Excelsior... Nation

SPECIAL REPORT
Over 50 IAF pilots lost in a decade
Authorities require to wake
up from their slumber

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, May 14: The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has called for an "effective" mechanism to ensure the safety of.....more

L K Advani

BJP to abide by court
verdict on Ayodhya
issue, says Advani

NEW DELHI, May 14: In a significant development, Union Home Minister L K Advani today categorically committed before the.....more

AJJM threatens to call
12-hour bandh today

RANCHI, May 14: Opposing the Government’s reported move of setting aside only 27 per cent of jobs ......more

HC summons top officials
from three ministries

NEW DELHI, May 14: Delhi High Court today summoned top officials from three ministries.....more

Senior Citizens Home
for IAF personnel comes
as succour for ‘men
in uniform’

NEW DELHI, May 14: Those who spend their prime in the arduous task of defending the country have in the twilight of their life the right to the care of those whom they stood by in war and peace........more

TDP indicates no
change in ties with
NDA Govt over polls

HYDERABAD, May 14: TDP, a key ally of the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, has indicated there would be no change in its relationship vis a vis the NDA Government following the outcome of the elections in four states and a union territory.....more

Naqvi urges BJP
leadership to win
over minorities

NEW DELHI, May 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should pay more attention to the problems of minorities, backward and weaker sections of the society for strengthening its base, party national secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today.....more

Phenomenol swing
ensures massive
UDF mandate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 14: A phenomenol over five per cent swing in its favour ensured the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala a......more

SPECIAL REPORT
Over 50 IAF pilots lost in a decade
Authorities require to wake up from their slumber

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, May 14: The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has called for an "effective" mechanism to ensure the safety of "precious" pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the aircraft they are handling.

In his meeting with the Minister for Defence and External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh, the Prime Minister was reported to have voiced concern at the situation arising from the crashing of fighter aircraft and death of several pilots.

As many as 185 MIG aircraft crashed in the past one decade, resulting in the death of over 50 pilots. The MIG 21, which crashed during military exercise in Rajasthan the other day, could have been due to "pilot error", the IAF has claimed. The aircraft was flying at low altitude while on a mission in the Operation Poorna Vijay, carried out in the Rajasthan desert by the Armed Forces.

The crash highlighted the safety of flying MIG 21s, which have come to be known as "flying coffins" due to high accident rate. This notwithstanding, the IAF has decided to continue with MIG 21s. Why so? These aircraft, EXCELSIOR was officially told, were capable of carrying out multipurpose jobs.

The MIG 21 which is the lightest aircraft in the Indian Air Force, is still one of the most equipped aircraft for carrying out various operations. At the same time, top echelons of the Air Headquarters will have to accept the fact that the IAF has been plagued by MIG 21 crashes.

Bird hits, maintenance failure and pilot error. These three main causes, it may be recalled, were highlighted by the La Fontaine Committee headed by the then Air Chief Marshal La Fontaine.

Not long ago, Parliamentary Standing Committee had stated that more than 570 aircraft had been lost and over 200 pilots killed, since 1972. In the 1993-98 period, the IAF lost 84 MIG 21s alone. At least another 15 aircraft were lost since April 1999. The cost of each aircraft is of the order of Rs 100 crores, while the cost of the training of pilots is to the tune of Rs 23 crores to Rs 45 crores per pilot.

The cost of a Mirage-2000 aircraft, according to the data made available by the Armed Forces, is well over Rs 100 crores with per hour cost of flying being Rs 9.8 lakhs. A Jaguar aircraft cost Rs 26. 36 crores with per hour flying cost being Rs 2.6 lakhs.

Significantly, the IAF authorities have not denied media reports which have asserted that while the poor condition of MIG 21s is not the only cause of frequent accidents, there are several other contributing factors. One very vital aspect is the inadequate training of the pilots.

There is no advanced jet trainer (AJT) with the Indian Air Force. Most of the training is on the low-demand Kiran aircraft. And it has been reported on more than one occasion that when the pilots graduate to the high-demand MIGs, they find themselves out of their depth.

Is it true that the IAF is not able to attract the best of talent for a career in flying? Is it also true that most of the pilots involved in the crashes are those with a lower flying aptitude?

BJP to abide by court verdict on Ayodhya issue, says Advani

NEW DELHI, May 14: In a significant development, Union Home Minister L K Advani today categorically committed before the Liberhan Commission of inquiry that the court verdict on the Ayodhya issue will be binding on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr Advani, who appeared for the third time before the Liberhan Commission of inquiry probing the December six, 1992 demolition of Babri Mosque, described the demolition as "illegal" he said nothing should be done by force and every effort should be made for a negotiated settlement by securing the consent of the Muslim community in the matter.

Reiterating once again that the December six, 1992 incident left him feeling "extremely distressed", Mr Advani said "so far as the BJP is concerned, I will like to say that we are committed to the rule of law and the Constitution of India and so the court’s directive we will regard as binding. But as Sardar Patel had emphasised in 1949, even while respecting the sentiments of the people which had developed in the matter, nothing should be done by force and an effort should be made for negotiated settlement by securing the consent of the muslim community in the matter."

Explaining how the BJP came to espouse the Ramjanmabhoomi movement, the Home Minister said the then Rajiv Gandhi Government’s decision to overturn the Supreme Court verdict in the Shah Bano case and its move to "actively participate and facilitiate" the ‘Shilanyas’ and opening of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple weighed with the BJP when it was considering the Ayodhya resolution.

The BJP’s resolution on Ayodhya in 1989 was surely influenced by all these developments since the shah bano case, Mr Advani said.

Describing the demolition of the Babri structure as "illegal and forceful", Mr Advani said he was "extremely distressed" by it.

Mr Advani, who had in his deposition before the Commission last month blamed the then P V Narasimha Rao Government’s "inaction" in securing a timely court verdict on the issue for the demolition, today blamed the Congress Government of Rajiv Gandhi for communalising issues.

The Rajiv Gandhi Government’s going back on the Supreme Court judgement on the Shah Bano case to indulge in vote bank politics and placate the minority community was responsible for the BJP taking up Ayodhya as an important issue, the senior party leader said.

"If the Shah Bano episode had not taken place. If the (Rajiv Gandhi) Government had not actively participated and facilitated the ‘Shilanyas’ and opening of the Ramjanmabhoomi Temple gate, maybe this would not have weighed with us when we were thinking of the Ayodhya resolution," he added. (UNI)

AJJM threatens to call 12-hour bandh today

RANCHI, May 14: Opposing the Government’s reported move of setting aside only 27 per cent of jobs for tribals, the Adivasi Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch has threatened to call a 12-hour Jharkhand bandh tomorrow if their demand for 60 per cent job reservation were not met.

The Manch has also threatened to launch a "do or die" agitation for the restoration of tribal identity and 60 per cent quota for the tribal people in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly.

AJJM leader and former chairman of the Ranchi Regional Development Authority Bandhu Tirkey called upon the local political leaders to shun their differences and unite for safeguarding the identity of the tribals which, he said, was under "threat" due to the influx of outsiders and migration of local people in search of jobs.

The Adivasi Chatra Sangh members, against demanding 60 per cent reservation in jobs, had gheroed the Chief Minister’s residence yesterday for about five hours.

The gherao was withdrawn after an assurance from the authorities that they would hold a dialogue with their representatives today. The proposed reservation policy, increasing the upper limit of reservation to 60 per cent and giving 27 per cent reservation to tribals, has been criticised by almost all political parties.

A report, which had led to the Chatra Sangh’s demonstration here, said the Chief Minister had recently given his consent to a decision extending 27 per cent reservation to the tribals, 11 per cent to the scheduled caste and 22 per cent to the other backward castes.

The Scheduled Caste reservation had been brought down by four per cent while that of the other backward castes by two per cent, the party alleged.

The CPI, describing it as "anomalous," demanded immediate review of the proposal and further increase in the percentage of the reservation extended to scheduled castes and the other backward castes.

It also demanded further hike in the reservation for the tribals by asking for 70 per cent reservation in Government jobs for the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and the Other Backward Castes.

The major opposition Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had also opposed the proposed reservation policy and demanded at least 40 per cent reservation for the tribals. Morcha leader Stephen Marandi said the state’s reservation policy should be based on the survey report of 1932.

On the other hand, Samata Party state unit chief and Minister of State for Excise Ramesh Singh Munda described the state’s proposed reservation policy as "balanced" and added that justice had been done to all sections of society on the basis of their demographic presence in the state.

Advocating the case of the other backward castes, Janata Dal (United) Legislature Party leader and State Power Minister Lalchand Mahato said the quantum of reservation to them should be further increased on the basis of their population in the state.

Welcoming the 27 per cent reservation offered to the scheduled tribes and 11 per cent to the Scheduled Castes, Mr Mahato said the Government must frame its reservation policy keeping the interests of the other backward castes in view.

The proposed reservation policy, offering only 22 per cent to the other backward castes, would be strongly opposed in the cabinet, he added. (UNI)

HC summons top officials from three ministries

NEW DELHI, May 14: Delhi High Court today summoned top officials from three ministries to state their responses on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to revise the rent of residential accommodation at Rajaji Marg here which has been leased to the British High Commissioner under a reciprocal arrangement.

A division bench of Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D K Jain said officials not below the rank of Joint Secretary from the Ministries of External Affairs, Urban Development and Finance must appear in person alongwith the records on July 17.

The court, upset over the Government’s non-responsive attitude, listed the matter for final disposal on that date.

On November 17 last year, the court had asked the ministries to respond on the PIL filed by advocate B L Wadehra. Several hearings later, on april 11, it gave the last opportunity for responses to come in. None did.

The PIL says the Crown Estate Commissioner has already revised the premium and ground rent for residence of Indian High Commissioner in London during 1994 on commercial basis.

But the Indian Government has failed to revise premium and ground rent for the past ten years. India continues to charge very low amount of rent from the British High Commission while having paid Rs 69.48 crore annually towards premium of 9 kpg London and an annual ground rent of Rs 4.96 lakh from 1990.

The size of land at 2 Rajaji Marg is about 3.6 acres compared to only one acre of 9 kpg London.

When the time for renewal of lease for Rajaji Marg accommodation coincided with that of 9 kpg London in 1990, the Ministries of External Affairs and Urban Development determined the commercial value of premium for Delhi property at Rs 118.40 crore and Rs 59.20 crore towards commuted value of ground rent over a period of 50 years on the principle of doubling the ground rent every 10 years.

Between June 1990 and March 1994, the PIL said, officers of the External Affairs Ministry held nine meetings on the modalities of application of the leased term. But the matter is still hanging.

The Government has already lost the interest value of Rs 120 crore on the total amount of Rs 177.60 crore at the maximum borrowing rate of 14 per cent after allowing for the rent of Rs six lakh per month being charged from January 1995 to December 1999.

The PIL said despite the past experience of 1988, the British High Commission refused to pay arrears of rent due to retrospective revision, the External Affairs Ministry did not obtain any undertaking from them that they would accept the revised rent from 1990 even if it is determined later.

"There is visible lack of appropriate level of interest and non-performance of statutory duty on the part of both ministries which has resulted in serious injury to the public interest," the PIL said adding those responsible for the losses should be held accountable. (UNI)

Senior Citizens Home for IAF personnel comes
as succour for ‘men in uniform’

NEW DELHI, May 14: Those who spend their prime in the arduous task of defending the country have in the twilight of their life the right to the care of those whom they stood by in war and peace.

They need to be in the ‘arm of belonging’ where their feeble voices get an ear and the attention and understanding they deserve.

And it is with this aim that the Air Force Association (AFA) has set up senior citizens home for its personnel at Delhi.

In the post ‘year of the aged’ era when various schemes are being scouted around to ameliorate the lot of the elderly, the one by the AFA adds significantly to the effort.

The senior citizens home here at Tughlakabagh provides room for all their concerns, including social and cultural, and more.

"The need for one such centre, exclusively for the air force personnel, became necessary in the light of difficulties cropping up in old age in managing a full-fledged residential unit on one’s own. Among several difficulties being faced by them include one of maintenance which consumes all their free time and saps their energy, " says Brigadier Mohinder Singh, President Indian Ex-services League.

"Besides, physical security and the health factor of elders are also a major concern, even while sharing household with children, especially when both spouses are working," he adds.

Vishisth Seva Medal (VSM) winner, group captain (retd) D C Bakshi, one of the pillars of the home and secretary of the Air Force Association, says the main aim to bring up the SCH is to give the retired air force personnel some sort of peace and dignity in their remaining days.

With a sense of hurt he says, "setting up an ‘age care centre’ became all the more imperative in the background of the absence of the culture of honouring valour and sacrifice of those who did the country proud in war and in peace as well."

On how the noble idea took shape, he says the Association felt the need to extend a helping hand to its growing number of aged members over the years and provide a holistic cover to them.

"The thrust is on offering an institutional support to those who have no physical and emotional support of their near and dear ones readily at hand," he adds.

This first ‘Senior Citizens Home’ (SCH) at Delhi, offering services on a ‘pay and stay’ basis, has come up with active support from the Indian Air Force Welfare Fund.

An imposing four-storeyed structure, the SCH at Tughlakabad has two wings - one for the officers and the other for pbors, having 37 fully furnished rooms in each block.

Admission is restricted to only those AFA members who are above 65 years of age (60 years in case of women).

The plush SCH boasts of having its own ambulance, and will soon have a dining hall, bar, laundry, local/STD telecom facility, video connections, card room, yoga/physical exercise hall and a reading room.

Open to all officers and pbors—both serving and retired—their families and widows, it also helps facilitate AFA members and the air force fraternity in their travelling via Delhi through its affordable, decent and well-connected dwelling unit.

On the need for setting up one such SCH even when several others existed, captain Bakshi says the place of pride and dignity that these servicemen deserve has been eluding them in the various ‘homes’ that the city provides.

Age care centres in metros whose credibility have often been found at rockbottom levels hardly leave room for ‘men in uniform,’ who have seen discipline and decorum at every phase of life, to seek solace in them, he adds.

"And when the helping hand of yesteryear itself seeks solace in the arms of old-age, the gregarious yearning for help, without strings attached, becomes more and more pronounced. It is at this stage that life for a mortal has less of any other desire except a longing for peace and a sense of belonging." (UNI)

TDP indicates no change in ties with NDA Govt over polls

"The TDP was never a part or participant of the NDA Government and hence the election results do not in any way alter our party’s stand on any issue", the party’s official spokesman R Chandrasekhar Reddy told PTI here today.

According to Reddy, who participated in the informal meeting of senior party leaders convened by Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu at his jubilee hills residence last night to review poll results, TDP was of the opinion the voters had given their verdict keeping in view various "permutations and combinations and other local specific issues".

However, so far Naidu has not reacted openly on the poll outcome, indicating a cautious line in dealing with emerging post-poll scenario which may pose problems for the NDA Government.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister was back to his usual routine today attending to various programmes. He held a teleconference with his ministerial colleagues to review the forthcoming "Mini Mahandu", the party’s three-day annual convention to be held at Visakhapatnam from May 27.

Among a host of other issues, the convention is also likely to discuss the political developments at state and national level including the outcome of the recent elections, party sources said. (PTI)

Naqvi urges BJP leadership to win over minorities

"It is wrong to say that the party has nothing to do with the just concluded Assembly elections in four states and the Union Territory of Pondichery," he told UNI.

It is a fact that the BJP is in power at the centre and its efforts should be to broaden the base of the party, he added.

The BJP leadership should ponder over the idea why the minorities, weaker sections and backwards are still reluctant to align themselves with the party, which has done considerable work for their uplift, Mr Naqvi asked.

However, he was categorical that the Congress win in Kerala, Assam and Pondichery in no way reflected the victory of party’s policies and programmes. The party won mainly due to the anti-incumbancy factor, Mr Naqvi added.

He urged the party leaders to launch massive campaign to win over the support of the minorities. There is a need to restore in them the confidence in the policies of the NDA Government.

Mr Naqvi said the party should prepare itself for elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. (UNI)