India's Quick action against hijacking Incident in The Arabian Sea

Ministry of Defense:                               Posted On: 05 January 2024 at 12:44 PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Navy's Mission Deployed Platforms performed its skill and power

New Delhi: 05th January 2024: (PIB Delhi//Symbolic Photos by Hindustan Screen)::

Indian Navy's Mission Deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in Arabian Sea involving a hijacking attempt onboard Liberia Flagged bulk carrier. The vessel had sent a message on UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel in the evening on 04 Jan 24.

Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel.

The aircraft overflew the vessel on early morning of 05 Jan 24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the Safety of the crew.

Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance.

The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/ MNF in the area.

The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries

VM/PS                                          05/24                                        (Release ID: 1993347)

Offices are not run from rooftops-Grewal

Sat, Jan 11, 2014 at 7:36 PM
"It's over lack of mature Governance"

Ludhiana , 11 January 2014(Rector Kathuria//Punjab Screen):
Offices are not run from rooftops, BJP Kisan Morcha's National Secretary and Prabhari Himachal Pradesh Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's JANTA DARBAR which ended in a chaos at New Delhi today. In a press statement here, he said that it's over lack of mature Governance, such meetings do not happen on the streets or the rooftops of offices. Grewal said that public hearings are the part of " Good Governance " but there are some method to these meetings or DARBARS. He said that there will be a purpose and there will be a place also for these public meetings or DARBAR. Grewal said that it's clear that is all about mature Governance, also about experienced Governance that is what for this  is lacking of DARBAR. National BJP Leader from Punjab, Grewal as soon of the news about chaos at the JANTA DARBAR broke, said for God sake to Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers offices are not run from rooftops, to solve public complaints there will to take time to listen them, to absorb them and after that take considered decisions for solutions. He said that according to news coming from public, media and witness from Delhi, at that time that Delhi's Newly formed AAP Government very much talked about their first JANTA DARBAR outside the Delhi Secretariat office today chaos and mismanagement which forced Arvind Kejriwal to leave the venue midway as hundreds jostled with each other to register their grievances. After that Arvind Kejriwal also admitted that, if he had not left the meeting midway, there could have been a stampede there in today DARBAR.

BJP NRI meeet: Dinner reception at Russian Center

Sun, Jan 5, 2014 at 2:16 PM

A special event by BJP on 6 Jan-S S Grewal

Chandigarh, 5 January 2014: (Rector Kathuria//Delhi Screen):

Host of the event Vijay Jolly Delhi and 
Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal Pb.

BJP party is hosting NRI Sammelan by Overseas Friends of BJP ( OFBJP ) for the first time, organizing “ OFBJP Global Meet - 2014 ” on Monday 6th Jan 2014 from 10.30 AM to 6.00 PM at BJP Central Office Auditorium, 11 Ashok Road, New Delhi. In a press statement here today, National BJP Leader Advocate, Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said that all preparations have been completed for this mega event by Vijay Jolly National Convenor, Dr. Rajni Sarin, Amit Thaker Co-Convenor and Raj K Purohit Coordinator Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) and their whole team with a view to resolve the grievances of Indian Diaspora. Grewal stated that the Registration will be started at 9.30 AM and onwards ant the first session will be Conducted by Shri. Amit Thakar Co-Convenor. He said that at from 10: 30 AM to 11:15 AM Inaugural address by our BJP Hon'ble National President Shri Rajnath Singh ji. He said that from 11: 15 AM to 11: 35 AM Speech by Honored Guest Shri. Mahendra Chaudhary (Former Prime Minister of Fiji) & Honouring Lord Raj Loomba, CBE (Chairman Loomba Foudantion, United Kingdom ). Grewal stated that in Second session 11: 45 PM to 12: 00 PM the OFBJP Video Film "Bhajpa Ke Sadhe Kadam" Shall be Screened at that time. He said that from 12: 00 PM to 01: 00 PM session will be Conducted by Dr. Rajni Sarin, Co-Convenor "Introduction by OFBJP units" In the Presence of Hon'ble Shri Rajnath Singh & Hon'ble Shri Ram Lal ji National General Secretary Organisation. He said that the Lunch will be at 01.00 PM to 02: 00PM. Grewal stated that the third Session will be Conduct by Shri. Vijay Mehta OFBJP Central Committee Member on Indian Foreign Policy & its Directions. He said that from 02: 00 PM to 02: 30 PM Shri Jaswant Singh Senior Member of Parliament will adress the house. He stated that the fourth Session will be Conduct by Shri. Manjeet Lochav,  OFBJP Central Committee Member on India's Economic Policy. Grewal stated that at 02: 30 PM to 03.00 PM Hon'ble Shri. Arun Jaitiey Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha will Launch Global OFBJP Website compiled by Ritu Rathore. He said that the Cultural session will be Conducted by Shri Gajendra Solanki, Eminent Indian Poet. In this session Special Guest of Honor will be Shri. Venkaiyah Naidu Senior BJP Leader and will release Compilation of Veer-Ras Poem CD. He stated that the fifth joint session from 04: 00 PM to 04: 15 PM will be Conduct by Dr. Abhilasha Sharma OFBJP Central Committee Member. 

In this session the Role of Good Governance will be adress by Hon'ble Shri Nitin Gadkari Former National President BJP. Grewal stated that from 04: 20 PM to 04: 35 PM session will be Conduct by Shri. Bhupendra Kansal OFBJP Central Committee Member . He said in this session Hon'ble Shri Ram Lal ji BJP National General Secretary Organisation adress on BJP & its Ideological Commitments. He said that the Closing Session will be Conduct by Shri. Raj K Purohit, OFBJP Coordinator. He said that from 05: 15 PMto 05: 30 PM Video address by Shri. Narendra Modi, BJP PM Nominee and from 05: 30 PM to 06: 00 PM the Valedictory Address by Hon'ble Shri L.K. Advani ji Senior Leader of BJP. Grewal said that from the OFBJP dinner reception will also at 6th Jan 2014 from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm at Russian Center of Science & Culture, 24 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-1. He said that large number of NRI's will attend our BJP Party's NRI Sammelan from the world.

I had met Ishrat Jahans mother, Shamima--Subhashini Ali*

Aug 14, 2013 6:26 PM
Shamima and her supporters felt threatened

Photo Courtesy Kafila

Subhashini Ali*

Some years ago, I had met Ishrat Jahans mother, Shamima, at a meeting in Azamgarh.  We did not have much opportunity to speak, but her quiet dignity impressed me.  This year, as soon as I knew that I would be in Mumbai for Eid, I contacted her and asked her if I could visit her home and wish her and her children on an occasion that is celebrated with so much joy and festivity all over the world but which can also be an occasion of sorrow and longing for a loved one who is not present.  And for this family the sorrow and longing must be so much more intense because of the tragic and brutal way in which their young and innocent Ishrat Jahan’s life ended.
Shamima welcomed my proposal and Sonya Gill, Maharashtra President of AIDWA, and I reached Mumbra just as the Eid prayers ended.  Mumbra is part of Thane district which has become a Muslim-dominated area.  It is home to Muslim migrants to Mumbai from all parts of India.  Many came here several years ago when they first migrated from their homes; many more followed them after the 1992-93 riots and now it has become a destination for new migrants every year.  
When we reached Mumbra, the streets were overflowing with young and old people on their way home from the prayer or on their way to visit friends and relatives or just enjoying walking around with their friends.  The sidewalks had plenty of shops selling biryani, kababs, sevai, toys and all kinds of bric a brac.  The children all around looked especially festive in their new clothes, fancy shoes and many different kinds of dark glasses!
We found the apartment where Shamima has been staying for the last few months with her children.  They have had to leave their old and crumbling set of rooms which were too well known and too exposed for their safety.  Ever since the CBI court in Ahmedabad started hearings of the encounter case and especially after the CBI filed its first chargesheet against senior officers of the Gujerat police indicting them for their role in the encounter (all the accused have been in jail since 2004 because of their involvement in the Sohrabuddin encounter case), Shamima and her supporters have been felt threatened.  Once, men claiming to be policemen, tried to force open her door in the middle of the night.  On another occasion, the car in which she was returning from a hearing in Ahmedabad was shot at.  A deep sense of insecurity forced her and her children to leave their home and take refuge in a flat belonging to a sympathetic supporter for a few months.
Shamima’s face was wreathed in warm and welcoming smiles when we entered.  She hugged us Eid Mubarak and was followed by her daughter, Masarrat.  Two younger daughters were a bit shy to begin with but soon regained their lively, youthful exuberance. Their brother, Anwar, was very much the young man of the house, conscious of his role as the only earning member of his battered family.  Very soon we were eating delicious Sheerkorma and listening to several chattering voices.  
Shamima and her husband both belonged to Patna.  Masarrat and one of her sisters were sent to their nani there soon after Ishrat’s death.  They have been studying there since.  But, like all Mumbai girls, they consider Patna to be little better than a village!  Masarrat has a serious point.  She says that for members of a poor family like theirs it is much easier to find work in Mumbai.
Anwar maybe the only family member with a job – he works in a call center after having given up his education because of lack of money – but everyone contributes to the household.  Shamima and her daughters take in sewing and embroidery work and they told us, quite proudly, that, of course, they had stitched their new clothes for Eid.
Speaking of working of course, brings memories of Ishrat flooding back.  It was the necessity of finding work to pay for her own education and for her family’s expenses that had made her take up a job with ‘Uncle Javed’.  Two months later, her bullet-ridden body lay next to his and to the bodies of two other men on a road outside Ahmedabad.  An AK 47 lay next to her.  It did not, however, have her fingerprints.
Shamima wipes away just the one uncontrollable tear and composes herself. She says, my daughter could earn only two months’ salary.  She gave me all the money she received but made sure that her college entrance fees for the next academic year were paid well in time.  Once college started again, she would stop working for Javed and go back to studying and then taking tuitions for the children of the locality.  Something she had been doing for several years.
Masarrat will soon finish her studies and maybe getting married after that.  She is determined to work, however.  The two younger girls too dream of studying and then working.  All three girls are determined to lead happy, normal lives and to see at least some of their dreams fulfilled.  Anwar is already quiet for his age.  He feels the burden of his responsibilities but does not resent them.  
Shamima is the quiet and still center of the family.  She is the lightening rod that has absorbed the shock and trauma of her daughter’s cold-blooded murder.  From a woman leading a life of seclusion, she has grown into a woman who has faced police interrogation, heart-rending encounters with the cold and unfriendly corridors of justice, the suspicion, indifference and hostility of her neighbours and the intrusive cross-examinations of the media.  Through it all she has retained her innate graciousness.  Her unshakable belief in her daughter’s innocence and her absolute determination to fight for justice so that the black stain of being a terrorist can be wiped off forever from her child’s innocent, angelic face has given her the immense and incredible courage that was necessary to face what were, truly, unsurmountable barriers.
Today, justice seems within her grasp but she knows only too well that it may yet prove elusive.  Still, the knowledge that millions all over the country are now convinced of her daughter’s innocence fills her with the hope that her sons and daughters will be allowed to live the dreams that were so tragically snuffed out in Ishrat’s young heart.
We take leave of Shamima, happy that we have been able to participate in the celebrations of this brave band of unarmed warriors and humbled by the courage they display despite the cruel strength of the enemy that they know only too well.                --Subhashini Ali*

*Subhashini Ali is the daughter of Colonel Prem Sehgal and Captain Lakshmi Sehgal who were aa active part of the Indian National Army. 
She is also an active Trade Unionist and leader of the All India Democratic Women's Association.
Subhashini Ali also designed period costumes for 1981 classic, Umrao Jaan

I had met Ishrat Jahans mother, Shamima--Subhashini Ali*

I visited the home of Akhtar Mujahid-Subhashini Ali

He showed us the cd on a laptop

Teej Festival celebrated by girls of Ludhiana

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 3:30 PM
A colorful Teej event at MTSM college
Ludhiana: 8 August 2013: (Rector kathuria): Teej Festival cum Fresher’s Party was celebrated at Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana to present an authentic Punjabi Culture with the blends of modern hues. The whole atmosphere was filled with gaiety when college girls dressed in elegant traditional as well as western attires staged their dance performances, skit, folk songs and modeling.
       College Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Parveen Kaur Chawla gave a hale and hearty welcome to the new entrants and also focused on the significance of Teej Festival in Modern Era.
        Arshdeep Kaur was crowned ‘Teeyan di Rani’, Harmandeep Kaur and Navdeep Kaur were titled Miss Punjaban and Miss Majajjan respectively.  Ashwarya was crowned as Miss Fresher Shifali & Harpreet Kaur as first & second runners up respectively. Sukhpreet Kaur got the title of Miss Diva whereas Garima was declared Miss Crowning Glory. The tag of Miss Beautiful smile went to Gurleen Kaur.Various competitions like traditional style of pleating hair, Beautiful Pranda, Ethnic jewelry, Mehndi Application, Beautiful Bangles and were held and the winners were given prizes. S. Swarn Singh (President, College Managing Committee) and S. Kawalinder Singh (Secratery, College Managing Committee) graced the occasion and stressed on the need for maintaining our rich Heritage and culture in the Modern times.
        College Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Parveen Kaur Chawla stressed on the need of being aware of our elementary traditions and values. The celebration was culminated by adding another leaf in the book of unforgettable memories of the college.

Teej Festival cum Fresher’s Party was celebrated

Save Punjabi as Subject of Study in the Colleges of Delhi

Remembering Sahir Ludhianvi

An Afghan Uniform Police

No to insecure and hostile work environment

Enjoy the freedom but

New Research Vessel for CMFRI-Silver Pomano

07-August-2013 16:49 IST
A special PIB feature on Shipping          By L.C. Ponnumon*

Fishing Vessel F.V Silver Pompano

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi has recently procured a 19.75 m fisheries research vessel F.V. Silver Pompano as part of the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The vessel is used for carrying out fisheries related research in the territorial waters. The vessel was manufactured by Goa Shipyard Ltd at a cost of about Rs. 4.75 crores.
The vessel is fitted with a 4 stroke Volvo Penta make 500 hp @1800 rpm marine engine. The main deck of the vessel contains cabin for scientists and crew, wet laboratory, weather station, galley, mess room and toilet. The hydraulically operated trawl which consist of 1000 m long, 12 mm diameter steel wire rope on each drum with a speed of 0 to 40m/minute which draws hydraulic power from main engine.

The vessel shall be used for experimental trawl fishing – both bottom and mid-water trawling using Issac-Kid Mid-water Trawl system and collection of oceanographic parameters and marine samples from the sea.   The vessel is equipped with underway CTD sampler, Doppler current meter, instruments for chlorophyll measurements, zooplankton, TSS and sediment sampling.   The vessels is equipped with a laboratory for preliminary analysis and to fix the samples for further analysis.  An automatic weather station to collect the atmospheric parameters like rainfall, humidity etc.   The vessel is fitted with modern oceanographic equipment like underway CTD sampler, Doppler current profiler, Plankton net, sediment and benthic sampler etc.  

All equipped Life Saving Appliances (LSA) are installed in the vessel. Fire control equipments like fire extinguishers and hoses are also provided. Directorate General of Shipping approved Nautical, Radio and fish finding equipments are fitted in the vessel.

           World’s Oceans are currently affected by global warming with likely impacts in changes in ocean currents and winds, precipitation etc.  Sea Surface Temperature (SST)   has increased by 0.2 to 0.3oC along the Indian coast in the last 45 years.   Global warming and consequent changes in climate patterns will have strong impact on fisheries with serious consequences on food and livelihood security of considerable section of the population.   Climate change is likely to play a key role in the distribution, abundance and phenology of marine and freshwater fishes and assessing the impact is vital for developing strategies for climate change mitigation.  Nevertheless, there exists opportunities to reduce the vulnerability of Indian marine fisheries to climate change by way of projections on fish distribution, abundance etc., thereby planning better management adaptations.  

           National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project was initiated by ICAR as a major programme to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change.  The project was initiated with an outlay of Rs. 350 crores in the XI plan and continues in the XII plan.  Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is one of the major institute in the strategic research component in the NICRA project  and the nodal agency to carry out climate related impact studies on Indian fisheries.  Warming of waters and sea level rise may severely impact the fishery comprising both the resource and its tappers.  Therefore, it is pertinent to study and evaluate the shift in spawning season, strength and recruitment into fisheries, determine quantitative and qualitative food availability, especially to the  spawners and juveniles and find relationships between climatic and oceanographic variables on distribution, spawning and food availability of Indian marine fishes.  As part of the project, CMFRI, Kochi has procured this vessel.

The project on fisheries CMFRI is headed by Dr P.U Zacharia, Principal Scientist and Head of Demersal Fisheries Division and 44 scientists working at different centers of CMFRI are involved in the project in addition to 23 research scholars.  The work involves finding the impact of climate change on the distribution, abundance, spawning behaviour by selecting  10 species representing  pelagic, Demersal, crustaceans, and molluscan species. Other aspects under study are assessing the vulnerability of coastal districts, estimating the emission from fishing and allied activities, identifying and developing hatchery technologies for climate resilient species for mariculture and developing and demonstrating technologies in estuarine and coastal areas. (PIB Features)

Click here to see more Photos


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*Media & Communication Officer, PIB, Cochin.

With inputs from Director, CMFRI, Kochi.

SS-62/SF-62/07-08-2013

RTS/HSN

Electronic Toll Collection

05-March-2013 19:10 IST
To be Rolled Out on NHS Across Country by March Next Year -Dr.C P Joshi
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways aims to rollout Electronic Toll Collection( ETC) across all the toll plazas on National Highways in the entire country by March 31, 2014.This was stated by Dr. CP Joshi, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways(MoRTH) here today while delivering the keynote address at a discussion organised on” India’s Highways-Next Gen Tolling and Corridor Management” 

Electronic Toll Collection is a system enabling collection of toll payments electronically allowing for near-nonstop toll collection and traffic monitoring.ETC utilizes vehicles equipped with transponders(electronic tags),wireless communication, in-road/roadside sensors and a computerized system(hardware and software) for uniquely identifying each vehicle ,electronically collect toll, providing general vehicle/traffic monitoring and data collection. 
Here is the text of Minister’s speech 
“ I am confident that the daylong discussions would have sparked off ideas that have the potential of revolutionizing Tolling and Corridor Management on Indian Highways. 

“The mission of Government of India has been to make quality highway network across the country and make the system transparent and responsive. 

“In our bid to do so / I am glad to share that by the end of this financial year we would complete construction of nearly 3000 kilometers of National highways, / which is a record till date. 

“Along with constructing highways we are also re working our systems to sync with times. To make the system transparent / we first introduced e-tendering, / followed it with pilot project to Electronically collect Toll. 

“Now we have a vision to mark national highway network on maps / making it compatible to mobile devices / and even have apps for highway network.

“I will elaborate a bit on our endeavor to implement RFID based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system across National Highways. 

“The RFID technology shall expedite the clearing of traffic at toll plazas / and the need of carrying cash shall also be eliminated when Toll plazas shall be duly integrated with each other throughout India. 

“We started a Pilot Project on ETC last year in April at Parwanoo on NH-5. / 

“The pilot is being carried successfully and concessionaires have been requested to work out necessary modalities with the ETC solution providers / and Banks for setting up of Central Clearing House (CCH). 

“A few more stretches have also been selected for ETC implementation. They are Mumbai - Ahmedabad, Chennai- Bangalore and Gurgaon – Jaipur – Beawar. 

“I would like to assert that by March 31, 2014 we aim to implement ETC across all the toll plazas on our National Highways. 

“For implementation of nationwide electronic toll collection we have recently constituted / Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) / with equity partnership from NHAI (50%) Concessionaries (25%) and institutions (25%) . 

“Government of India is also amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 for fitment of RFID tag on vehicles by the automobile manufacturers. 

“I am happy that Feedback Brista Highways OMT Pvt. Limited (FBH) has organized this special session to discuss the issues that affect user comfort at the Toll Plazas and how we can develop an effective and efficient mechanism at Toll Plazas on National Highways. 

“Our endeavor will be to develop policies and systems for happy user experience on Indian Highways / through better safety measures / and / lower waiting time at the Toll Plazas. 

“We will be happy to partner with the Government of Portugal to develop a mechanism for better cooperation and collaboration in this regard.” (PIB)
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