Nitin Gadkari, Union transport and highways minister, rides scooter without helmet

NAGPUR: Union transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday rode into a controversy when he was caught on camera entering RSS headquarters here on his scooter without wearing a helmet in violation of traffic rules.

TV channels showed the 58-year-old BJP MP from Nagpur riding his white-coloured scooter to the Sangh headquarters in Mahal area of the city to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat amid efforts by the party to form government in Maharashtra.

When pointed out by journalists about him having violated the rules, Gadkari refused to comment and entered the premises with a man riding pillion and another scooter in tow.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh strongly reacted to Gadkari's action, saying it reflected the "attitude of the leader and the party".

Nitin Gadkari seen riding a white scooter without wearing a helmet to RSS headquarters in Nagpur, on October 25, 2014. (TOI photo)

"It is a very small thing and for anyone else it wouldn't have mattered ... for the transport minister of the government of India, who is violating the law which he had to be enforcing, then it does make a difference," he said. "This reflects the attitude of the leader and the party, whether they believe in following the rules or not," he added.

One of the TV news channels claimed the former BJP chief was earlier caught on camera riding a scooter without wearing helmet in December last year when he was not a Cabinet minister.

With the shoe on the other foot now, it was not immediately known if Nagpur Police was contemplating booking the Union minister for violating traffic rules.

According to Nagpur traffic police website, wearing helmet is compulsory and violators will be charged Rs 100 under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

In this July 17, 2013 TOI file photo, Nitin Gadkari is seen riding a scooter without wearing a helmet on his way to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

In this February 16, 2014 TOI file photo, Nitin Gadkari is seen riding a scooter without wearing a helmet after casting vote for municipal elections in Nagpur.

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Rs 80,000 crore worth defence projects cleared, 6 submarines to be built in India

NEW DELHI: Defence projects worth a whopping Rs 80,000 crore were on Saturday cleared by the government which decided that six submarines will be made indigenously and over 8,000 Israeli antitank guided missiles and 12 upgraded Dornier surveillance aircraft will be purchased.

The decisions were taken following a meeting of the defence acquisition council, chaired by defence minister Arun Jaitley, that lasted for over two hours with defence secretary, the chiefs of all three services, DRDO chief and other senior officials attending it.

The bulk of the decisions went in favour of the Navy that was in dire need of up-gradation and capability enhancement.

The big ticket step was the decision to build six submarines in India at a cost of about Rs 50,000 crore rather than source it from outside.

The other major decision was to purchase 8,356 antitank guided missile of Israel worth Rs 3,200 crore rather than the US' Javelin missile for the Indian Army. The Army will also purchase 321 launchers for the missile.

Another 12 Dornier surveillance aircraft with enhanced sensors will also be bought from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at a cost of Rs 1,850 crore.

A Dornier surveillance aircraft deployed by the Indian Coast Guard. (Photo: Getty Images)

The DAC also decided to buy 362 infantry fighting vehicle from the ordinance factory board, Medak in West Bengal for Rs 662 crore.

Giving details of the decision to make the six submarines in the country, official sources said a committee will now be formed by the defence ministry which will study both public and private shipyards over the next 6-8 weeks.

Following this, the ministry will issue request for proposal (RFP) to specific port that will be identified on the basis of the study which will look into whether they have the capacity and manpower to build six submarines in the same port only besides other parametres.

Spike Missile.

The submarines will be air independent propulsion (AIP) capable that will enable them to stay underwater for longer than a conventional submarine besides having enhanced stealth features.

The Navy currently has 13 operational submarines and the target set in 1999 was to have 24 by 2030.

The previous UPA government had gone in for six Scorpene submarines and the first is likely to be delivered only in 2016.

The decision to manufacture the submarines in India is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' pitch.

PM Narendra Modi with defence minister Arun Jaitley, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag during the Combined Commanders' Conference in New Delhi on October 17. (PTI Photo)

The submarines will have the capacity to be equipped with land attack cruise missiles.

The DAC also decided to buy 1,761 units of five spoke 7.5 tonne radio containers at the cost of Rs 662 crore besides acquiring 1,768 critical rolling stock — open and closed wagons for transport of military equipment at a cost of Rs 740 crore.

Both will go to domestic vendors. During his address to those attending the meeting, Jaitley said national security was paramount concern for the government.

He added that all hurdles and bottlenecks in the procurement process should be addressed expeditiously so that the pace of the acquisition is not stymied.

The DAC also approved the purchase of equipment for special operations for the Navy which remained classified.

A Scorpene-type submarine under construction at the DCN Shipyard in Cherbourg. The previous UPA government had gone in for six Scorpene submarines and the first is likely to be delivered only in 2016. (Getty Images photo)

Sources said it is basically for the elite Naval commandos Marcos.

The decision for the purchase of torpedos for the scorpene submarines and heavy calibre guns were put off today on technical grounds, sources said,adding that they are likely to be cleared soon.

The DAC was set up in 2001 as part of the post-Kargil reforms in defence sector.

The council approves the long-term integrated perspective plan for the forces, accords acceptance of necessity ( AON) to begin acquisition proposals, and has to grant its approval to all major deals through all their important phases.

It also has the power to approve any deviations in an acquisition, and recommends all big purchases for approval of the Cabinet committee on security.

In a recent conference of top commanders of the armed forces, Jaitley had said that the process of military acquisitions, which had slowed down due to "some controversies", will be speeded up with at least one meeting per month of DAC.

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Rs 80,000cr worth defence projects cleared, 6 submarines to be built in India

NEW DELHI: Defence projects worth a whopping Rs 80,000 crore were on Saturday cleared by the government which decided that six submarines will be made indigenously and over 8,000 Israeli antitank guided missiles and 12 upgraded Dornier surveillance aircraft will be purchased.

The decisions were taken following a meeting of the defence acquisition council, chaired by defence minister Arun Jaitley, that lasted for over two hours with defence secretary, the chiefs of all three services, DRDO chief and other senior officials attending it.

The bulk of the decisions went in favour of the Navy that was in dire need of up-gradation and capability enhancement.

The big ticket step was the decision to build six submarines in India at a cost of about Rs 50,000 crore rather than source it from outside.

The other major decision was to purchase 8,356 antitank guided missile of Israel worth Rs 3,200 crore rather than the US' Javelin missile for the Indian Army. The Army will also purchase 321 launchers for the missile.

Another 12 Dornier surveillance aircraft with enhanced sensors will also be bought from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at a cost of Rs 1,850 crore.

A Dornier surveillance aircraft deployed by the Indian Coast Guard. (Photo: Getty Images)

The DAC also decided to buy 362 infantry fighting vehicle from the ordinance factory board, Medak in West Bengal for Rs 662 crore.

Giving details of the decision to make the six submarines in the country, official sources said a committee will now be formed by the defence ministry which will study both public and private shipyards over the next 6-8 weeks.

Following this, the ministry will issue request for proposal (RFP) to specific port that will be identified on the basis of the study which will look into whether they have the capacity and manpower to build six submarines in the same port only besides other parametres.

Spike Missile.

The submarines will be air independent propulsion (AIP) capable that will enable them to stay underwater for longer than a conventional submarine besides having enhanced stealth features.

The Navy currently has 13 operational submarines and the target set in 1999 was to have 24 by 2030.

The previous UPA government had gone in for six Scorpene submarines and the first is likely to be delivered only in 2016.

The decision to manufacture the submarines in India is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' pitch.

PM Narendra Modi with defence minister Arun Jaitley, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag during the Combined Commanders' Conference in New Delhi on October 17. (PTI Photo)

The submarines will have the capacity to be equipped with land attack cruise missiles.

The DAC also decided to buy 1,761 units of five spoke 7.5 tonne radio containers at the cost of Rs 662 crore besides acquiring 1,768 critical rolling stock — open and closed wagons for transport of military equipment at a cost of Rs 740 crore.

Both will go to domestic vendors. During his address to those attending the meeting, Jaitley said national security was paramount concern for the government.

He added that all hurdles and bottlenecks in the procurement process should be addressed expeditiously so that the pace of the acquisition is not stymied.

The DAC also approved the purchase of equipment for special operations for the Navy which remained classified.

A Scorpene-type submarine under construction at the DCN Shipyard in Cherbourg. The previous UPA government had gone in for six Scorpene submarines and the first is likely to be delivered only in 2016. (Getty Images photo)

Sources said it is basically for the elite Naval commandos Marcos.

The decision for the purchase of torpedos for the scorpene submarines and heavy calibre guns were put off today on technical grounds, sources said,adding that they are likely to be cleared soon.

The DAC was set up in 2001 as part of the post-Kargil reforms in defence sector.

The council approves the long-term integrated perspective plan for the forces, accords acceptance of necessity ( AON) to begin acquisition proposals, and has to grant its approval to all major deals through all their important phases.

It also has the power to approve any deviations in an acquisition, and recommends all big purchases for approval of the Cabinet committee on security.

In a recent conference of top commanders of the armed forces, Jaitley had said that the process of military acquisitions, which had slowed down due to "some controversies", will be speeded up with at least one meeting per month of DAC.

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PM inaugurates Reliance Foundation Hospital

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the revamped Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai.

Located in south Mumbai, the hospital in its 90th year was rebuilt by the Reliance Foundation, led by its chairperson Nita Ambani, into a modern 19-storey tower with two heritage wings, the foundation said in a statement.

Nita Ambani termed it "a historic day" in the life of the hospital which was re-dedicated to the people of Mumbai.

"Narendra bhai, we assure that this hospital will become a centre of good health and global levels of health care, respect for life, modern technology combined with love and compassion, with dignity to all," Nita Ambani said.

"This will not be just a hospital but an institution of care," she said, adding that words like religion, caste, social strata, age and gender will not interfere with the kind of treatment patients receive.

"We won't just treat health, we will also respect life," and at this institution quality will meet affordability, she added.

Founded in 1925 as Mumbai's first general hospital, it has a rich heritage — it saw the freedom struggle and the Second World War, and Mahatma Gandhi was among its frequent visitors.

The hospital celebrated its silver jubilee with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as its chief guest and the golden jubilee celebrations were graced by Jayaprakash Narayan.

Now in its 90th year, the prime minister is inaugurating its new avatar, the foundation said.

The hospital has collaborations with Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Southern California. It is also equipped with robotic surgery and online video conferencing facility for global consultations.

The hospital's outreach programme currently covers over 310,000 individuals providing preventive and primary healthcare on a digital platform virtually free of cost. It has also initiated steps to adopt nearby areas as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

It has also adopted water recycling and rainwater harvesting programmes, making it one of the greenest health care facilities of its size in the country.

The 345-bed, multi-specialty tertiary care hospital has six thrust areas: cardiac sciences, nephro-urology, neuro sciences, oncology, orthopaedics and spine, and women and child health.

Earlier, Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita and other family members welcomed Modi near the entrance to the hospital, along with Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao.

Present at the inauguration were Kokilaben Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan, Gulzar, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Paresh Rawal, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Praful Patel, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Sonali Bendre, union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis, Vinod Tawde and other celebrities.

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Amit Shah to address Madhya Pradesh BJP meet on Thursday

BHOPAL: BJP national president Amit Shah will be in Bhopal on Thursday to inaugurate the two-day "Sankalp Adhiveshan (pledge convention)" of state party workers to be held at the Dussehra Maidan in BHEL area. Madhya Pradesh BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan said that 23,000 BJP workers will gather for the convention to get guidance from central and state leaders before the urban civic body polls scheduled for November.

"This will be a unique convention with our workers and office bearers before the municipal corporation, municipality and nagar parishad elections," the state BJP chief said. The BJP has 2,500 town centre offices from where 5,000 office bearers will reach Bhopal for the meeting. There will also be 17,000 polling booth heads of the party who will join the convention. In addition all MLAs, MPs, district office bearers and state leaders have been invited for the conference.

"Giving the whole event a family gathering atmosphere will be 12,000 BJP homes in the state capital. Families of BJP leaders and workers in Bhopal will play host and lodge the invitees in their residences. The municipal ward offices of the party will turn into control rooms and help in making the arrangements," Nandkumar Singh Chouhan said. "The present ward councillors have been given the responsibility of working out the lodging arrangements. Staying for two days in a BJP house will send a strong family bonding message to our workers," he added.

While Amit Shah will give the inaugural speech, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will give the valedictory address on Friday and conclude the meeting. Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thavar Chand Gehlot have agreed to address the meet. Newly appointed state party in-charge Vinay Sahastrabuddhe will be unable to attend because of prior engagements abroad.

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Pakistan sends Diwali sweets to President and Prime Minister

NEW DELHI: Despite the bitterness in India-Pakistan ties, Pakistan has sent 'Diwali sweets' to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The sweets, by Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit and his wife, were also sent to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

According to sources, Basit sent the boxes to the Prime Minister's Office for Modi apart from the President and the external affairs minister and seemed an "initiative" taken totally at the high commission level.

Significantly, Indian forces have not offered sweets to their Pakistani counterparts on Diwali in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the border.

The Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir did not exchange sweets and greetings, a goodwill gesture carried out during major occasions, especially festivals like Diwali and Eid.

"In the light of present scenario with Pakistan, this time India has decided not to offer sweets to Pakistan on Diwali," Jalandhar-based BSF IG, Punjab Frontier, Ashok Kumar told over phone.

There were repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC as well as International Border in Jammu and Kashmir recently, he said, adding, therefore, offering of sweets to Pakistani counterparts was "totally out of question".

"This Diwali we did not exchange sweets with the Pakistani side following the heightened tension along the International Border," a senior BSF officer said in Jammu.

The Army also did not hold any function along the Line of Control and no sweets were exchanged with the Pakistani troops.

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French filmmakers make secret documentary on Andaman’s Jarawa tribe, FIR filed

PORT BLAIR: Two French filmmakers have been booked on the charge of trespassing into the protected Jarawa tribal reserve in the Andaman islands and filming a documentary on the threatened aboriginal tribe.

"We have filed an FIR against French director Alexandre Dereims and producer Claire Beilvert for violating the law of the land. Entering the Jarawa area is banned and so are making any contact with them or shooting any photo or video," the Union territory's tribal welfare secretary Theva Neethi Dhas told PTI on Friday.

"The police are investigating the matter and gathering evidences against them. If the charges are proved, it could lead to three years of imprisonment, besides a fine," the secretary said.

He said two local inhabitants have been arrested for allegedly helping the filmmakers to enter the Jarawa area.

The case was registered on October 19 while the incident is said to have happened during March-April.

Two young Jarawas girls, their heads and necks encircled by flower decorations. (Getty Images file photo)

The matter came to light only when the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) reported the matter to the administration.

Dhas said they had already sent notices to the filmmakers, who have returned to their homeland, asking them to restrain from releasing any visual related to the Jarawas.

The administration will also ask the ministry of external affairs to take up the matter with the French government, he said.

Charges against the two French filmakers include violation of Protection of the Aboriginal Tribes (Amendment) Act 2012, Foreigners Amendment Act 2004, and Information Technology Act.

A Jarawa man uses a bow and arrow to fish in low tide in the Indian Ocean. (Getty Images file photo)

Under post-production stage now, the film "Organic Jarawa" is about Utchu, a two-year-old Jarawa boy, his family and friends.

In a Facebook post, the filmmakers defended their action, saying they took the permission of the Jarawa tribe and will show people their reality, beauty, smartness, kindness, happiness to be free and happy in spite of poachers, despite of police and tourists.

"We did not meet the Jarawas to take some pictures on the fly, we made a documentary where the Jarawa speak for the first time," they wrote.

One of the warnings posted by authorities along the Andaman Trunk Road going along the Jarawas' territory. (Getty Images file photo)

Declining in number, the 400-strong Jarawa tribe is extremely vulnerable to diseases. Till 1998, the nomadic hunter-gatherers had hardly any contact with the outside world.

Dhas said the filmmakers gave the tribals rice, cooking oil and biscuits to make them cooperate during the shooting.

"We have spoken with the Jarawas who have confirmed all this. They are very vulnerable to infections from the outside world and this can be dangerous for their health," he said.

Jarawas, among the four major tribes including Great Andamanese, Onge and Sentinelese, are believed to have lived in their Indian Ocean home for up to 55,000 years.

A young Jarawa man with a spear. (Getty Images file photo)

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Black money scandal a broken BJP promise, says Trinamool

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress on Friday blamed the BJP-ruled Centre for playing the politics of blackmail on the black money scandal. "Who is the Government trying to protect in the black money scandal? Is it playing politics to blackmail the culprits? BJP ministers not being transparent," Trinamool Congress said in a statement.

Trinamool demanded, "BJP Government must come clean on black money and reveal names in one go. The selective leaking, rumour mongering and innuendo will not do." Claming that the black money scandal is another one in the long list of promises made by BJP and now broken, it alleged, "So, finally... the cat is out of the bag. Looks like the BJP is petrified about belling 'the black money cat'."

Earlier the Trinamool Congress had dubbed the alleged BJP u-turn on the blackmoney scandal as shocking. It said, "Betrayal of anti-UPA corruption sentiment. Shows BJP and Congress are part of same cosy Delhi nexus. Legalistic arguments about black money by Government are a cop-out. What concrete steps has BJP taken? Setting up toothless Committee not enough."

On October 17, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had targeted the BJP for raising the infiltration bogey, "Infiltration is a central subject. It is not our responsibility. Borders are manned by central agencies like Border Security Force or Seema Suraksha Bal — they are responsible for infiltration," Mamata told reporters. "How much fencing has been completed on the borders? I personally remember that I had to write to Centre for a SSB guard at Pashupati market along the Bengal-Nepal border," she added. "It is the Centre's responsibility to check illegal migration. If any infiltration has taken place, it is their responsibility," she said. Admitting that "some infiltration" has indeed taken place, she explained that the state government would take action whenever "we are informed", but "they do not inform".

The other issues on which Mamata had critised the Centre are:

1) 33,000 blocks country-wide which benefitted from the 100-day work scheme is being cut down to 2,000 odd. Why?

2) Rs 900-crore of NREGA funds is yet to be given to us.

3) JNNURM projects are non-functional for the want of a new name? Do we suffer due to it?

4) The land acquisition act was passed by the UPA-2; but the BJP government hasn't framed rules. So land acquisition even for rehabilitation and railway work is stopped.

5) IAS-IPS officers are being given extension at Central posting without the state in loop.

6) The Centre has scrapped all UN-bound all-parry delegation even without informing the parliament.

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NDA ally PMK alleges 'Hindi imposition' in radio

CHENNAI: PMK, a partner of NDA from Tamil Nadu, on Friday accused the Union government of trying to "impose Hindi" through local radio broadcast and asked the Centre to give up the proposed initiative. "The Centre has planned to impose Hindi through local broadcast by regional radio stations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the name of commercial broadcast," PMK founder leader S Ramadoss, alleged, in a statement here.

Claiming that the duration of such broadcast in Hindi had been fixed for four hours a day, effective October 26, he said, local stations have been asked to re-broadcast Hindi content.

"Though All India Radio officials say that the move is to cut cost and increase revenue from advertisement, the true intention is to propagate Hindi in all the states," he said.

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Lt Gen Mehta becomes first three star General from Kashmir Valley

CHANDIGARH: Lt Gen PS Mehta, a second generation Army Officer, who has his parentage in Shogapora (Badgam) and Singhpora (Baramulla) of Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Sikh officer from the Kashmir valley who has been elevated to the rank of Lt General.

Lt Gen Mehta, at presently posted as Major General, general staff (MGGS) at Western Command headquarters at Chandimandir, has been promoted to the rank of Lt Gen in situ, which means he would continue to be posted as MGGS.

Gen Mehta had completed his studies from Presentation Convent School Srinagar and did his graduation (B Sc.) in 1977 from government degree college Udhampur.

Commissioned into an elite Armoured Regt - SKINNERS HORSE in September 1978, Gen Mehta has an outstanding service track record, having passed out as First in the Order of Merit (Gold Medalist) from Officers Training Academy Chennai.

He has also worked on the subject of 'Resolution of Kashmir Issue' and intends to publish the same as a book to evolve the way for the ultimate resolution of the same.

Lt Gen Mehta's father Colonel Amarjeet Singh Mehta (Retd) an Artillery Officer was also the first commissioned Sikh Officer from Kashmir valley. His father was selected as a guide to Indian Army in 1948 during the Tribal attack on Srinagar who escorted 4-KUMAON battalion in the operations led by Param Vir Chakra awardee, Major Som Nath Sharma, who had achieved martyrdom close to Mehta's village Shogapora.

In his service career spanning over 36 years, Gen Mehta has served in various sectors pan India. He has commanded an Armoured Regt, T-90 Armoured Brigade and an Armoured Division. He has also served in the counter insurgency operations in J&K as a Colonel General Staff. The officer has held many important and prestigious staff appointments like Aide-De-Camp to GOC Corps, Brigade Major of an Armoured Brigade, GSO 1 Strike Corps, Commander of Recruit Training Group Armoured Corps Centre & School, Colonel General Staff of RAPID Division and Colonel General Staff of Counter Insurgency Force, Deputy Director General Military Operations (AHQ), Instructor at the School of Armoured Warfare and Directing Staff at the Higher Command Wing of Army War College.

Lt Gen P S Mehta has become the first Sikh army officer from Kashmir Valley who has become a three star general of the rank of Lt General.

Earlier, General Bikram Singh and General N C Vij, both from Jammu region, has served as army chief but nobody from Kashmir valley had risen to such high rank.

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