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Time to end debate over one-month extension given to Army Chief

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Time to end debate over one-month extension given to Army Chief

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) In what seems like a well orchestrated plan, some critics are continuing with their tireless attacks on the BJP-led NDA government for giving a one-month extension in service to Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande by labeling it as an “unusual move” even though Modi 3.0, right at the start of its third consecutive term, has appointed Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi as the next COAS with effect from the afternoon of June 30.

On May 26, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved General Pande’s one-month extension beyond his normal age of superannuation – May 31, 2024 – up to June 30 under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954.

Creating controversy out of thin air, many so-called ‘experts’ on defence matters tried to shape a particular narrative around the government’s decision, speculating that there could be plans in store to break the succession line by ignoring the seniority principle.

On the other hand, it was quite clear that the Modi government was not keen on going ahead with the process for appointment of a new Army chief considering that the country was in the midst of Lok Sabha elections.

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The appointment of Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next COAS on Tuesday should have quelled all the rumours but many entities, which had earlier consistently tried to influence the voter mindset, continue with their deliberate propaganda by demanding an explanation from the government on the entire extension issue.

They also fail to recall that, in May 2014, it was the BJP which had protested the decision made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to appoint Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh as the next Chief of Army Staff, insisting that it should be the new government which should have the right to choose the next COAS.

The Election Commission of India then stated: “The Model Code of Conduct is not applicable to any matter pertaining directly to the defence forces, be it the recruitments/ promotions for defence forces, all service matters pertaining to them, defence purchases of all kinds, tenders relating to the matter of the defence forces and consequently no reference need be sent to the Commission pertaining to model code in these matters”.

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The BJP, it seems, has stood firm on its stance for the last 10 years, which also explains the one-month extension given to General Manoj Pande.

The government led by PM Modi has also worked extensively over the last decade to create more synergy among the three Services.

Late Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat, also India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), played a key role in taking forward Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ushering in more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the Tri-Services through joint planning and integration.

At the same time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has successfully led the massive initiative of indigenisation of defence technology to achieve the aim of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, making it clear that the country has to become self-reliant in defence manufacturing in order to become a military power at the global level.

In an interview with IANS last month, Defence Minister Singh stated that defence will take a pivotal lead as India sets its vision on becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) by 2047.

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“I don’t want to say that we will reach the top position in defence exports soon. However, we will try our best to achieve that. Not only in defence, but also in other sectors. We want India to grow exponentially. I want India to become a world superpower, not to attack or take control of any country, but for the well-being of the world,” said Singh.

–IANS

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National

Defence Ministry: Year 2025 will be year of reforms

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rajnath singh with armed forces chief

On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry announced that 2025 will be designated as the “Year of Reforms,” with a primary focus on establishing integrated theatre commands to enhance collaboration among the three branches of the military.

These reforms are aimed at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry stated.

The initiative will emphasize emerging domains such as cyber and space, alongside cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the “Year of Reforms” as a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the armed forces.

“It will set the stage for significant advancements in the nation’s defense capabilities, ensuring the security and sovereignty of India in the face of 21st-century challenges,” he said.

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A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning

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A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning, according to the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR).

The district administration reported no casualties or property damage following the quake.

The tremor occurred at 10:24 am, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.

Last month, the region experienced four seismic events exceeding a magnitude of 3, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor just three days ago, with its epicenter also near Bhachau.

Earlier tremors in the area included a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on December 23 and a 3.2 magnitude event on December 7, according to ISR reports.

Kutch was also jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on November 18, 2024. On November 15, a 4.2 magnitude quake hit Patan in north Gujarat, based on ISR data.

Gujarat is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, having experienced nine major earthquakes over the past 200 years, according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 earthquake in Kutch, which occurred on January 26, was the third-largest and second-most destructive in India in the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.

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Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over concert songs

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Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana faced legal hurdles after a complaint was filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

Following the complaint, the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, issued a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prohibit Dosanjh from performing specific songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice specifically targets songs accused of promoting alcohol, including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, and Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya), even if the lyrics are slightly modified. The complaint points to previous warnings issued to Dosanjh by various commissions advising against performing these controversial tracks.

Despite these warnings, the singer allegedly continues to perform the songs with minor alterations. Dharenavar raised serious concerns about the influence of such music on young audiences, especially when minors are present at live events.

Adding to the controversy, Dharenavar referenced a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which directed law enforcement to ensure that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are not played at public events, including concerts. This ruling underscores the legal basis for the complaint and has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event.

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UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

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UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

Five people sustained injuries when a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district late last night.

Sanjay Nishad shared details of the incident, stating that the accident injured five party workers, including four women.

“I was traveling with the convoy to participate in the Constitutional Rights Yatra organized by the party on Tuesday night. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch,” Nishad explained.

The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta, and Iravati Nishad.

Senior police and administrative officials quickly arrived at the scene following the incident to oversee the situation.

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Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

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Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher found dead after accusing the company of copyright violations, has alleged that her son was “murdered” and called for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.

Poornima Rao, Suchir’s mother, claimed her son’s death was a “cold-blooded murder” that authorities wrongly ruled as suicide. She further disclosed that a private autopsy report conflicted with the findings of the initial police investigation.

Rao alleged that her son’s apartment had been “ransacked” and cited evidence of a struggle in the bathroom, including bloodstains that suggested he had been assaulted.

“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy to uncover the truth. The private autopsy does not confirm the cause of death stated by the police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom, and it appears he was hit based on blood spots. This is a cold-blooded murder being misclassified as a suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco won’t deter us from seeking justice. We demand an FBI investigation,” Rao wrote on X.

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Elon Musk reacted to Rao’s post, commenting, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”

Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment months after accusing OpenAI of violating copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT, as reported by Fox News. Despite these claims, the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide.

On October 24, shortly before his death, Balaji voiced doubts about the “fair use” defense in generative artificial intelligence. “I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I’m skeptical ‘fair use’ would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,” he wrote on X.

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