Day: September 25, 2012

MNS:- SU-30 MKI aircraft was inducted into Western Air Command in a formal ceremony at Air Force Station Halwara on 25 Sep 12. Air Marshal Arup Raha AVSM VM AOC-in-C Western Air Command IAF was the chief guest for the induction ceremony. He was accompanied by Mrs Lily Raha President AFWWA (Regional).
While the first batch of SU-30 MKI was inducted into IAF in Sep 2002, the 220 Squadron at Halwara known as ‘Desert Tigers’, which flew the MiG-23 aircraft till 2005 is now resurrected with the latest SU-30 MKI Squadron in Western Air Command. The SU-30 MKI is a frontline all-weather air-dominance fighter with multi-role capability, which can undertake varied air combat and ground attack missions. Air Force Station Halwara is one of the oldest frontline Airbases of the IAF. The base has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception as a forward airfield in 1942. Halwara, due to its strategic location was actively involved in both 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. Halwara has been home to Spitfires in early 1950s to being the hub of Mig-23 operations till 2009. It was later chosen to base the first SU-30 MKI Squadron in the Western Air Command in 2011.
The ‘Desert Tigers’ were formed as an offensive fighter Squadron on 09 Feb 1963. The Squadron was initially names as ‘Fighting Tigers’ and flew the first jet aircraft of the IAF, the Vampire. The squadron has changed many bases during its forty years long journey and has taken part in 1965, 1971 and Kargil Operations. While the Squadronflew Vampires during 1965 war, it flew HF-24 Marut in 1971 war from Jodhpur where the Squadron was rechristened as’ Desert Tigers’, the name it is known by till date. The Squadron later went on to fly Mig-23 BN, the supersonic strike fighter till 2009. Having been inactive for two years the ‘Desert Tigers’ were resurrected with state of the art air-dominance fighter SU-30 MKI in Sep 2011. The Squadron has a glorious past and it looks forward to bright future as it readies to spread its wings across the Indian landscape.
Air Force Station Halwara witnessed a well coordinated ceremony on this occasion. Guests from Western Air Command graced the event. The chief Guest was received by Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Halwara, Air Commodore RGK Kapoor VM. An impressive parade contingent presented a general salute to the AOC-in-C. Later the Commanding Officer of the Squadron, Wing Commander SharadAneja took permission from the Air marshal to get airborne in a SU-30 MKI aircraft. The ceremony included an impressive flypast by the SU-30 s of 220 Squadron. The pilots of the Squadron executed the characteristic ‘Trishul’ formation in a spectacular manner signifying their formal induction into the premier Air Command of the IAF. The Air Force personnel and their families witnessed the momentous occasion at Air Force Station Halwara.
Air Marshal Arup Raha AVSM VM in his address congratulated the air warriors of Halwara air base for successful induction fo SU-30 MKI. Heappreciatedthe tireless efforts put in by all personnel in operationalising the Squadron within a very short period. The Squadron has enhanced the operational capability of Western Air Command in a substantial manner. The Air Marshal and his wife interacted with the officers and their spouses during social evening organised at the Officers’ Mess.
Mrs Lily Rahainteractd with the spouses of air warriors (Sanginis) during the customary welfare meeting held at CV Gole auditorium. She also visited various welfare ventures run by President AFWWA (Local), Mrs. (Dr.) SuneetaKapoor.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/induction-ceremony-su-30-mki-at-air-force-station-halwara/

MNS:- A Special Function was organized by the Union Ministry of Culture here today to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Motilal Nehru. The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest and Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council and UPA graced the occasion in the presence of Minister of Defence Shri A.K. Antony, Minister of Finance Shri P. Chidambaram, Minister of HRD and Communications & IT Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Culture and HUPA Kumari Selja and Chairman of the National Implementation Committee Dr. Karan Singh.
The Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram released the Commemorative Coins on the occasion. A Commemorative Stamp on Shri Motilal Nehru was also released by the Communications & IT Minister Shri Kapil Sibal during the Function. President Shri Pranab Mukherjee received the first set of coins and postal stamps released at the function.
The President Shri Pranab Mukherjee in his speech recalled the role of Pt. Motilal Nehru in the national movement of India. Paying rich tributes to the great leader, he listed his achievements like his role in evolving of Public Accounts Committee.
The Chairman of the National Advisory Council and UPA Smt. Sonia Gandhi in her speech said that Pt. Motilal Nehru was committed to communal harmony and secularism and always worked above cast, sect and community. He believed that country is above the community or sect. Referring to his contribution in the national movement of India, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that his most important achievement was ‘Nehru Report’ in 1928 where among other things Pt. Motilal Nehru talked about equal rights for men and women in the country.
The Culture Minister Kumari Selja has said that Pt. Motilal Nehru became one of the wealthiest persons of his times through his hard work. However, he soon abandoned the flourishing career to get actively involved with the national movement. She said, there were several trysts and travails in his political life starting from the Home Rule, starting the Swaraj Party and returning to the fold of Indian National Congress. He rose to head the Indian National Congress twice, at very critical junctures of the freedom struggle.
Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony also remembered the contribution of Pt. Motilal Nehru in the National Movement.
Govt. of India has decided to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Shri Motilal Nehru. A National Committee (NC) has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to consider policies and lay down guidelines for the appropriate commemoration and to decide on the time frame for the Commemoration-related activities. A meeting of the NC was held on 08th June, 2012, wherein various suggestions were given by the Member for the commemoration activities.
A National Implementation Committee (NIC) has also been constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament to implement the decisions of the National Committee.
The first meeting of the National Implementation Committee was held on 6th August, 2012, New Delhi, in which the suggestions of the National Committee held on 8th June, 2012 were considered by the NIC. The NIC has approved proposals for programmes and projects to ensure a befitting commemoration of the multifaceted genius and his contribution in different fields who was a stalwart of the freedom struggle in more ways than one. As draftsman of the Nehru Report of 1928 he laid the foundation stone for a democratic system with adult suffrage, cultural and religious rights for all. In celebrating his memory we also rededicate ourselves to a common legacy created through a selfless public life. Various programmes and projects will be undertaken during the period 2012-13 such as digitisation of the selected works of Shri Motilal Nehru, re-publication of Nehru Report, organizing special lectures and conferences on the theme “Motilal Nehru and the making of modern India”, setting up of a Motilal Nehru Chair in the Allahabad University etc. These programmes will be implemented in association with Central Ministries, State Government and Universities / Institutions.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/commemoration-of-150th-birth-anniversary-of-motilal-nehru/

Jorhat, Sep 25 (ANI): Prison authorities in a low-lying area of Assam’s Jorhat District have shifted 41 prisoners out of a jail after it was inundated with floodwaters.
Prisoners of Garmur Jail were shifted to the Jorhat Central Jail on Monday by ferry under tight security, the officials said.
Buben Nath, the officer -in-charge of the Garmur Police Station, said the prisoners would remain in Jorhat Central Jail until the waters recede.
Floods and landslides caused by relentless rain in northeast India have killed at least 33 people and displaced more than a million over the past week, officials informed.
A total of 166 relief camps have been set up across the state for flood-affected people. Over 2.31 lakh people have taken shelter in the camps.
The National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force, the Army and the Indian Air Force are engaged in rescue and relief operations.
Troops of the Tezpur-headquartered Gajraj Corps of the Indian Army provided relief to more than 6,000 flood-affected people in Sonitpur district in central Assam, besides distributing 2.5 tonnes of food packets.
Floods have also inundated three national parks in Assam including Kaziranga National Park, where two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned Rhinoceroses live. Some animals have been forced out of the park to nearby hills.
The monsoon this year has already caused heavy floods in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and certain parts of northeastern states, leading to severe devastation of life and property.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/floodwater-inundates-assams-garmur-jail-inmates-evacuated/