Home Blog Page 6569

Amidst increasing provocation by Pakistan, Indian Army conducts live drills of Anti Tank Guided Missiles

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Amidst increasing provocation by Pakistan, Indian Army conducts live drills of Anti Tank Guided Missiles

Amidst growing tensions between India and Pakistan, Indian Armed Forces appear to be battle-ready for any escalation as the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on Saturday carried out live drills of Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) detachment during a field training exercise using a mock target.

The Indian Army carried out live drills of the anti-tank guided missile in a field live fire training exercise undertaken for troops of the Army’s Eastern Command. The live firing exercise to test the effectiveness of systems took place under the supervision of General Mohanty of the GOC 33 Corps, which is based in Siliguri.

Image Source: ANI

Reportedly, The Indian Army has achieved its intended results with the tests as the missiles hit the mock target with precision and 100% success ratio. The mock target was decimated and blown away with the force of the anti-tank missile. The exercise not only proved the efficiency of the new equipment but also highlighted the strength of the Indian army, which possesses many such hi-tech types of equipment required during the battle.

Image Source: ANI

An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armour guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armoured military vehicles and heavy artilleries. The size of such equipment can range from a shoulder-launched weapon, usually launched by just one soldier, or it can be a larger tripod-mounted system, which is often operated by a team.

Image Source: ANI

The Indian Armed Forces have inducted indigenous Nag anti-tank guided missile, built by Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The Nag missile is solely operated from the NAMICA ATGM carrier, a tank destroyer based on the BMP-2 platform. Addition to that, HeliNa, a Helicopter-launched Nag with a range of 7–8 km is also being developed to be launched on board from the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

Apart from NAG, Indian Army currently operates Russian-made 9M119 Svir, 9M113 Konkurs, 9K114 Shturm, 9M133 Kornet anti-tank missile systems. Amogha–1, a second generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile is also being developed by Defence PSU, Bharat Dynamics at Hyderabad. Amogha-1 is believed to have a pinpoint accuracy for a range up to 2.8 km.

PM Modi slams people indulging in anti-India propaganda, says their statements help Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar

OpIndia Staff
-
0
PM Modi slams people indulging in anti-India propaganda, says their statements help Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2nd March 2019 delivered a keynote address at the India Today Conclave. He spoke about a number of issues including the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. Speaking about the foreign policy of India, Modi said that in the beginning of his tenure as Prime Minister people were suspicious that having worked within a State only, whether he would be able to deliver in areas like foreign policy but people must have observed the impact of the foreign policy of the country over the last few days.


PM Modi said that this is new India and today blood of every single soldier is priceless to us.


Targeting the people who have been speaking against India, Modi said that the unity of countrymen has scared such anti-India people both inside and outside the country. “Ye dar achha hai (this fear is good)”, Modi said.


“When terrorists fear the bravery of our soldiers then the fear is good”, said PM.


Modi slammed the group of people who have been speaking not only against the country but also against the army and questioned them whether they trust the army or not. He warned such people not to oppose the country while opposing him.


The Prime Minister said that the anti-India propaganda carried out by such people helps terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.


Taking a dig at the opposition for creating fake propaganda around the Rafale deal, Modi said that the country has felt the need of Rafale fighter jets today. He said that politics done by the previous government and now opposition on the Rafale deal has caused serious loss to the country.


Speaking about the development that took place under his government, PM Modi said that India is now the fastest growing economy. He listed various development projects started by the BJP government including housing for all, sanitation etc.


He also mentioned the mobile manufacturing units set up in the country and the increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flowing in the country.

Doles and deals harmed India’s development journey: PM Modi takes a dig on Congress

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Doles and deals harmed India’s development journey: PM Modi takes a dig on Congress

Jawans and farmers are the biggest sufferers in the doles and deals which have harmed India’s development journey, said PM Modi on Saturday at the India Today Conclave.

Taking a dig at Congress, PM Modi said, “Why is it that those who ruled India for so many years had so many scams in their era? From jeeps to tanks to helicopters. Who is every deal maker close to? Who is every middle man close to? The entire nation knows and the Lutyens lobby definitely knows.”

Read also: Congress in damage control mode, expels party leader who represented AgustaWestland middleman in court

He further said how from 2009 to 2014, during UPA 2, not a single bulletproof jacket was procured by the Congress-led government. “It is common knowledge that one of the things our armed forces regularly need is bulletproof jackets. Between 2009 and 2014 not a single bulletproof jacket was procured. From 2014, 2,30,000 bulletproof jackets were bought. Corridors of power are free from middlemen because this govt will never tolerate any corruption,” he asserted.

Read also: Twitter user lists out various initiatives of military modernisation under Modi government

Speaking on the doles dished out by previous UPA government, PM Modi said, “Those in power love the doles. Doles not to empower the poor. They were given so that poor remain poor and they remain at mercy of political class.”

Adding that farm loan waivers do not really empower the farmers, PM Modi said, “No economist or policy expert will say loan waiver will solve our agrarian issue. Every 10 years the UPA came up with these. They did nothing during their tenure, but at 11th hour offered loan waiver.”

Speaking on the approach taken by the Modi government to ease the debt burden of farmers, he said, through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the government has given a comprehensive scheme to farmers. “On February 1, the scheme was announced and February 24, the scheme was launched. During previous government, this much time would have gone in deciding after which family member the scheme should be named,” PM Modi took a jibe on the Nehru-Gandhi family in whose names many schemes are named.

PM Modi furthered that his government does not believe in tokenism. “India has been battling poverty since decades. The token slogan was ‘Garibi Hatao‘. It was never specified how. No method was chalked out how to achieve it. The need for financial inclusion has been known for decades. Nationalisation of banks was tokenism. How many actually had access to banks? OROP has been a 40-year-old demand, and in 2014 budget, right before elections, a token Rs 500 crore was allotted.

“Contrary to that, Jan Dhan Yojana deals with financial inclusion and banking for all. Housing for all initiative aims for a house for every Indian by 2022. We have made remarkable progress of constructing 1.5 crore homes already as against the 25 lakhs constructed by the UPA. Under Ayushman Bharat, healthcare for all scheme, 50 crore Indians will benefit. We have allotted Rs 35,000 crore for OROP against Rs 500 crore by UPA.

“Even 70 years after independence, 18,000 villages didn’t have electricity. Now all these 18,000 villages are electrified. We are now focusing on household electrification,” PM Modi said.

He then questioned the issues ignored by the UPA. “I want to ask why do people still have to defecate openly? Why no government sensitivity towards the divyangs? Why was river Ganga was so polluted? Why was the North East ignored? Why was there no national war memorial for our brave soldiers? Why was there no memorial for our brave police force? After independence, over 35,000 policemen have been martyred. Why no flag was unfurled at the Red Fort in memory of the Azad Hind Fauj?”

Recounting the progress of his government, he said that the GDP growth during the last five years has been highest as compared to the time between 1991 to 2014. The last five years has also seen a reduced rate of inflation, fastest construction of roads, railways development, construction of houses for poor as well as setting up of mobile manufacturing units. He added that the country now has a fast-growing network of optical fibres and the FDI is flowing in faster than ever and the cleanliness is increasing at phenomenal speed.

‘The fear is good. When ‘uncle’ speaks and if one family is afraid, then fear is good,’ PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘The fear is good. When ‘uncle’ speaks and if one family is afraid, then fear is good,’ PM Modi

Even a single drop of blood of our soldiers is precious to me, said PM Modi at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi today. “Today’s India is a new India, a changed India. For us, a single drop of every soldier is precious. Earlier, no action was taken no matter how many soldiers were killed. Now no one can look at India with malice. India is ready with new policy and method. The world also now understands it,” he said.

“Today’s new India is fearless and decisive. Because of perseverance of 125 crore Indians’ perseverance, their faith, India is moving forward,” PM Modi added. This unity within India has rattled some those within and outside the country. “Some anti-India people are afraid. And I mean within and outside (enemy). And going by the atmosphere today, I can say, this fear is good. When the enemy is afraid of India’s action against terrorism, then this fear is good. When the wilful defaulters and absconders are afraid of getting their properties seized, then this fear is good,” PM Modi said.

“When ‘uncle’ speaks and if one family is afraid, this fear is good. When the corrupt are afraid of the law, then this fear is good,” he added.

Read also: Did the Rafale deal not go through during the UPA because of dealings of ‘Michel mama’, asks PM

Speaking on the challenges India is facing, PM Modi said, “While the country is moving forward, new challenges have come up. This challenge is those who make fun of their own nation and those who mock the country. I am shocked people are now doubting the defence forces when the country is standing shoulder to shoulder against terrorism. When the world is coming together to join us in fighting the terror, some parties are questioning us by supporting enemies. Pakistan is using statements of these parties and articles written by them.”

Read also: Congress and other opposition parties peddle lies on the all-party meeting, get support from Pakistan

He added how to come across as anti-Modi, many have ended up being anti-India. “Modis will come and go, but the country will stay. India will stay. Hence I insist and urge them for your political ambitions and your intellectual satisfaction do not try to weaken India. Do you trust defence forces or you trust those who are spreading terror on our land?” PM Modi asked.

PM Modi said that today, the country has experienced the lack of Rafale fighter jets. “If we had Rafale, the outcome (of the February 26 air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan followed by Pakistan’s retaliatory airspace violation attacking India’s military installations) might have been different. Because of politics on Rafale, India has lost.” He then urged the opposition to criticise him and his policies, but not to oppose India’s progress. He urged the opposition to not end up supporting the terrorists like Masood Azhar and those who protect him just to oppose Modi.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was mentally tortured by Pakistanis: Reports

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Wing Commander Abhinandan was mentally tortured by Pakistanis: Reports

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman underwent mental torture while being held captive by the Pakistani Army before being handed over to India under the Geneva Convention last night, claim reports.

As per reports, the Pakistani Army and ISI tried to mentally torture him while he was being held captive as a Prisoner of War. It is reported that the Pakistani authorities were waiting that if any given point Wg Cmdr Abhinandan’s morale is weakened and he pleads for his release, a video of it can be made to be circulated.

Following his return last night, Wg Cmdr Abhinandan had to undergo debriefing where various agencies in India would question him regarding his stay in Pakistan. He would also undergo physical and psychological tests to check whether he had undergone any torture while in captivity. He would also be checked for bugs or chips which could have been placed by Pakistanis.

Wing Commander Abhinandan chased an F16 fighter jet of Pakistani Air Force (PAF) on a MiG 21 fighter jet on March 27 when PAF violated Indian airspace and attacked military installations while retaliating to the airstrikes carried out by Indian Air Force to destroy Pakistan-based terror camps. His jet was shot down and he drifted towards Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir and was taken into custody. He was returned back to India last night.

Slain Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist planned suicide attack along the lines of Pulwama: Reports

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Slain Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist planned suicide attack along the lines of Pulwama: Reports

One of the two Shopian terrorists eliminated in an encounter in the last week of February was planning to carry out a Fidayeen attack, reports have revealed. The terrorist is believed to belong to the Jaish-e-Muhammad.


A video is in circulation, reports say, where a terrorist is saying that the slain terrorist planned to carry out a suicide bombing as it lowers the morale of the security forces. He also says that suicide attacks should be adopted going forward as when militants are surrounded by security forces, the latter doesn’t incur too much damage. Therefore, suicide bombing is the way going forward. he also says that Islam permits him to do this.

In the context of the video, it appears the security forces have foiled another heinous terror bid by JeM. The Pulwama Terror Attack which resulted in the death of over 40 CRPF soldiers was a suicide attack as well. Earlier today, an audio clip of Maulana Ammar, brother of the wanted terrorist Mashood Azhar, has surfaced where he can be heard urging his followers to wage Jihad against India.

Failing to forge alliance with congress, Kejriwal announces six Lok Sabha candidates for Delhi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Failing to forge alliance with congress, Kejriwal announces six Lok Sabha candidates for Delhi

After failed attempts to engineer an alliance with Congress, Aam Aadmi Party has decided to fight the election in the state of Delhi, on its own, without a coalition. The announcement was made by AAP leader Gopal Rai during a press conference.


Atishi Marlena will contest East Delhi seat, Guggan Singh will contest from Northwest Delhi, AAP Political affairs committee member Raghav Chaddha will contest from South Delhi, Pankaj Gupta will contest from Chandni Chowk seat, Dilip Pandey will contest from North-east Delhi and Brajesh Goyal will contest from New Delhi. However, the party has still not revealed the name of the candidate from West Delhi seat.

Aam Aadmi Party had lost all on seven Lok Sabha seats from Delhi in 2014. All seats are currently held by BJP.

Talking about the alliance with Congress, Gopal Rai in the conference said that they had received two messages from Congress, that had expressed disapproval of any alliance with AAP.

He said that Former Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has outrightly refused the alliance with AAP. Then, he said that during Mahagatbandhan meeting on 13th February Congress President Rahul Gandhi had himself said that to AAP supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal that his party does not wish any type of alliance with AAP.

Gopal Rai asserted that depending on these two communications, AAP decided to go alone.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was very keen for the alliance with Congress, to defeat BJP in the upcoming general elections.

“Tired of trying to convince Congress for alliance but they refuse to understand…If today our alliance with Congress is done, the BJP will lose all seven seats in Delhi,” Kejriwal had said at a public function in Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency, last month.

Now, with this declaration, the contest in Delhi will become triangular with AAP, BJP, and Congress in the arena. While the Congress is banking on Grand Alliance in the rest of the country to defeat PM Modi-led BJP, it has decided to go alone in Delhi.

‘India has ensured we start our Jihad against it,’ brother of Masood Azhar confirms Indian strikes against Jaish terror camps

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘India has ensured we start our Jihad against it,’ brother of Masood Azhar confirms Indian strikes against Jaish terror camps

In an audio clip that has surfaced, Maulana Masood Azhar’s younger brother Maulana Ammar is heard confirming an attack by Indian fighter jets on Jaish-e-Muhammad facility inside Pakistan. Ammar was reportedly speaking at a seminary in Peshawar on the 28th of February. Ammar is believed to be associated with Afghan and Kashmir operations of JeM.


In the clip, Ammar can be heard urging his followers to wage war against India. He says, “The enemy crossed over into Pakistan and launched attacks on our Islamic ‘Markaz’ (Centre). By doing so, the enemy has declared war upon our country.” He adds, “Indian aircraft did not bomb the safe house of any agency or its headquarters or where agency officials held their meetings, they bombed the centre where students were trained to understand the concept of Jihad and assist the oppressed Kashmiris. This is no longer a Jihad of any agency. By attacking our Markaz, India has ensured that we start our Jihad against it.”

Ammar has thus confirmed that Indian fighter jets did hit their target, contrary to the claims made by Pakistani who have been in denial over it. He also confirmed the statement made by the Ministry of External Affairs that it was a ‘non-military’ operation as the Indian aircraft only hit terrorist camps.

The Jihadist’s remarks also make one wonder whether India will conduct more preemptive strikes to eliminate terror threats before they succeed in their agenda. Also, if Pakistan is indeed serious about its desire for peace, then it should start by taking action against Ammar.

Celebrations of air strikes over Pakistan will create communal tension in India: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Celebrations of air strikes over Pakistan will create communal tension in India: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy

In a video that has gone viral now, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy can be seen passing controversial remarks regarding India’s preemptive air strikes to destroy the terror camps of Jaish-e-Muhammad. Kumaraswamy asserted that blasting terror hideouts in Pakistan and the subsequent celebrations in India will create communal tensions between the communities.


Speaking at a party meeting in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy said that those BJP  workers who were bursting crackers, celebrating the bombings, distributing tea in India, were adding fuel to the fire and creating a rift between the two communities in India. “By celebrating bombings of terror camps inside Pakistan, taking to the streets, distributing sweets and tea and bursting crackers in celebration the BJP is fanning communal passions within the country. They are alienating members of one community to achieve political mileage. This might lead to loss of many innocent lives,” he said.

Kumaraswamy, in his speech, makes an outrageous insinuation that those who celebrate the Indian Air Force’s air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan are fueling communal hatred in India. His assertions also imply that certain community nurses sympathy for the terrorists harboured in Pakistan and that they cannot withstand the celebrations called for the annihilation of those terrorists.


Kumaraswamy, in his defence, tried to rubbish the allegations by stating that the BJP has resorted to the Pakistani hack of uploading doctored videos for propaganda. Kumaraswamy further claimed that the BJP had removed certain parts of his speech. He went on to accuse the BJP of running malicious propaganda against him for their electoral gains. Defending his speech, Karnataka CM stated that his comments were on the BJP and their allies’ efforts to acquire political currency out of our defence forces, and whipping up war euphoria leading to unrest in the society.


Some BJP leaders of Karnataka have raised strong objections to the egregious comments made by the CM Kumaraswamy. Chikkamagaluru MLA CT Ravi accused the CM of dividing the citizens on communal lines. The BJP has also accused the coalition of JDU-Congress of playing appeasement politics to strengthen their vote-bank politics.


It is notable here that several opposition parties including the Congress, despite having pledged their support to the government regarding necessary actions to be taken to combat terror, had issued a declaration later, alleging that the government is politicising the issue. The joint statement was also used by official channels in Pakistan to peddle their anti-India propaganda.

Hours after the ‘peace’ initiative, Pakistan continues ceasefire violations, kills civilians including 9 month-old baby

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Hours after the ‘peace’ initiative, Pakistan continues ceasefire violations, kills civilians including 9 month-old baby

A 9-month-old baby and a 5-year-old child, siblings, have died along with their mother as a consequence of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. The ceasefire violations come right after Imran Khan’s announcement to return Wing Commander Abhinandan was hailed by many as a ‘peace gesture’.

A civilian in the Poonch sector in Kashmir told Republic TV, “Firing began from evening 6 pm by Pakistan and went on till 9-10 pm. The firing from Pakistan’s side blasted inside a house while the family was having a meal.”


“The mother and her two kids are dead. The father of the kids is injured. Two-three houses adjoined are destroyed. Our house is close to the border and Pakistan is destroying, abusing us. We are poor people, how do we save ourselves?” another villager was quoted as saying.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt Colonel Devender Anand reportedly said that many people have been injured at Salotri as Pakistan is targeting civilian population along the LoC in Poonch, Mankote, Balakote, and Nowshera areas. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, he said.

”Pakistani Army, at around 1930 hrs (Friday), heavily fired in Salotri village of Jallas in Poonch sector,” police sources reportedly stated.

The rampant ceasefire violations indicate that the ‘peace gesture’ of returning Wing Commander Abhinandan to India was extremely farcical. And that he was returned only due to international conventions and the pressure built on them by the Indian government. While Pakistani Ministers are floating Imran Khan as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, his army is busy killing children and infants.

1...6,5686,5696,570...7,610Page 6,569 of 7,610