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We could have done even more, but with power must also come restraint: Rajnath Singh on Operation Sindoor against terror bases in Pakistan

ANI
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We could have done even more, but with power must also come restraint: Rajnath Singh on Operation Sindoor against terror bases in Pakistan

India could have inflicted more damage while retaliating to Pakistan’s terror attacks with ‘Operation Sindoor’ but it exercised restraint, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

Addressing an event in the national capital. Singh said those residing in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) are India’s own and one day, will surely return to the Indian mainstream.

Addressing the inaugural plenary of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), Singh highlighted the success of Make in India campaign which proved to be important for both security and prosperity of India during ‘Operation Sindoor’.

“Make in India is an essential component of India’s National Security. If we did not have this capability, India’s forces would not have been able to take such effective action against terrorism from lower Pakistan to PoK,” the Defence Minister said.

“You saw how first we destroyed the terrorist hideouts and then the enemy’s airbases. We could have done even more, but with power must also come restraint. We have presented a remarkable example before the world, of strength combined with coordination. We could have done more, but we exercised restraint. Today, Pakistan has realized the heavy cost of running the business of terrorism. We have redesigned and redefined India’s stance against terrorism. We have recalibrated our engagements and scope of dialogue with Pakistan. From now on, whenever talks happen, they will only be about terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). There will be no discussion with Pakistan on any other issue,” Singh said.

He said that the day is not far when the people of PoK will join India with self-respect and of their own will.

“The people of PoK are our own. They are part of our family. We are fully committed to the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. We firmly believe that our brothers, who are today geographically and politically separated from us, will one day surely return to the Indian mainstream, with self-respect and of their own free will,” Singh said.

“I know that most of the people there feel a connection with India. There are only a handful who have been misled. India has always believed in connecting hearts, and we believe that by walking the path of love, unity, and truth, the day is not far when our own PoK will return and declare: I am Indian, and I have come back,” Rajnath Singh said.

Operation Sindoor was India’s decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor led to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres, and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan.

After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Pilibhit: 500 people return to Sikhism at VHP event after pastors from Nepal converted them to Christianity

OpIndia Staff
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Pilibhit: 500 people return to Sikhism at VHP event after pastors from Nepal converted them to Christianity

Around 500 Sikhs have returned to fold of Sikhism as part of a program organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in villages close to the India-Nepal border in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh. These individuals had formerly abandoned their faith to become Christians. The Sikh community gathered for this event which took place in Bailaha and Tatarganj villages on the 23rd May.

According to reports, the Hindu outfit carried out an awareness campaign to attract people back to Sikhism by setting up a camp in these villages for two days. The authorities and administration also ensured a strong police presence for security. VHP’s organizational secretary Prince Gaud stated these people were approached in the hamlets near the Nepal border and the significance of Sikhism was conveyed to them.

Afterward, many families willingly chose to return to their roots. The Gurdwara Management Committee successfully reintegrated 160 families into Sikhism through religious initiatives such as Amritpan. Additionally, some persons who were inciting conversions were subjected to social boycotts.

Image via OpIndia Hindi

Concerns regarding conversions have been raised for an extended period in villages such as Bailaha, Tatarganj, Bamanpura Bhagirath and Singhara, located within the Hazara police station area of Pilibhit. Local Sikh organizations have reported that pastors from Nepal, along with few local pastors have encouraged Sikhs to embrace Christianity through financial incentives and ‘faith healing’ gatherings.

The All India Sikh Punjabi Welfare Council asserted that over 3,000 Sikhs have converted in recent years. A list of 160 of these families has been presented to the authorities. Given the seriousness of the situation, the newly appointed District Magistrate Gyanendra Kumar Singh created a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the charges.

The police also filed a case against eight individuals accused of forcing conversion and vandalising agricultural land on the complaint of a Sikh woman named Manjit Kaur. She revealed that her husband had already become a Christian and now there is pressure on her and her children to follow the same. Her kids were also thrashed because she refused to comply.

As US government decides to revoke visas of Chinese students, read how academic institutions have been used by China for building a spying network in the West

OpIndia Staff
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As US government decides to revoke visas of Chinese students, read how academic institutions have been used by China for building a spying network in the West

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday (29th March) that the US government is set to revoke the visas for Chinese students, including those having links with the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.

Rubio said that the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security for this purpose. This comes after the US government increased the scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong amid the Trump administration’s efforts to bolster national security.

A day before, Secretary Rubio ordered the US embassies across the world to stop scheduling interviews for student visas as the US government plans to restrict the entry of foreign students in the American educational institutions. Chinese students form the second largest pool of international students studying in US universities after India. During 2023-24, over 270,000 Chinese students were studying in the US, amounting to one-fourth of the total foreign students in the US.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, President Trump said that he wants to scrutinise the foreign students taking admissions in the US universities. “They’re taking people from areas of the world that are very radicalised, and we don’t want them making trouble in our country,” he said.

The US crackdown on Chinese student visa is likely to disrupt the Chinese spying network in the US. China is notorious for carrying out espionage campaigns in its rival countries by targeting individuals in companies, universities and government agencies. In July 2021, four Chinese nationals were charged in the US for being part of a Chinese global espionage campaign in which 12 countries including the US were targeted between July 2009 and September 2018.

Chinese running a spying network in the US academic institutions

China is said to have established an effective spying network at the top US universities including the Ivy league universities like Harvard and Stanford, which also receive massive funds from the Communist Party of China (CCP). The Chinese military sends its spies disguised as students who are trained to steal intellectual property and research documents from the university labs and send them to China.

The US agencies found out about the Chinese spy network in the US academic institutions in the year 2020, after the arrest of Prof. Lieber, who was a research scientist at Harvard. Two Chinese spies disguised as researchers were also charged as agents of a foreign government. The Chinese spies lied about their research work and used their access to smuggle research samples out of the country.

In October 2022, the US authorities indicted four Chinese nationals including three Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers for spying for China. The Chinese nationals, identified as Wang Lin, Bi Hongwei, Dong Ting, aka Chelsea Dong, and Wang Qiang, were entrusted to recruit individuals for the Chinese government. For this, they targeted professors, former law enforcement officials, state homeland security officials and others to gain access to sensitive information to be passed on to the Chinese government.

These Chinese nationals posed as academics from a purported academic institute at the Ocean University of China, also known as the Institute for International Studies (IIS). They targeted professors at US universities to gain access to sensitive equipment and information.

Netherlands, Canada and Finland raised concerns over Chinese spy networks

In 2021, the spying agencies of Netherlands, Canada and Finland raised concerns regarding Chinese espionage attacks on government, companies and universities. The three countries flagged concerns about collaborating with China. Netherlands’ intelligence agencies said that the country’s academic institutions face the threat of cyber-attacks by China. In addition to that, China also sends researchers, PhD candidates and students in Netherlands’ academic institutions as spies.

Finland agencies accused the Chinese government of trying to take control over the critical infrastructure in the country, including telecommunications, energy, water distribution, airports, roads and ports. Canadian intelligence agencies also raised concerns over the Chinese government’s attempts to target several sectors of the country, including biopharmaceutical and health, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, ocean technology, and aerospace sectors.

New Delhi: 2 killed, 3 injured as speeding car rams cyclist, slums in Janakpuri

ANI
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New Delhi: 2 killed, 3 injured as speeding car rams cyclist, slums in Janakpuri

Two people were killed and three others were injured after a speeding car driven by a teenager lost control on Delhi’s Pankha Road in the Janakpuri area, police said.

As per the police, the accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when a speeding car first struck a cyclist before crashing into roadside slums.

A PCR call was received shortly after the accident, and a team rushed to the spot. The injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to police, the car was being driven by a 19-year-old. Two people died on the spot, while three others sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.

The driver has been taken into custody, and legal proceedings have been initiated.

Further details are awaited.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘No evidence, only assumptions’: Lokpal dismisses all charges against ex-SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch in Adani case

OpIndia Staff
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‘No evidence, only assumptions’: Lokpal dismisses all charges against ex-SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch in Adani case

The Lokpal of India has dismissed three high-profile complaints against Madhabi Puri Buch, the former Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), concluding that the allegations lacked merit, were unsubstantiated, and appeared to be politically motivated.

The complaints, filed shortly after the release of the second Hindenburg Report dated August 10, 2024, accused Buch of corruption, conflict of interest, and quid pro quo dealings during her tenure at SEBI. The allegations centered on her and her husband’s investments, consultancy associations, and regulatory decisions involving major corporate entities including the Adani Group.

Key Allegations and Lokpal’s Findings

1. Investment Conflict

It was alleged that Buch and her husband had invested in a fund linked to Adani Group entities under SEBI investigation, without making proper disclosures. The Lokpal, however, found that the investments were passive, disclosed, and bore no connection to any SEBI-regulated activities under Buch’s purview.

2. Quid Pro Quo Deals

Accusations of Buch’s firms receiving consultancy fees from entities like Mahindra, Blackstone, and Wockhardt—while they were being probed by SEBI—were found baseless. The Lokpal noted there was no credible evidence of any undue advantage or violation of regulatory ethics.

3. Stock Sale Timing

The complaint claimed that Buch unfairly benefited by selling ICICI Bank ESOPs at peak value while SEBI had open investigations against the bank. The Lokpal ruled the timing was coincidental, legally permissible, and unrelated to any internal SEBI deliberation.

4. Document Concealment

Buch was accused of withholding critical documents from the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee on Adani-related stock manipulation. The Lokpal found no verifiable evidence supporting this claim.

5. Improper Recusals

While Buch had recused herself from certain cases, complainants alleged she continued to exert influence. The Lokpal, however, found no proof of her interference, noting that SEBI’s institutional mechanisms ensured checks and balances.

Lokpal’s Judgment

In a comprehensive 36-page order, the Lokpal emphatically rejected the complaints:

“The allegations in the Complaint(s) are more on presumptions and assumptions and not supported by any verifiable material… These complaints are disposed of.”

The order stated that SEBI’s regulatory actions, including those involving the Adani Group, had already been scrutinized and upheld by the Supreme Court, and could not be reopened without new, credible evidence.

Adani Group’s Response

The Adani Group, while not a direct party in the complaints, was named in the allegations as a supposed beneficiary of regulatory favoritism. The Lokpal’s findings amounted to a full exoneration, stating:

“The effectiveness of the investigations and action taken by SEBI against the Adani Group of companies has commended to the Supreme Court. That cannot be reopened directly or indirectly…”

The Lokpal also dismissed the Hindenburg Report—on which the complaints were largely based—as unreliable:

“The complaint(s)… were essentially founded on the Hindenburg Report… that report by itself cannot be made the sole basis to escalate action…”

Political and Regulatory Implications

The complaints were strongly criticized by the Lokpal for attempting to sensationalize regulatory affairs and misuse anti-corruption mechanisms:

“The Complainant(s)… only to sensationalize or so to say politicize the matter, has inevitably trivialised the process before the Lokpal. It is nothing short of vexatious proceedings…”

The Lokpal’s dismissal of the complaints reaffirms the credibility of SEBI’s functioning under Buch and is seen as a significant institutional endorsement of due process and regulatory independence. Legal experts believe the decision will deter future politically motivated or speculative filings based on short-seller reports or media narratives.

With the Lokpal’s ruling, Madhabi Puri Buch stands fully cleared of all allegations. The case underscores the importance of verifiable evidence in public accountability processes and highlights India’s adherence to rule of law, even in matters involving high-profile regulatory and corporate actors.

“By reiterating SEBI’s institutional integrity and rejecting conflict of interest charges, the order sends a strong signal that India’s capital markets are robustly governed.”

This outcome is also being viewed as a vindication of India’s regulatory institutions amid increasing global scrutiny and attempts to influence domestic policy through external reports and market maneuvers.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) introduces new Online Application Portal to streamline exam registration and application process

OpIndia Staff
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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) introduces new Online Application Portal to streamline exam registration and application process

The Union Public Service Commission introduced a new Online Application Portal on 28th May for registration and filling up of application forms online. The portal is designed to simplify and speed up the registration and application process for various UPSC examinations, making it more user-friendly and efficient.

The new UPSC Online Application Portal has four parts, arranged in 4 separate cards at the home page, Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form and Examinations. The first three sections contain information which are common to all examinations and can be filled anytime by the candidates. The fourth part i.e. Examination contains examination notices, Examination Application and applications status.

Only examination specific information is to be filled up in this part by candidates during the time period allowed in the notification of an examination.

A statement issued by UPSC said that this arrangement will facilitate candidates to fill up first three parts anytime and keep ready for applying to any UPSC examination whenever notified with updates as may be required, thereby saving time and avoiding last minute rush.

From now on, all applicants are required to fill up the application and upload their documents in the newly introduced portal afresh by using the website https://upsconline.nic.in. The old One Time Registration (OTR) module will not be applicable henceforth. The old OTR website remains available to view application forms submitted earlier, but new applications can’t be submitted through the new portal only.

Detailed instructions for filling up forms are available on the home page as well as with all profiles/modules to guide the candidates for filling up the application and upload the documents.

UPSC added that applicants are strongly advised to use their Aadhar Card as ID document in the Universal Application for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details after which it serves as a permanent and common record for all examinations.

The New Application Portal is being launched with effect from 28.05.2025. Applications for CDS Exam-II, 2025 and NDA&NA-II, 2025, to be notified on 28.05.2025, will be accepted through the new online application portal.

Indore: Victims allege shooting coach Mohsin Khan removed their Kalawas, stopped them from chanting Jai Shri Ram and peeped into women’s bathrooms

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: Victims allege shooting coach Mohsin Khan removed their Kalawas, stopped them from chanting Jai Shri Ram and peeped into women’s bathrooms

The investigation into the rape allegations against shooting coach Mohsin Khan who runs a shooting academy in Indore, Madhya Pradesh has revealed that he sexually exploited around 25-20 young girls from different districts. So far, five FIRs have been filed against Mohsin Khan who is currently on a 7-day police remand. A 6-member SIT has been formed by the police to investigate the allegations against him.

Khan was arrested by police on 21st May, a day after an FIR was filed against him by a girl alleging that she was raped by him. As per Dainik Bhaskar, on 22nd May, two more victims filed complaints against Mohsin. One of the victims, a lawyer by profession, accused him of rape. The other victim, who was employed by Mohsin at his academy, also accused him of sexual assault. This was followed by a complaint filed by a man named Dhruv Mahajan who alleged that Mohsin misappropriated money (₹2, 80000) which he took from him on the pretext of buying him a shooting rifle.

Victim said she was gangraped by Mohsin and others when she was a minor

On 26th May, a woman who used to work Mohsin’s house filed a case of gangrape against him along with Irfan Khan and Faizan Khan, who are siblings. She said that she was a minor at the time of the incident. The victim used to work as a house help at Mohsin’s house. She alleged Mohsin made sexual advances for the first time in February 2020 when she was 17-years-old. He used to tell the victim to dress well and even brought her new clothes. He used to make the victim change clothes in front of him and sometimes even changes her clothes by himself. She further alleged that Mohsin had unnatural sexual intercourse with her.

The victim told the police that Mohsin’s friends Irfan and Faizan also sexually abused her. She said that during, Covid-19 lockdown period, Mohsin, Irfan and Faizan called her to cook for then. When she arrived they locked her inside a room and kept her there for 15 days. During this period, all three of them gangraped her.

Mohsin removed my Kalawa, forced me to convert to Islam and eat meat: Victim

One of the victims, who enrolled at Mohsin’s shooting academy alleged that Mohsin raped her on multiple occasions between July 2022 and December 2023. She alleged that Mohsin removed the Kalawa tied on her wrist and forced her to convert to Islam. He asked her to start eating meat in order to become a Muslim. The victim alleged that Mohsin kept blackmailing her even after she left the academy and got married. He allegedly forced her to meet him and threatened to leak her obsecene picture and videos if she did not comply. The victim alleged that he raped her many times even after marriage.

Mohsin peeped into women’s bathrooms, asked them to keep the bathroom door unlocked

One of the victims, who used to work at Mohsin’s shooting academy alleged that he used to forbid the girls from chanting Jai Shri Ram. She said that he removed Kalawa from their shooting rifles and also asked them not to wear a Tilak. The victim claimed that Mohsin used to peep into women’s bathrooms and asked them to leave the bathroom door unlocked while taking bath. The victim further alleged that he used to force the girls at his shooting academy to eat beef.

The police have been recording the statements of the victims who have come out so far. Hundreds of obscene videos of several women were found on Mohsin’s mobile phone by the police during investigation. The police arrested Mohsin under the POCSO Act and other sections of BNS, and presented him in the court on Wednesday (21 May 2025), from where he was sent to jail.

Assam government to grant arms licence to indigenous people in remote, vulnerable and border areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile quarters

OpIndia Staff
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Assam government to grant arms licence to indigenous people in remote, vulnerable and border areas to tackle unlawful threats from hostile quarters

In a significant decision, Assam government has decided to grant arms licences to indigenous people living in remote and border areas. The decision was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, CM Sarma said, “Today government of Assam has taken a very important decision in our cabinet. Assam is a very difficult and sensitive state. Today we have decided that we will give arms licence to the eligible persons who are residing in remote areas, vulnerable areas and border areas.”

Himanta Biswa Sarma added, “we will encourage our original inhabitants and indigenous Indian citizens to apply and take arms licence as per the eligibility criteria provided in the Indian Arms Act.”

In a post on X, the CM said that arms licences will be granted to to tackle unlawful threats from hostile quarters.

Explaining the move, he said that indigenous people in border areas live in constant fear due to influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and in some villages, share of indigenous people is very less. He clarified that people who want weapons will have to buy them, and govt will only grant the licence for the same. He added that govt will consider such applications liberally.

He added that this has been a long-standing demand from people in border areas, and if this demand was met earlier, many people would not have to relocate from border regions. The Chief Minister did not specify the exact criteria for vulnerability or the process for granting these licenses, but assured that the move would be carefully monitored to ensure it serves its intended purpose without escalating tensions.

CM Sarma emphasized the importance of this measure in safeguarding the “Jati, Mati, Bheti” (community, land, and house) of Assam’s indigenous people.

ANI files defamation suit against YouTuber Mohak Mangal for his ‘extortion’ claim, Kunal Kamra and Mohammad Zubair also added as defendants for spreading the video

OpIndia Staff
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ANI files defamation suit against YouTuber Mohak Mangal for his ‘extortion’ claim, Kunal Kamra and Mohammad Zubair also added as defendants for spreading the video

Asian News International (ANI) has filed a defamation suit against YouTuber Mohak Mangal in the Delhi High Court alleging that he made false and defamatory accusations against the news agency in a recent video. Controversial comedian Kunal Kamra and Alt-News co-founder Mohammad Zubair have been impleaded as defendants in the suit.

Why the defamation suit is filed

The defamation suit stemmed from a video published by Mangal in which he accused ANI of demanding ₹50 lakh from him in exchange for removing copyright strikes from his channel. The YouTuber, who has over 4 million subscribers, had allegedly used some copyrighted ANI clips in his videos on the Kolkata rape case and Operation Sindoor which attracted the copyright strikes. Mangal later made a video alleging that an ANI representative reached out to him and demanded money for removing the copyright strikes against his channel.

Kunal Kamra and Mohammad Zubair shared Mangal’s video on their social media accounts, and therefore they have been added in the defamation suit as defendants.

In the suit, ANI has alleged that the video made by Mangal claiming extortion, is an attempt to discredit and insult the news agency and its services provided under its registered trademark. It further claimed that the video spreads falsehoods to damage its reputation, discourages use of its services and misuses its registered trademarks with defamatory commentary. ANI added that Mangal opendly admitted to using ANI’s original videos to earn revenue.

ANI seeks injunction against Kamra and Zubair

Regarding the other defendants, Kamra and Zubair, the suit states, “In addition to widely sharing the Impugned Video, these Defendants have independently published further false, baseless, and malicious statements targeting the Plaintiff and its founders. These statements are devoid of any factual or legal foundation and are clearly intended to malign the Plaintiff’s reputation and lower its estimation in the eyes of the public.”

The ANI has sought a permanent and mandatory injuction against Mangal, including directions to take down the video, stop using its trademarks and refrain from publishing or circulating any further false, misleading or defamatory content against ANI and its trademarks. It also prayed for a restraining order against Kamra and Zubair and others to prevent them from making or sharing defamatory and false statements about the news agency.

The suit has been filed through Advocate Akshit Mago and scheduled to be heard on 29th May.

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh spar over state-owned Defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): All you need to know

Shraddha Pandey
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Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh spar over state-owned Defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): All you need to know

The Congress-ruled Karnataka and TDP-BJP alliance-ruled Andhra Pradesh have come at loggerheads over the possible relocation of major defence manufacturing units of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from Bengaluru to Andhra Pradesh.

The row erupted after several media reports claimed that the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relocate HAL from Karnataka’s Bengaluru to Andhra Pradesh, during a recent NITI Aayog meeting.

Reports suggest that the two crucial projects—the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)–are at the heart of the controversy.

The Andhra Pradesh CM reportedly offered 10,000 acres of land in the Lepakshi-Madakasira region of Anantapur district for setting up the new manufacturing facilities for the LCA and AMCA projects.

CM Naidu reportedly highlighted that Bengaluru faces space constraints. He added that the said the proposed site in Andhra is well-suited for setting up new manufacturing facilities due to its proximity to HAL’s existing infrastructure.

Besides, the Andhra Pradesh government has also proposed to develop manufacturing units in 4,000 acres of land at Orvakal in Kurnool district. These units would focus on military drones, robotics and advanced defence components.

HAL in Bengaluru and the significance of the LCA and AMCA projects

Based in Bengaluru, HAL is essential to India’s defence manufacturing. It is the primary production partner for the future AMCA as well as the LCA Tejas.

The locally designed Tejas aircraft is produced by the LCA Tejas Division in Bengaluru. Established in 2002, this division had an upgrade in 2014. Currently, 123 aircraft are on order, including 83 Mk1A aircraft that were ordered in 2021. Export orders are also being worked on.

HAL is increasing manufacturing from 10 to 16 aircraft annually in order to satisfy the increasing demand. In 2021, a new Plant II was developed to facilitate this growth.

Founded in 1940, the Bengaluru-based Aircraft Division manufactures both licensed and domestic aircraft and manages modifications for platforms such as Jaguar and Hawk planes. This state-of-the-art facility has its own airstrip as well as advanced infrastructure for assembly, testing, and production.

With an emphasis on deep penetration strike capabilities, India launched its ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter jet project —AMCA.  The execution plan for its development, which would be headed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with HAL and industry participants, was recently approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The project is crucial for boosting India’s air strength and has been approved in principle by the Cabinet Committee on Security. It is expected to cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Meanwhile, LCA Tejas is the light multirole fighter aircraft, and is already in production.

So far, Karnataka has been the India’s aerospace and defence hub, however, any prospect of HAL moving out of Karnataka is opposed by the Karnataka government. The Congress government in the state has raised strong objections over the alleged proposal by the Andhra Pradesh CM regarding setting new HAL facilities in the state.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday (27th May), said that the state government would not allow the shifting of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) production units out of Bengaluru. He was reacting to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s proposal to relocate HAL’s advanced production facilities to his state.

“I don’t want to comment on whatever they demand. I want Parliament members and Central ministers to react to this, but as the government, we will not allow anything to be shifted. We will give land if they want to expand,” Shivakumar told reporters here.

“They can get any new thing if they want, we will not come in their way, but as far as Karnataka is concerned, HAL is our pride, Nehruji gave this to us,” he added.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model, a key step to boost India’s indigenous defence capabilities and strengthen the domestic aerospace industry, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an official statement.

On Tuesday, Karnataka minister M.B. Patil dismissed reports suggesting that Bengaluru-headquartered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) may relocate its production units for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft to Andhra Pradesh.

Responding to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s reported proposal, Patil clarified that such a move was neither feasible nor within the authority of a Chief Minister.

“As far as I learned, no CM can request HAL to be shifted somewhere. All existing operations in Bengaluru, in Karnataka, will continue,” Patil told reporters. He added, “He may have said that future expansions or one more HAL unit [could] come over there. And if I am right, I don’t think he can say and he would not have said to shift the HAL operations elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also dismissed the possibility of relocation, stating, “I do not know, as far as my knowledge goes, it cannot be. It will not be shifted.”

Echoing a similar stance, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the state would protect its assets at all costs. His remarks followed reports that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had proposed relocating HAL’s advanced production facilities responsible for manufacturing the LCA Tejas and developing the AMCA project to Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office, Shivakumar said, “HAL was not given by any BJP government. It was set up in Bengaluru by Nehru due to the availability of technical manpower. I am not going to interfere in Chandrababu Naidu’s political request to the Centre. We have also given sufficient land to HAL and provided land to set up a helicopter unit in Tumakuru. They are free to set up anything new in Andhra Pradesh; we are not going to object to it. But our government will do whatever it takes to protect our state’s assets.”

He also questioned the silence of Karnataka MPs on the matter, saying, “What are our MPs representing Karnataka doing? The Union Ministers have not spoken a word about moving HAL to Andhra Pradesh. I would expect them to speak up for the state.”

Did CM Chandrababu Naidu pitch for shifting any existing HAL manufacturing facility to Andhra Pradesh?

While the political war of words is raging on, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has not proposed moving any existing HAL facility to the state. This clarification is important since the Karnataka government’s main concern stems from the possibility of the Andhra government seeking the shifting of an existing HAL facility to the state. It is essential to note that CM Naidu is free to ask for a new HAL unit to be set up in Andhra Pradesh.

Citing a top source, NDTV reported that Defence units for LCAs and AMCAs need setbacks as well, which is possible in Andhra Pradesh and may be tough in Karnataka.

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