Mumbai, August 16: In another date with the Navy after spending time on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission the largest-ever warship built in India till now, the 6,800-tonne destroyer INS Kolkata, at Mumbai on Saturday.

The entire programme to build INS Kolkata and two follow-on destroyers (INS Kochi and INS Chennai), being undertaken at the Mazagon Docks under the Rs 11,662 crore Project-15A, is running several years behind schedule. Once the construction of these three destroyers was over, the plan was to launch Project-15B to build four guided missile stealth destroyers.

Both INS Kolkata and INS Kamorta are part of the 44 warships currently on order in Indian shipyards at a cost of over Rs 2 lakh crore, as part of the endeavour to steadily build a three-dimensional blue-water Navy capable of taking care of India's huge strategic interests in the region stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait.

The largest warship being indigenously built, of course, is the 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at the Cochin Shipyard. The Modi government recently cleared the allocation of Rs 19,000 crore to complete its construction, which had derailed due to paucity of funds, as was first reported by TOI.

Around 75% of the carrier's basic structure, including the hull and deck, has been completed till now at a cost of around Rs 3,500 crore. Now, the superstructure, the upper decks, the cabling, sensors, weapons and the like will be integrated on INS Vikrant, which will be commissioned only in 2018 as per the re-revised timeframe.

Though the IAC project was approved in January 2003, the actual construction of the huge warship began only in 2006. After the carrier's keel was laid in 2009, it was "launched" into water in August last year.

Much like aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, which was dedicated to the nation by Modi in June, INS Kolkata is also somewhat naked in the absence of long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) systems to tackle enemy aircraft, drones and missiles.

Sanctioned in 2005 at a cost of Rs 2,606 crore to arm major Indian warships, the joint DRDO-Israeli Aerospace Industries development project is yet to deliver the requisite LR-SAMs with an interception range of 70-km.

Moreover, INS Kolkata is also bereft of critical advanced light towed array sonars (ALTAS), which tail behind warships to detect and track enemy submarines on the prowl. It has hull-mounted sonars, towed array ones provide better detection capabilities.

New Delhi, August 16: In his maiden Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to work for a new and clean India by shedding the "poison" of communalism and making the country the world's manufacturing hub.

Addressing tens of thousands of cheering people gathered at the Red Fort complex on a bright morning, Modi spoke for over an hour, focussing mainly on nation building and underlining the need to forge national consensus on major issues.

In the process, Modi, 63, who took charge of India May 26, outlined his vision for the country, frankly admitting the faults within and calling on neighbouring countries to team up with India to battle poverty.

He also announced a burial of the Planning Commission, saying it was not needed any more. He said a new institution will take its place.

For the first time in years, there was no reference to Pakistan in the Independence Day address. Indeed, he made no mention to any other country except neighbouring Bhutan and Nepal which he recently visited.

Indians, he said, needed to give up the "poison" of casteism and communalism and added it was a shame that these plagued India even so many years after independence.

"How long will this continue?" he asked, sounding emotive. "We have fought enough, we have killed enough. Turn back and see, has anyone gained anything?"

He said decades of bloodshed had caused deep wounds to "Bharat Mata", adding there should be no violence for 10 years.

Wearing his trademark white half-sleeve kurta pyjama with a polka-dotted flaming orange turban, Modi reached the 17th century Red Fort after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

Before beginning the speech, Modi -- in a departure from convention -- took salute from the armed forces. He spoke mostly extempore, occasionally looking down for a peek at his notes.

Asking the world to "Come, Make in India!", Modi urged global investors to make this country a manufacturing hub.

"I tell the world, Make in India! Sell anywhere but manufacture here. We have the skill and talent."

He said it should be every Indian's dream to see "Made in India" products around the world -- green friendly and with zero defects.

Reiterating his dream to make India a clean place, Modi asked: "Do we want to live in filth?"

He said India should become clean and hygienic by 2019 -- the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a staunch believer in cleanliness.

Modi made special reference to women's safety and the girl child.

Despairing over India's skewed sex ratio, he told Indians to end female foeticide. "I appeal to parents not to sacrifice the girl child."

Modi added: "Our heads hang in shame when we hear news about rape."

Dubbed by critics as a divisive personality, the prime minister underlined the need to take everyone along. "Let us walk together, think together, and make a determination to take ahead the nation together."

Lending a personal touch, the prime minister hailed Indian democracy for allowing a person from "a poor family, an ordinary family" to assume the country's top post.

"I stand before you today not as the prime minister but as the Pradhan Sevak (Chief Public Servant)." The remark, made at the start of his speech, drew thunderous applause.

Modi also called himself "an outsider to Delhi. But an outsider came to Delhi and got an insider view (of the administration)".

New Delhi, August 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a message posted on micro-blogging website Twitter, said: “I convey my greetings to the people of Pakistan”.

The Indian premier’s message came days after he accused Pakistan of waging “a proxy war” in Kashmir.

Right from Narendra Modi hs became India's Prime Minister, a series of dialouge was initiated in a friendly manner. Pakistan also seemed responding positive to India's attempts to strenghten bi-lateral relations. But, the the continued ceasefire violation by Pakistan army is diluting the process.

New Delhi, August 14: Parliamentary approval was accorded to two bills seeking to end the collegium system for appointment of judges with the Rajya Sabha on Thursday adopting the measure as passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The Constitution (99th Amendment) Bill, which seeks to put the proposed judicial appointment commission and its entire composition in the constitution, and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, which lays down the procedure to be followed by the proposed body for appointment of Supreme Court judges and transfer and appointment of chief justices and other judges of the high courts, will now go for the president's assent.

The bills were passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, and the Rajya Sabha passed them on Thursday.

In the upper house, where the government has just 59 of the 243 members, the constitutional amendment bill got the support of 179 out of 180 members present.

A bill for amending the constitution needs the support of at least two-thirds of the members present in the house, and at least half of the members should be present at the time of voting.

Ram Jethmalani, an Independent member from Rajasthan, was the only member who abstained from voting. The Rajya Sabha then passed the judicial appointment commission bill with a voice vote.

The two bills seek to scrap the collegium system of appointing judges and set up a commission for this.

The bills propose that the Chief Justice of India will head a six-member National Judicial Appointments Commission, other members of which would be the law minister, two senior Supreme Court judges and two eminent people.

A collegium comprising the prime minister, the Chief Justice of India and the leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha will select the two eminent people.

One eminent person will be nominated from among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, minorities or women.

The bill states that the commission will seek the views of the governor and chief minister of the state concerned in writing before appointing or transferring a judge of that high court.

New Delhi, August 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to unveil an ambitious financial inclusion scheme on the Independence Day tomorrow to provide bank accounts to 15 crore poor persons with an overdraft facility of Rs 5,000 and accident insurance of Rs 1 lakh reports PTI.

The-two phase Financial Inclusion Mission, which has been approved by the Cabinet, will be formally launched by Modi here at the end of this month, sources said.

The government is gearing up to operationalise the scheme across the country on August 28 or 29, they added.

The scheme, to be pushed by the government in a mission mode, seeks to provide two accounts to 7.5 crore identified households by August 2018.

The main features of the scheme include Rs 5,000 overdraft facility for Aadhar-linked accounts, Ru Pay Debit Card with inbuilt Rs 1 lakh accident insurance cover and minimum monthly renumeration of Rs 5,000 to business correspondents who will provide the last link between the account holders and the bank.

The new scheme, sources said, is a significant improvement over the UPA's financial inclusion programme.

The earlier scheme had no focus on households and no emphasis was given on urban financial inclusion, according to some experts. Besides, they maintained that there was a cumbersome Know Your Customer formality, restricting account opening.

Other deficiencies cited included lack of credit disbursement and 47 per cent of business correspondents being untraceable, resulting in inactive accounts.

The new scheme, sources said, has tried to address all the possible deficiencies and its monitoring would be done at state and district levels.

The 'mission mode' approach has been envisaged with the Finance Minister as head of the mission.

New Delhi, August 14: President Pranab Mukherjee today said intolerance and violence is a betrayal of the letter and spirit of democracy and slammed those who believe in the "poison drip of inflammatory provocation", news agency PTI reported.

In his Independence Day-eve address to the nation, he referred to bigotry and noted that an increasingly turbulent international environment has sparked off rising dangers "in our region and beyond".

"Though an ancient civilisation, India is a modern nation with modern dreams. Intolerance and violence is a betrayal of the letter and spirit of democracy. Those who believe in the poison drip of inflammatory provocation do not understand India's values or even its present political impulses.

Indians know that progress, economic or social, is difficult without peace," Mukherjee said. The President's remarks assume significance in the context of rising incidents of communal violence in the country.

He recalled Maratha king Shivaji's letter to Aurangzeb when he imposed 'jizya'. He told the emperor that Shah Jehan, Jehangir and Akbar could also have levied this tax "but they did not give place to bigotry in their hearts, as they considered all men, high and low, created by God to be examples of the nature of diverse creeds and temperaments".

Mukherjee said the 17th century epistle of Shivaji carries a message, which is universal. It must become a living testament that guides our behaviour today. "We can least afford to forget this message at a time when an increasingly turbulent international environment has sparked off rising dangers in our region and beyond, some clearly visible, and some crawling out of the debris of unprecedented turmoil," he said.

Strongly disapproving of disruptions in Parliament, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the need of the hour is to restore the grandeur and glory of institutions that have sustained democracy. "I sometimes wonder: has our democracy become too noisy?

Have we lost the heart of contemplation and calm thinking?Is is not the time to restore the grandeur and glory of our institutions that have sustained and nourished our beautiful democracy.

Should not Parliament become the great hall of sombre thought and well debated legislation? Should not our courts of law become temples of justice? This calls for collective action by all the stakeholders," the President said in his Independence day-eve address to the nation.

He said freedom is a celebration and independence is a challenge. In the 68th year of freedom, India has reaffirmed the power of individual and collective liberties by electing through a remarkably peaceful electoral process, a stable government with a clear majority for a single party after three decades.

Mukherjee said the increase in voter turnout to 66 percent from 58 per cent in the last elections showed the vitality of democracy."This achievement has given us an opportunity to take up the challenge of governance by reforming the policies, practices and systems of governance so that the enormous aspirations of our people can be fulfilled with vision, commitment, integrity, speed and administrative capability," he said.

Hyderabad, August 13: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up a unit in Telangana with an investment of Rs.1,600 crore, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Wednesday.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, Wednesday announced that the state government will allot 100 acres of land for the project at Nagarjuna Sagar, famous for a dam across the Krishna river. He told a meeting of officials that after scouting various states for a suitable location for the strategic unit, the DRDO finalised Nagarjuna Sagar in Nalgonda district.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, this will be the first such defence unit of its kind in India. It, however, did not reveal the nature of the project.

"Only five countries has this kind of unit. Presently, the Indian defence establishment depends on a unit located in Moscow for its requirements," the statement quoted the chief minister as saying at the meeting convened to review the project.

The facility will also have the capability to meet the requirements of other countries.

KCR said the required electricity and water would be supplied for the facility. He asked officials to immediately accord all clearances.The chief minister hoped that the DRDO unit will give recognition to Nagarjuna Sagar.

He also announced that an air strip will be constructed in the town, which will not only meet the requirements of defence but will also benefit tourists. The DRDO has several laboratories in Hyderabad.

New Delhi, August 13: In an Independence Day gift of sorts, petrol will be cheaper by at least Rs.2.18 per litre, including local levies, effective August 15, it was announced on Wednesday.

"Indian Oil Corporation has decided to decrease the retail selling price of petrol w.e.f midnight of 14th/15th August '14 by Rs 2.18/litre at Delhi (including state levies) with corresponding decrease in other states," the state-run oil marketer said in a statement here.

This is the second cut in petrol rates after the NDA government assumed charge. The earlier reduction was effected on Aug 1 by 90 paise a litre excluding state levies.

Since the last price change, while international petrol prices have further declined, the rupee-US dollar exchange rate has significantly depreciated, all of which warranted a lowering of prices, Indian Oil said.

New Delhi, Aug 13: For close to a century, many generations of an Indian family have been looking after the Indian Hospice, a symbol of India's heritage, in the old city of Jerusalem. This existence intrigued Indian diplomat-writer Navtej Sarna, who has chronicled its story in a fascinating new book.

Sarna had read about this institution before, but it was only when he landed in Israel in 2008 as the Indian ambassador that he could visit the hospice, which hosted Indian soldiers during World War II and today provides accommodation to Indian pilgrims of all faiths.

Sarna felt the topic was "compelling and waiting to be written".

The outcome? His latest non-fiction work, "Indians at Herod's Gate: A Jerusalem Tale" (Rainlight, Rs. 500) came into being after three years of meticulous research, several interactions and countless walks in the old city.

"This is a book about Indian connection to Jerusalem through the centuries and is explored from the standpoint of the Indian Hospice," Sarna, currently a Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and who has been named Secretary (West), told IANS in an interview.

In 2012, then external affairs minister S.M. Krishna had provided a grant of $25,000 to the hospice.

"When you visit something as layered and rich and complex as Jerusalem, the combination is so compelling that I had to go for it," he added.

The 182-page book takes the reader back to the point when Baba Farid, a sufi saint, visited Jerusalem 800 years ago.

The Indian Hospice was born in 1924, with Sheikh Nazir Ansari, a police inspector's son from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, becoming the first Indian to look after the hospice, situated opposite Herod's Gate in the old city. Since then generations of the Ansari family have kept the Indian flag flying in a situation which, according to Sarna, is "politically fraught where every inch of territory is claimed or counter-claimed".

It was this Indian angle that Sarna, author of "Winter Evenings", couldn't resist.

Several meetings with the family of the present Jerusalem Hospice director, Sheikh Mohammed Munir Ansari, led to revelations the family wasn't even aware of. And then began the quest to make the Ansari family a centre point, explore this little Indian haven and compare it with complexities of many decades of conflicts that engulf the state located in southwest Asia between the Mediterranean and the deserts of Syria and Arabia.

"There are interesting details about how this place became the centre of conflict in 1967 (during the Six-day war), how it was rebuilt and how its character has changed over several decades," said Sarna.

"It was very important to put a social and political context in place at every stage. It was very challenging to tell just enough and not overload so much of history that the main story gets submerged," he added, referring to the time when Jerusalem had just come out of Ottoman Empire and was brought into the British Mandate for Palestine.

According to Sarna he followed an "organic process" over a period of three years during which he explored by lanes of the old city like one does in Chandni Chowk. Admitting that being an Indian was an advantage there as "Indian standing is very high no matter which side of the conflict", Sarna feels there are many untold stories that need to be told and have India connection.

New Delhi, Aug 13: AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai was Wednesday unanimously elected as the deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha.

The motion for his election was moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and seconded by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Almost all parties moved motions for his election, including the Congress.

Congratulating Thambidurai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "He is an academician, activist and an agriculturist too. I assure the government will give complete cooperation to you."

Thambidurai filed his nomination for the post Tuesday.

The AIADMK has 37 MPs in the lower house of parliament and is the third largest party after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

New Delhi, August 12: President Pranab Mukherjee will give away outstanding Parliamentarian Award to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Congress veteran Karan Singh and Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav today at a function.

Arun Jaitley gets the award for the year 2010, Karan Singh for 2011 and Sharad Yadav for 2012. The announcement regarding their selection for the award was made way back in March last year.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, who is Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who chairs the Indian Parliamentary Group, will grace the occasion and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present.

Jaitley, Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav are currently members of Rajya Sabha. When selected for the award, Yadav was a Lok Sabha member from Madhepura, Bihar. Jaitley and Singh were members of the Upper House from Gujarat and Delhi respectively.

The Indian Parliamentary Group had instituted the award in 1994. The then Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had constituted an award committee to select the member for the award for the three years. The executive committee of the group had unanimously accepted the recommendation of the award committee.

Addressing the occasion, Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman, M. Hamid Ansari has said that the Parliament of India is a forum for debate, discussion, legislation and accountability.

Each of these requires the ability to advocate one's viewpoint cogently. Each requires knowledge of the subject and an ability to present it succinctly.

Addressing on the occasion of "Presentation of the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards for the years 2010, 2011, 2012" to Union Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Congress leader Karan Singh and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) president, Sharad Yadav" in the Central Hall of the Parliament here today, he opined that a good debater is one who has the power to persuade, impress and transform.

A great debater has the capacity to touch the audience emotionally and possibly even bring about a change of mind.
He said that an outstanding parliamentarian, besides possessing these virtues in ample measure, is thoroughly familiar with the rules, procedures and precedents of the House and has the ability to use them deftly to his or her advantage.

Ansari said that the three Honourable Members selected for the awards possess these attributes and have put them to excellent use over a period of time. Yet each is unique in regard to background, experience, oratorical skill, persuasive methodology. Together, they are studies in contrast. He congratulated Arun Jaitley , Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav on the recognition bestowed on them today.

Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of the combination of three qualities "Netritva, Kartutva, Vaktutva" - Leadership, Action and Speech - as essential in the making of an Outstanding Parliamentarian.

Addressing the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards function at the Balyogi Auditorium in Parliament Library today, the Prime Minister urged the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to convene a meeting of Speakers of all Vidhan Sabhas, so that the practice of awarding outstanding legislators could be extended to the states as well.

Complimenting the three award winners Arun Jaitley, Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav for their contribution to Parliament, the Prime Minister hoped that younger MPs would learn from the examples set by them.

The Prime Minister said the country is looking at Parliament with a lot of hope, adding that it may also be worthwhile to conduct a survey among the people as to how they judged a particular session of Parliament. This may be an eye-opener, the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi regretted the decline of the use of wit and humour in the proceedings of Parliament in recent years. Also he said sharp comments can give us space for a short time - but cannot impact or inspire. He said the time had come when every sentence said in Parliament should be an inspiration for the country.

Leh, Aug 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday condemned the "continuing proxy war by Pakistan" and said that the government is committed to make India self-reliant in defence manufacturing.

Modi said that the "neighbouring country has lost the strength to fight a conventional war but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism".

Modi, who is on a day-long visit to the Ladakh region, while addressing soldiers here mentioned the provisions made in the union budget towards the modernization and welfare of the armed forces, including "One Rank One Pension".

He said "the government is committed to make India self-reliant in defence manufacturing" and promised that a National War Memorial would be built.

Expressing concern over the casualties suffered by the armed forces more from terrorism than war, the prime minister said: "This is a global problem and all humanitarian forces of the world should unite to fight it. India is committed to strengthening and uniting these humanitarian forces."

He also said that the country is committed to strong armed forces and to equipping them with modern arms and technology.

The jawans should be assured that the entire country supports them. Soldiers remain undeterred in spite of the many negatives and struggles that their families face in day-to-day life," Modi said, adding that the soldiers' "energy and sense of duty inspires him".

Modi added that the armed forces deployed in border areas are well connected with the people who live there.

He cited the example of the Kargil infiltration, about which the first information was given to the armed forces by a shepherd named Tashi Namgyal. India defeated Pakistani infiltrators in the 1999 Kargil war.

Later, writing in the visitor's book at Leh Auditorium, Modi said that peace and security are a pre-requisite for development.

By Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd)

"...I feel personally responsible for each and every one of you, as if you were my own sons and daughters. And so my only prayer is that you serve with honour and return home safely": Former US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates while addressing the West Point Military Academy class of 2008.

On Thursday, Aug 14, it will be one year since the Indian Navy (IN) submarine Sindhurakshak suffered a catastrophic explosion and sank in the shallow waters of Mumbai dockyard. This was followed by an equally traumatic event as the navy chief, Admiral D.K. Joshi, accepting moral responsibility for a series of mishaps, offered to resign from his post. The alacrity with which his resignation was accepted spoke of relief in the ministry of defence (MoD) that a sacrificial lamb had offered itself. Apart from this, not a leaf stirred in South Block.

Even as the IN grieves over the loss of 18 gallant sailors and officers who went down with Sindhurakshak, it is notable that no functionary in our politico-bureaucratic establishment has ever felt or conveyed the kind of angst and concern for servicemen, expressed so publicly by Robert Gates. India's 100 percent civilian MoD has acquired a reputation for its lethargic and inept management of national security, but let me dwell on the Sindhurakshak tragedy to highlight a few examples of the indifference, bordering on callousness, it displays towards India's fighting men and women.

Forty-seven years after acquiring its first submarine in 1967, the IN still lacks a submarine rescue vessel (SRV) which can enable the crew to escape from an incapacitated submarine without suffering the severe effects of decompression. The IN has been grappling, for nearly two decades, with the MoD bureaucracy, to acquire a SRV, but one does not seem to be, yet, on the horizon. During the 2006 Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, when president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam spent six hours underwater (coincidentally, on the Sindhurakshak), we had to ask the US Navy to provide rescue cover in case of an accident. In stark contrast, tiny Singapore, built its own SRV within a few years of acquiring its first submarine. Our MoD is either ignorant of the gravity of this lacuna or simply does not care.

Very soon after the horrific explosion which ripped through Sindhurakshak, it became obvious that chances of any crew members having survived the inferno were very slim. The priority, now, was to quickly access the wreckage so that bodies of the crew could be handed over to grieving families and an investigation commenced expeditiously. In a Kafkaesque demonstration of languid functioning, the MoD took a full six months to float international tenders and to select a company to salvage the submarine. It was another four months before the hulk of the submarine could be raised. During this ten-month interregnum, no signs of concern, anguish or urgency were visible in South Block.

There are media reports that a naval Board of Inquiry has completed investigations and submitted its findings to the appropriate authority. That these findings have not yet been made public is understandable, given the security implications of the matter. However, it bears recall that former Raksha Mantri (RM) A.K. Antony had delivered a stinging rebuke to the navy for this accident in November 2013, accusing it of "frittering away national resources". The RM did not seem to realize that he was referring to a serious and perplexing mishap and that his premature indictment was not founded on any facts available at that juncture.

The irony of his words obviously escaped Antony; by publicly berating the navy, he was actually castigating himself because Naval Headquarters (NHQ) is now termed "Integrated HQ of MoD". This also exposed the huge chasm that persists between the military and the politico-bureaucratic establishment, cosmetic "integration" notwithstanding. Had Antony, during his long tenure, ensured the actual incorporation of NHQ into the MoD, the responsibility for these accidents would have devolved collectively on the shoulders of an integrated ministry. A bold, proactive and well-informed RM could have also deflected unfair media criticism of the navy, a major cause for the despondent navy chief to resign.

Speculation about the causes of the accident would be inappropriate because the IN has a time-tested system of investigation and analysis which would have pinpointed the causes of this accident, whether material defect, system malfunction or human error. The service will thereafter implement remedial measures to eliminate the possibility of recurrence.

However, an aspect that bears the closest scrutiny and review is the continued reliance of all three services on equipment of Soviet/Russian origin. In an August 2000 mishap, which bore uncanny resemblance to the Sindhurakshak accident, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk suffered an explosion and sank with the loss of all hands. The final report on the disaster concluded that the explosion was due to the failure of one of Kursk's hydrogen peroxide-fuelled torpedoes. The collapse of the Soviet Union dealt a severe blow to its military-industrial complex from which it has not yet recovered. The steep decline in quality control as well as poor product-support of Russian systems is being acutely felt by India's armed forces - on land, at sea and in the air.

As we recall, with sorrow and pride, the sacrifice of Sindhurakshak's brave sailors, let us remember that the most deleterious impact of the last regime's inefficiency and indecision was on India's national security. Consequently, the MoD faces huge, accumulated, problems and challenges which could take decades to resolve.

It is indeed unfortunate that the new government should have assigned half a minister to a ministry where three would find their hands full.

(The author is a former Indian Navy chief. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at arunp2810@yahoo.com )

Bhubaneswar, Aug 12: More than 3.3 million people in 294 villages in Odisha remain marooned even after flood water began to recede and all the rivers were flowing below the danger level, officials said Tuesday.

"There has been almost no rain for the past two-three days. However 294 villages are still surrounded by flood water. People are taking shelter on embankments, cyclone shelters, schools and other high rise structures," a revenue department official told IANS.

"Relief efforts have been stepped up in all the flood affected areas including in the worst hit Puri and Kendrapada districts," he said.

"More than 86,000 people are being provided cooked food in 100 free kitchens which the state government has set up in flood hit areas," he said.

The death toll due to floods which were caused by heavy rain over several days last week stands at 45.

With the state government confirming the death of 20 more cattle, 114 livestock have perished, he said.

In the worst hit coastal districts hundreds of people who have taken shelter on river embankments complained that they are yet to receive any relief, local TV channels reported.

"If one or two individuals say they have not received relief, I have nothing to say. I do not want to comment," special relief commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said.

"We are looking into things at the macro level. We have sufficient relief material and its distribution is on" he told IANS.

"They (people) should also know that they are part of disaster management process. They should have kept food for seven to 10 days, because they know that they are living in a disater-prone area," he added.

"The latest floods in Odisha have damaged over 30,000 houses, damaged crops over an area of 3.4 million hectares," officials said.

Leh, Aug 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said that the government is committed to make India self-reliant in defence manufacturing.

Modi, who is on a day-long visit to the Ladakh region, addressed soldiers here.

The prime minister spoke of the provisions made in the union budget towards the modernization and welfare of the armed forces, including ‘One Rank One Pension’.

He also promised that the National War Memorial would be built and would inspire future generations of India.

Modi recalls Kargil war during Ladakh visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday recalled the Kargil war during his day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region.

Addressing soldiers here, Modi said that armed forces deployed in border areas are well-connected with the people who live there.

He highlighted the example of the Kargil infiltrations, about which the first information was given to our armed forces by a shepherd named Tashi Namgyal.

India defeated Pakistani infiltrators in the 1999 Kargil war.

Modi criticises Pakistan's proxy war: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday condemned the "continuing proxy war by Pakistan".

Addressing soldiers at Leh, Modi said that the "neighbouring country has lost the strength to fight a conventional war, but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism".

He said that the Indian military are suffering more casualties from terrorism than from war.

Leh, Aug 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday promised Rs.8,000 crore for road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir and vowed to end corruption.

Dressed in traditional Ladakhi gown and headgear, Modi addressed a well attended public rally at the Polo Ground here Tuesday.

We are committed to the development of Leh and Ladakh, he said.

The Ladakh region has "Prakash, Paryavaran and Paryatan (Power, Environment and Tourism)", which is not just for Jammu and Kashmir but also for the entire country, said Modi.

"If these three are utilised properly then the country will benefit...Development must be such that it positively transforms the lives of the common people," he said.

He announced the waiver of an interest debt component of Rs.60 crores to the state.

"I also assure you that in the union cabinet meeting we will soon approve an ambitious road connectivity project of Rs.8,000 crores for four major road building projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

"This is in addition to the existing road building projects already approved for the state," said the prime minister who noted that corruption and not funds scarcity was destroying the edifice of the country.

"From the mountain peaks of Ladakh I announce today that we will eradicate corruption from the country taking along all those political parties who are ready to work with us against corruption," he announced.

Modi added that Leh is the focus of his government's solar initiative.

"I know the problems people face and most importantly I know the strength of this land....We have put Leh at the focus of our solar energy initiatives," Modi said while addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Rs.1,700 crore and 330-km long Leh-Srinagar transmission line here.

He added that the people would no longer have to depend on borrowed power.

“It is the love and respect for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that keeps bringing me here again and again.

“In old times, I used to visit Leh and families who knew me then would ask me to bring cauliflower and potatoes for them.

“Believe me, my luggage would be full of these vegetables...whenever I would come here in the past.

“I would spend time in Srinagar and Kargil. This love for the state moves me to do whatever I can for the prosperity and betterment of the people here in my present position," said Modi amid applause.

Modi inaugurated the 45 megawatt Nimoo-Bazgo hydro-electric project Tuesday besides laying the foundation stone of the Rs.1,700 crore, 330 km long Srinagar-Leh transmission line which will be built by the National Grid Corporation of India.

New Delhi, Aug 12: The Supreme Court Tuesday declined to hold an immediate hearing on a petition seeking directions to the government to furnish details on the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

While declining to hold the hearing, the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha told the PIL petitioner advocate M.L. Sharma to make an application for an urgent hearing of his plea.

The court remained unmoved as Sharma told the court that the government was going to confer Bharat Ratna on Netaji Subha Aug 16 and before that is done the government should make public the report of a committee that inquired into the mysterious disappearance of Netaji.

New Delhi, August 12: The government is ready to talk to northeast insurgents as well as Maoists if they shun violence, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Monday.

Replying to a debate on the working of home ministry in the Rajya Sabha, Rajnath Singh said: "Left wing extremism is a big challenge for the country but the government will not allow anyone to indulge in violence. If they shun violence, we are ready to talk."

On the northeast insurgents, the minister said: "We are ready to talk with any extremist group under the purview of the constitution. Peace in northeastern states is our priority."

The home minister added that every Indian citizen will get identity cards within three years to end the problem of illegal migrants.

The reply, which lasted nearly two hours, tested the patience of Rajya Sabha members, with several of them urging the minister to conclude.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien also asked Rajnath Singh a few times how much time he is going to take to complete his reply.

The reply only ended at about 9.30 p.m.

Rajnath Singh made it a point to reply to all points raised by the members, and addressed issues ranging from insurgency, to communal harmony.

Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi went ahead to say that they will not ask the home minister any questions again, while his party colleague Anand Sharma was seen gesturing at the minister with folded hands.

When some members complained of being hungry, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said in a lighter note that communists are habituated of being hungry, but the house must take a break so that food can be arranged for other MPs.

When the minister finished his reply, Kurien complimented him and said: "The House compliments you for replying to every member's point."

New Delhi, August 11: Four thousand national flags will flutter across the capital and 16,000 balloons will be put at all major crossroads in the city on India's 68th Independence Day, the Delhi government said on Monday.

The city will wear a dapper look as the Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to launch a special drive in the run-up to the August 15 celebrations.

The drive will include removal of posters and hoardings from walls, pruning of trees, and painting of flyovers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation for the first time from the 17th century Red Fort, where his predecessor Manmohan Singh hoisted the national flag for 10 years in a row.

Meanwhile, at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the Centre has agreed to make an enclosure for the public who will witness the ceremony. The enclosure will have a capacity of 10,000 seats.

Removal of debris, cleaning of signages, road markings, and painting of kerbstones will take place along the 1,250 km of roads maintained by the PWD.

"Four thousand national flags will be put on all major crossings. The VIP route from Rajghat to Red Fort shall also be decorated with national flags," PWD secretary Arun Boroka said.

The department will also put up 200 banners with 16,000 balloons at 20 major crossroads. Besides, entry points to Delhi shall also be decorated.

The Delhi Transport Corporation will have its shuttle service in place at the Inter State Bus Terminus to ferry people to the venue which remains out of bound for vehicles during the ceremony.

The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has requested the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to start its services at 4.30 a.m. - an hour and a half before its scheduled time.