAL MAGAZINE
from the publishers of THE HINDU

Cloaked daggers

PRAFUL BIDWAI

S. SUBRAMANIUM 
 
General V.K. Singh, Chief of the Army Staff.

SO it now turns out, as many had suspected, that The Indian Express story alleging that there was unusual and un-notified movement on January 16 of two Army attack formations towards the national capital, which “spooked New Delhi”, was a complete fabrication. The barely hidden suggestion in the story was that the troop movement ominously took place the night before the Chief of the Army Staff General V.K. Singh moved the Supreme Court on the date of birth issue; it was a not-too-subtle way of the Army flexing its muscle against civilian authority.

The troop movement violated no protocol of standard operating procedure. Such movements need to be notified to the Defence Ministry only if they involve corps-level strength. The story appears to be wrong on other details too, and has been dismissed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, and General V.K. Singh.

However, the real question is who fed or planted the story, and with what motive. One may never know for certain the answer to the first question, but the plausible motive seems to have been to discredit Gen. V.K. Singh. One of his detractors, former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen. H.S. Panag, said that the troop movement was an attempt by a “compromised [military] hierarchy” to “pre-empt” a likely decision by the Defence Ministry to sack the COAS. Lt Gen. Panag was relieved of his command after an anti-corruption inquiry in 2008, and has since retired. But he is a member of the Armed Forces Tribunal. Thus, it was totally out of order for him to make these remarks. A similar story was planted earlier about Gen. V.K. Singh having ordered the clandestine interception of telephone conversations involving top Defence Ministry officials. This pointed to grave indiscipline. But the charge was never substantiated.

Even more important, the “controversy” about his year of birth (1951 or 1950) was raked up without any reference to the record pertinent to his promotion, first as Lt General and later as a full General. The sole basis for regarding the date as 1950, which would entail the end of his tenure this year, was another document concerning his application to the National Defence Academy. A confidential letter from the COAS to Manmohan Singh, pointing out serious deficiencies in the Army's war preparedness, was also mysteriously leaked.

Clearly, a great deal of intrigue and disinformation has been at play in an institution, which is supposed to follow exemplary standards of truthfulness, discipline and integrity. A possible clue to its source is provided in a writ petition moved before the Supreme Court by former Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral L. Ramdas, former Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami and three ex-generals, among others.

This reportedly alleges that a process or line of succession was launched by former COAS Gen. J.J. Singh by initiating something new called “the look-down policy”, which was calculated to favour certain officers and have them promoted above the rank of Brigadier. As a result, many likely contenders to Army commanders' positions were “eliminated” to ensure that Gen. V.K. Singh would remain COAS only until May 2012 and that Lt Gen. Bikram Singh, currently the Eastern Army Commander, would succeed him.

The petition also alleges that there was a “communal conspiracy” behind the rejection of Gen. V.K. Singh's claim for a revision in his date of birth, in particular, lobbying by Sikh organisations, and support from certain high government officials. Even if this allegation is discounted, the petition, which prima facie appears broadly truthful, raises disturbing questions about the process through which high-level Army promotions and seniority lists are determined.

On March 3, Lt Gen. Bikram Singh was designated as the next COAS – three months in advance, instead of the usual two months. But Lt Gen. Bikram Singh has two court cases pending against him: the first involving a fake “encounter” killing in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001, and the second concerning Indian troops' misconduct, including rape, during a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo under his charge in 2008. Surely, both propriety and convention demand that he should not have been designated the next COAS until he is cleared of these cases.

The Defence Ministry has also just cleared the names of Lt Gen. Dalbir Suhag, head of Dimapur-based 3 Corps, and Lt Gen. Sanjiv Chachra, Military Secretary, for promotion as army commanders. Lt Gen. Suhag was recently at the centre of a controversy triggered by the forwarding to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of a complaint about his role in the purchase of parachutes as the head of the Special Frontier Force.

The CBI refused to investigate the complaint, made by Trinamool Congress MP Ambica Banerjee, on the ground that Lt Gen. Suhag had been cleared by another government agency. As for Lt Gen. Chachra, his appointment as Military Secretary, in charge of transfers and postings, was reportedly opposed in the past by the Defence Ministry.

Evidently, there is very little coordination, accord or harmony between the armed forces and the civilian leadership, which is supposed to exercise supremacy over the armed forces in a democracy. Indeed, their relations are extremely strained, and marked by suspicion, distrust and a crisis of confidence. This does not generally bode well for the nation's defence.

Particularly worrisome is the recent trend of personnel of the armed forces pronouncing themselves on policy matters, or speaking at cross purposes with the government on issues such as a resolution of the Siachen glacier dispute with Pakistan, which has festered since 1984, and repealing or suspending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir. Siachen, the world's highest-altitude military conflict, has taken a huge toll on the Army, including the loss of an estimated 2,000 lives mainly thanks to frostbite, while driving thousands of soldiers into acute psychological disorders, and inflicting a daily expense of Rs.3 crore to Rs. 5 crore. India and Pakistan came close to resolving the dispute by agreeing to withdraw their troops from the glacier at least three times, in 1989, 2006 and 2011.

This was vetoed by the Army – although occupying the icy heights confers no obvious strategic advantage. In 2006, Gen. J.J. Singh publicly ruled out his Army's withdrawal until its positions on the glacier are marked and recorded. As former United States Ambassador David Mulford put it in a cable disclosed by WikiLeaks, “Army Chief J.J. Singh appears on the front page of the Indian Express seemingly fortnightly to tell readers the Army cannot support a withdrawal from Siachen. Given India's high degree of civilian control over the armed forces, it is improbable that Gen. Singh could repeatedly make such statements without MoD civilians giving at least tacit approval.”

In a democracy, it is illegitimate for the armed forces to defy civilian authority in this manner. Similarly, in the recent debate over the AFSPA, whose withdrawal is demanded by the Jammu and Kashmir government – not least because of a dramatic reduction in cross-border infiltration amidst declining militancy – several Army commanders lobbied against the move and even threatened to stop counter-insurgency operations if the “indispensable” Act is lifted. It is the same story in Manipur.

The AFSPA is a draconian law unworthy of a civilised society. It grants impunity to an officer who kills civilians on the mere suspicion that they may be about to commit a violent act or even violate prohibitory orders which are imposed at the drop of a hat. To top it all, the government is taking refuge behind the AFSPA in refusing to sanction the prosecution of military personnel found by the police to have committed murder, culpable homicide or rape.

In Jammu and Kashmir alone, the Home Ministry refused such sanction in 42 cases in recent months, provoking the Supreme Court to remark: “You go to a place in exercise of AFSPA, you commit rape, you commit murder, then where is the question of sanction?” Among the cases is the Pathribal killing of five innocent civilians in March 2000, on the palpably false ground that they were Lashkar-e-Taiba militants responsible for the massacre of 36 Sikhs at Chittisinghpura.

Army units have been recently implicated in a number of fake “encounters” such as the cold-blooded execution of villagers at Ganderbal in 2007, and at Macchel in 2010. More details of excessive use of force and torture by them are available at the Asian Centre for Human Rights website: http://www.achrweb.org/ihrrq/ issue1/indian_army.html.

Corruption scandals in the Army have involved numerous arms deals, from Bofors and HDW submarines in the 1980s to the more recent Tatra trucks case, and the Sukna land scam and the Adarsh Housing Society scandal. The biggest cases are related to India's growing participation in the super-corrupt global arms bazaar since the Kargil conflict (1999), which has made it the world's biggest arms importer in 2007-11. More corruption can be expected as India spends an estimated $80 billion on armaments acquisition over the next five years.

While there is no direct link between corruption and the armed forces' defiance of civilian authority or outright lawlessness and “encounter” killings, a culture of impunity is common to all. Despite his faults and mistakes, Gen. V.K. Singh deserves support for opposing this and fighting corruption.

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20120504290809700.htm

 
CAUGHT IN STORM: Tinu Joshi and Arvind Joshi 

 
Lt Gen Bikram Singh 

• 1 May 2012
• Hindustan Times (Delhi)
• Rahul Singh rahul.singh@hindustantimes.com

Outdated hardware is Army’s Achilles heel: House panel

The committee expressed concern over “the huge gap” between the required and existing combat squadrons of the IAF. “The gap would be to the extent of 11 squadrons (190 fighters) during the Twelfth Plan (2012-2017)…The country will reach the requisite level of 42 squadrons by the end of the Fourteenth Plan (2027),” the panel noted in its report, asking the government to fast track acquisitions.

The panel asked the government to make sure the IAF inducted the Swiss Pilatus PC7 Mark-ii planes by December 2013 “at any cost” to make up for the crippling shortage of trainer aircraft.

The report revealed that the problems of scarcity of tank ammunition were compounded due to the blacklisting of Israeli Military Industries.

Deploring the shortage of artillery guns — the army hasn’t inducted new guns after the Bofors scandal erupted in the late 1980s — the committee said the government should “at least now” take the “desired initiatives” to fill the gaps.

• 2 May 2012
• Hindustan Times (Delhi)
• Rahul Singh rahul.singh@hindustantimes.com

ARMYMEN MAY HAVE TO WAIT 5 YRS FOR PVT SECTOR JOBS

 
Ravi Rishi 

No role in bribery charges against Tejinder,says govt 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: The Central government on Monday told the Delhi high court that it had no role in the March 5 press release,hurling allegations against retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh,and it was issued by the Army.
Lt Gen Singh had approached the court after Army chief Gen VK Singh issued the release,saying he was offered Rs 14 crore in bribe to clear a tranche of 600 sub-standard vehicles for the army.
Filing the reply on behalf of the Centre,additional solicitor general AS Chandhiok informed the court that the press release came from the Army and was approved by the highest authority.The government had nothing to do with it,he clarified.
Justice Mukta Gupta had earlier asked the government to clarify if the press release was issued by the government or by Army.After receiving the response from the Centre,the high court asked Tejinder Singh,seeking withdrawal of the defamatory release,to prove that the right to reputation is a fundamental right.
You show and satisfy the court that right to reputation is a fundamental right.Do not argue in the air and come prepared with the case laws, Justice Gupta told Tejinder Singhs lawyer.The court also pointed out that prima facie it appears the petition was not maintainable as he has other avenues available to first try and seek a remedy.
Meanwhile,the defamation case against Army Chief General VK Singh filed in the trial court was transferred to a different court after the one,hearing it earlier,refused to proceed with it due to the loss of confidence of petitioner and former Lt Gen Tejinder Singh's counsel in it.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Amit Bansal transferred the case to a new court of Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja for further proceedings in the matter and directed Tejinder Singh to appear before it on Tuesday.

DGCA cancels licence of Vectra helicopter service 


The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Monday suspended the licence of controversial businessman Ravi Rishis Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd.The action against Indias largest private helicopter charter company comes three days after the home ministry withdrew its security clearance a mandatory requirement for operating an aviation firm.Now the firm will have to stop all operations.TN

Tejinder withdraws plea against General Singh 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed as withdrawn a writ petition by Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh seeking a CBI inquiry into Army chief Gen V K Singhs alleged role in the reported bugging of the defence ministers office despite the government denying any such incident.
The reluctance of a bench of Justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar forced the retired Army officer to withdraw his plea.
The petition was filed days after the Army chief accused Tejinder Singh of offering him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for purchase of Tatra trucks.Following the complaint by the Army chief,the CBI initiated a probe into the matter.
Tejinder Singh had also accused the Army chief of professional misconduct by making political statements while holding the key post.He said the Army chief had stated that the Maoist problem in the country was the creation of the government when the Centre had sought the Armys help in Naxal affected areas.
He has also filed a criminal defamation case against Gen V K Singh and four other senior Army officers in a trial court.

BEML under CAG fire for overstating Tatra profit 


Defence PSU BEML on Thursday drew flak from the CAG for overstatement of revenue and profits from sale of Tatra trucks,which are in controversy after Army Chief Gen V K Singh's claimed that he was offered a bribe to clear the procurement of these vehicles.
Overstatement of revenue due to incorrect recognition of sales in the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010 was commented upon earlier by the Comptroller and Auditor General.The company continued the incorrect practice in the year 2010-11 also and recognised sales of Rs 246.52 crore in respect of 306 Tatra vehicles based on offer of vehicles for inspection.... This resulted in overstatement of sales by Rs 246.52 crore and profit by Rs 25.31 crore, the CAG said in its report tabled on Thursday.AGENCIES

CBI books defence ministry officials in Srinagar land scam 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi:The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against defence ministry officials,including defence estates officer Ajay Chowdhary,in the Srinagar land scam in which no-objection certificates (NoCs) were issued to civilians granting them land.
The agency on Friday conducted raids at several places in Delhi,Jammu,Srinagar,Patna and Ambala and recovered documents related to the land,which originally belonged to the MoD.The CBI alleged that around 12 acres of prime land near Srinagar airport was given to civilians on the issuance of NoCs.
The officials named also include then SDO Vijay Kumar and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act and for criminal conspiracy.It is alleged that a huge area of MoD land near a sensitive zone in Srinagar was suspected to have been taken by civilians in connivance with officials of Jammu & Kashmirs revenue department and Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE),Srinagar.There was no provision to issue NoC by the office of DGDE for the purpose of sale/purchase of defence owned or occupied land, said CBI.
The agency had registered a preliminary enquiry into the matter last year during which it claimed to have found evidence that NoCs were granted to civilians for this prime and strategic piece of land arbitrarily.The agency had also conducted enquiry into the records of the DGDEs and the local revenue,following arequest from MoD to probe the sanction of NoC for sale of this land in Kashmir Valley.
Defence minister A K Antony had last year informed Parliament that on receipt of complaint,a PE found that more than 70 NoCs were issued by the department in Srinagar over last four years.

MoD sends notice to Maha over Adarsh land 

Swati Deshpande TNN 

Mumbai: The defence ministry sent a notice on Monday to the Maharashtra government for filing a suit to claim title of the controversial Adarsh plot in Mumbai.
The notice is to call upon the government of Maharashtra and the Adarsh Society to reconsider their legal position in respect of the property and acknowledge the title of my client,the Union of India (through the MoD),to the property and intimate the same to me or to my client within two months from the receipt of this notice, the ministrys advocate Dhiren Shah said.
If the government does not acknowledge the ministry as title holder and hands over possession,the ministry will file a suit against the state and Adarsh.
Earlier,a two-member judicial panel had held in favour of the Adarsh society and the state over the ownerhip of the plot in south Mumbai.
Meanwhile,the CBI on Monday told a special court that it might add stringent sections of the IPC which could attract life imprisonment for the accused.The ministry,served the notice as part of legal requirement before approaching the judiciary.
The defence ministry alleged that the commissions findings are contrary to facts.According to the ministry,the 3,824 sq m land in Block VI of Colaba division adjacent to Colaba bus depot where the 31-storey Adarsh building stands is theirs.

BEML serves legal notice on Gen Singh 

Ex-Army Chief Refuses To Apologize For Alleged Defamatory Comments 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Bangalore/New Delhi:A day after General V K Singh stepped down as Army chief,Bangalore-based defence public sector unit BEML served a legal notice on him asking him to apologize for alleged defamatory statements against the company and its products.An unperturbed Gen Singh refused to back down,and dismissed any possibility of him apologizing for his remarks about Tatra and Armoured Recovery Vehicles supplied by BEML.
BEML said Gen Singh had made false and motivated allegations against the company.Legal notice has been issued today.If he does not apologize,we may file a defamation suit against Gen V K Singh, BEML chairman and managing director V R S Natarajan told reporters in Bangalore.
The former Army chief has made some allegations against BEML.As the CEO of the company,I deny them as absolutely false,motivated,damaging and defamatory, Natarajan said.He said the delay in issuing a legal notice was because of the consultations with the legal team.
There was also no indication that BEMLs action was orchestrated from New Delhi by the government,which had several tough moments during the tenure of Gen Singh as the Army chief.
Gen Singh had alleged in March that he was offered Rs 14 crore in bribe to clear the purchase of 600 Tatra trucks from BEML.He had said that the bribe was offered by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh on behalf of Ravi Rishi,whose Tatra Sipox UK supplies the trucks to BEML,which in turn sells it to the Army.Based on Gen Singhs statements,the CBI has filed a preliminary enquiry against Lt Gen Tejinder Singh,Ravi Rishi and others.
Gen Singh also repeatedly spoke in public about the quality of Tatra trucks and ARVs supplied by BEML.However,the BEML leadership argued that it had not received a single letter from the Army talking about the standard of Tatra trucks.
Maintaining his strident stand on the issue,Gen Singh on Friday said he would not apologize to BEML.Apology for what,I would like to ask Natarajan that.I have not alleged anything,I have just stated some facts, Gen Singh said.Natarajan has been there for more than 12 years with BEML.He should be knowing how things are run in BEML, he added.
Gen Singh said the issue was with the CBI,and the truth in the matter would emerge.

Lt Gen takes over as west zone commander 


Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra on Friday assumed command of western Army commander.On taking over the reins of the western command,Gen Chachra was presented a guard,a defence release said.After the solemn wreath laying ceremony on Friday at the Veer Smriti War Memorial,Gen Chachra said,On this solemn day on taking over command of the Western Army,I salute the valiant Martyrs for their valiant contribution and assured them of our commitment to uphold the highest traditions of the Indian Army.The general is a second generation Rajput officer commissioned in the 17 Rajpur in June 1974 and later commanded 16 Rajpur in a counter insurgency environment in the North East region.An alumnus of the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy,Dehradun,the general officer commanding has had varied combat,staff and instructional experience.PTI

 
IN A SPOT: Ancia Neascu and Abhishek Verma