Armed forces should always be ready for unpredictable, uncertainties: Rajnath to top commanders
New Delhi, Oct 11: Amid a lingering border row in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday addressed top commanders of the Army and expressed confidence in the force in dealing with "any contingency" even as he said the ongoing talks with China for a peaceful resolution "will continue at all levels".
The first phase of the second Army Commanders' Conference (ACC) of this year began in a forward area in Sikkim's Gangtok, a location that holds significance for the Indian Army given its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"War preparedness should be a continuous phenomena and we should always be ready for unpredictables, for the uncertainties that may crop up any time. We should always be strengthening our fighting skills and weapons technologies so as to act effectively wherever called for," Singh said.
The nation is proud of its amy and the government is committed to facilitate the the force in their forward movement, "on the road to reforms and capability modernisation", he added.
During the event, the Indian Army's apex leadership comprehensively deliberated upon all aspects of existing security scenarios, situation along the borders and in the hinterland and challenges for the present security apparatus, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Singh was scheduled to address this gathering of commanders in person. But, due to bad weather at Gangtok, he addressed them via a weblink from an Army location at Sukhna.
Sources said he is likely to go to Gangtok from Darjeeling Saturday morning.
Singh reasserted the faith of the entire nation in the Indian Army, as one of the most trusted and inspiring organisations in the country.
He highlighted the significant role being played by the Indian Army in "guarding our borders and fighting terrorism apart from providing assistance to the civil administration in every need of the hour".
On the current situation along the northern borders, the defence minister "expressed full confidence in the Army for any contingency", though the ongoing talks for peaceful resolution "will continue at all levels," the statement quoted the minister as saying.
The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from a number of friction points.
Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have taken place between India and China, with New Delhi maintaining that peace and tranquility along the LAC is essential for normalisation of bilateral ties.
The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.
Singh in his address also referred to the situation along the western border.
He complimented the Indian Army's response to cross-border terrorism, however, the proxy war by the adversary continues, the statement said.
"I compliment the excellent synergy between the CAPF, police forces and the army in tackling the menace of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The synergised operations in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are contributing to increased stability and peace in the region which was also evident in the recently conducted elections in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, and for this I again compliment the Indian Army," he said.
The defence minister stressed upon the present "complex and ambiguous world situation" which affects everyone globally.
"Unconventional and asymmetric warfare, including hybrid war will be part of the future conventional wars and the same is evident in the recent conflicts happening in various parts of world. This necessitates that armed forces should keep all these facets in consideration while planning and formulating strategies,"he said.
The force must keep learning from the incidents, including the global ones, that happened in present, as also in past, so as to avert the damage.
"Be alert, regularly modernise and prepare continuously for various contingencies," the minister said.
He complimented the efforts of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which has led to the incomparable improvement of road communication in the border areas.
In addition, the conference is also focusing on issues pertaining to organisational restructuring, logistics, administration and human resource management, the ministry said.
Singh also complimented the Army's approach on the infusion and absorption of cutting-edge technology.
Modernisation of weapons for every soldier through 'atmanirbharta' is the key focus of the government and the government is completely with the armed forces in this aspect, he said.
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TN Assembly elections: Eight-month pregnant homemaker wins Thiru Vi Ka Nagar seat for TVK
Chennai (PTI): Before giving birth, she had already delivered a mandate—a symbol of hope for Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.
Echoing Delhi’s 2013 “common citizen” political churn associated with the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), an eight-month-pregnant homemaker, M R Pallavi, has been elected as an MLA from Chennai’s Thiru Vi Ka Nagar constituency, emerging as one of the notable first-time faces of the Vijay-led TVK in the recently held Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
In the narrow lanes of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, a steady stream of media personnel has been making their way to Pallavi’s residence—a scene reminiscent of the result day in Delhi when journalists thronged the modest home of Rakhi Birla, who had won from Mangolpuri on an AAP ticket.
Pallavi, 36, a homemaker educated up to class XII, defeated the DMK candidate K S Ravichandran by a margin of 22,333 votes in the reserved Thiru Vi Ka Nagar Assembly constituency.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 seats, while DMK and AIADMK got 59 and 47, respectively.
Pallavi’s victory has drawn attention due to her personal circumstances. She campaigned extensively while eight months pregnant, going door-to-door to reach voters.
According to local accounts, she even fainted once during the campaign but continued her outreach.
She has not spoken to the media following her victory, as doctors have advised her to rest. Her husband, Rajesh, briefly recounted her campaign efforts.
A self-professed admirer of actor-turned-politician Vijay, Pallavi joined TVK soon after its formation and is now among its first-time legislators.
Doctors have advised her to be hospitalised around May 20, as she is expecting her second child. Ahead of that, voters in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar have entrusted her with representing them in the state Assembly.
Political observers say the rise of candidates like Pallavi signals a possible shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, with voters backing a new party and candidates from non-traditional backgrounds.
