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Acquisition process for AJT NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The much awaited acquisition process for the....more
DMK yet to decide NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which has......more
IAF remembers martyrs NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The aircraft in the missing man formation was....more 8 members of FARRUKHABAD (UP), Oct 8: Eight members of a family, including six...more |
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Cong under Sonia CHENNAI, Oct 8: Congress may have improved its tally in........more
Laloo alleges massive NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Laloo Prasad....more
One tiger poached JAIPUR, Oct 8: On an average, one tiger is killed for its bones and skin.....more SAMASTIPUR, Oct 8: Two people were killed in a clash between...more |
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Acquisition process for AJT finally underway: Tipnis NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The much awaited acquisition process for the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), a most pressing need for the Indian Air Force, is finally underway, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis announced today. "I am happy to report that the long-awaited acquisition process (for the AJT) is underway. The Sukhoi-30 and MiG-21 bis upgrade programmes are progressing, so are many other programmes", the Air Chief said adding that to ensure an effective deterrence and a winning capability, the IAF had to be well equipped and on the alert continuously. Air Chief Marshal Tipnis, addressing the Air Force Day parade here, said the IAF’s role in pushing the Pakistani infiltrators back across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector had been acknowledged. "Our strong state of operational readiness was responsible for the containment of the action and preventing the misadventures from greater foolhardiness. Misadventurers will also think twice before attempting any provocative snooping into our air space- certainly they will not ignore our air warnings in the future". Earlier, the Air Chief reviewed a neat parade by six squadrons and also gave away 19 Vayu Seva Medals and 28 Vishisht Seva Medals. The 67th Air Force Day parade came to an end with a triumphant fly past by 35 frontline fighter, transport and helicopter aircraft that created spectacular formations in the sky. Poignant was the tribute paid to the airmen who maid the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation— a box of three MiG 21s flying by with one blank slot to signify those who took off but did not come back. The Air Chief also released a first day cover depicting the vampire aircraft to mark the 51st year of jet flying in the IAF. Three MI-17 helicopters in VIC formation led the parade and they were followed by an IL-76 flanked by two AN-32S and a pair of DO-228 in the big boy formation. The ‘missing man’ formation of three MiG-21 fighters streamed through the sky followed in waves by five arrowhead formations each of MiG-27, Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar warplanes. Nine Kirans gave a thrilling finale with a show of aerobatics. To the sound of bugles, the six squadrons of the IAF led by group Captain Rajesh Sobti, smartly marched in. Speaking about the country’s security, Air Chief Marshal Tipnis said "we cannot rest yet, as there is respite to national security. Only our eternal vigilance will ensure our security. We have to train well, fly with optimum efficiency and safety. Our vigilance and operational efficiency paid off when the Pakistani Navy Atlantique Maritime strike aircraft was shot down when it intruded provocatively into our territory in the Kutch area. "We are getting necessary support from the Government for modernisation and enhancement of fire-power, surveillance and reaction capability. Our strength must deter the enemy," he said. The Air Chief Marshal said problems of accomodation for officers will be resolved soon, adding that "we will make an all round improvement in the quality of life." A vampire was rolled into the parade ground to enable the public to glimpse the aircraft which acquired fame in its operation in Burma and Kashmir. Former Chiefs of Air Staff - Arjun Singh, Satya Mehra, Sumit Mehra, N C Suri - and Vice Chief of Air Staff Chandrashekhar were present on the occasion. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Colonel General Anatoly Mikhailovich Kornukov was also present to witness the IAF parade, the display of AN-32, MI-17, Mirage-2000, MiG-23, MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Sukhoi-30 aircrafts and the spell-binding air show. (UNI) |
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DMK yet to decide on ministries it will stake claim NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which has 12 members elected to the new Lok Sabha is yet to decide on the number of ministries it would stake claim in the next Government to be headed by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. Talking to newspersons here today, senior DMK leader Murasoli Maran said his party would keep in mind requirements of Tamil Nadu before taking a decision. In any case, it was premature to discuss these things till the National Democratic Alliance formally met during the day. Replying to questions, Mr Maran said in a coalition Government, the Prime Minister’s prerogative as well as the sentiments of the constituents should govern ministry making. He, however, made it clear that the DMK, unlike Ms Jayalalitha, "would not resort to blackmailing the Central Government" but would bargain in the interest of the state. He dismissed as "speculations", reports that he would stake claim for the prestigious Finance Ministry saying he had seen such reports in a section of the press. DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has also arrived in the capital to attend the NDA meeting. He is expected to stay here for a day or two. (UNI) |
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IAF remembers martyrs on 67th Air Force Day NEW DELHI, Oct 8: The aircraft in the missing man formation was not there, but the space in between said it all as the Indian Air Force today remembered those who did not come back at an impressive parade and investiture ceremony to mark the 67th Air Force Day. Squadron leaders Ajay Ahuja and Rajiv Pundhir, Flight Lieutenant S Muhilan and Sergeants R K Sahu and Ravi and their wonderful flying machines were conspicuous by their absence in the missing man formation as 40 front-line fighter and transport aircraft and helicopters presented a breath-taking fly-past at Palam base here. As the three MiG-21S in missing man formation — a box with one aircraft deliberately missing — roared overhead, images of the brave pilots and men who laid down their lives in the recent Kargil conflict were on top of every mind. Also remembered was young Flt Lt Gaurav Chibber, who came back victorious from Kargil, but died in a MiG-29 crash in Himachal Pradesh just days before he was awarded Vayu Sena medal and was to get married. The fly-past started with five transport planes — an IL-76 flanked on both sides by an AN-32 and Dornier Aircraft each — droning over the audience in big boy formation. Next came the three MiG-21 fighters in missing man formation, to be followed by waves of five each MiG-27S, Mirage-2000S, MiG29S and Jaguar fighter bombers, all in arrow formation at 15 second intervals. What followed next swept everyone off their feet. The renowned Surya Kiran acrobatic team of the IAF comprising nine bright red painted Kiran MK-II jet trainers drew thunderous applause of the audience as they performed breath-taking manoeuvres in different formations and left trails of smoke in national colours in the hazy sky. The Surya Kiran team made several passes over a spell-bound audience, making loops and doing vertical climbs in a variety of formations including parallel row, Columbia, Diamond and Sukhoi, and had the schoolkids present in large numbers as cheer-leaders rolling over with excitement. The grand-finale was a loop culminating in a separation on the dive, creating an inverted tree as the bright red Kirans thundered away in different directions, leaving the audience begging for an encore. How do they do it, a reaction by a lady summed it all as a four-year-old wannabe pilot announced I will surely join the air force. (PTI) |
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Cong under Sonia fared worse, says Kumaramangalam CHENNAI, Oct 8: Congress may have improved its tally in a few states but its overall performance under Sonia Gandhi is nothing to write home about, senior BJP leader and Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam said today. Just because Gandhi won both Amethi and Bellary seats does not mean Congress has fared well. This is an illusion because when you project a Prime Ministerial candidate, voters tend to accept it, he told reporters at the Chennai airport. Asked on the effect of Gandhi’s foreign origin in the two constituencies, Kumaramangalam said overall she staked as a Congress leader. As a Congress leader, the party has done worse. To a query on NDA’s dismal performance in Karnataka, he said people did not accept the alliance with Janata Dal (U). There was the anti-incumbency factor... Also there was no proper co-ordination among party workers, he said. The NDA’s sweep in Bihar indicated that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was acceptable to people in that state as was the case in Tamil Nadu, he added. (PTI) |
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SAMASTIPUR, Oct 8: Two people were killed in a clash between supporters of a RJD nominee and an independent candidate in Samastipur district of Bihar last night, police said today. Tension gripped Ganjadharpur village after the incident and police patrolling was intensified in the area, Police Superintendent D N Gupta said. (PTI) |
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8 members of a family killed in house collapse FARRUKHABAD (UP), Oct 8: Eight members of a family, including six children, were buried alive when their house collapsed due to heavy rains in a village in Kaimganj tehsil of the district, police said here today. An old woman of the deceased family, however, survived in the mishap, police said. A cash relief of Rs one lakh will be provided to the old woman by the district authorities, police said. (PTI) |
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