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Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Reveal truth to country: Congress to govt after CDS' remarks on losses in Operation Sindoor
The Congress asked the government on Saturday to truthfully tell the country what losses were suffered during the four-day conflict with Pakistan after Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan acknowledged aircraft loss in the hostilities. Gen Chouhan, however, dismissed as 'absolutely incorrect' Islamabad's claim of downing six Indian jets. Latching on to the comment by the chief of defence staff (CDS), Congress leader Uttam Kumar Reddy said the country wanted to know whether any aircraft were downed during the conflict, especially in the wake of the CDS' 'admission'. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that on July 29, 1999, the Vajpayee government set up the Kargil Review Committee under the chairmanship of 'India's strategic affairs guru K Subrahmanyam, whose son is now our external affairs minister'. This was just three days after the Kargil war ended, he said. 'The committee submitted its detailed report five months later. The report titled 'From Surprise to Reckoning' was then laid on the Table of both Houses of Parliament on February 23, 2000, after the necessary redactions. 'Will the Modi government now take a similar step in light of what the Chief of Defence Staff has just revealed in Singapore?' Ramesh posed in a post on X. Soon after CDS Gen Chouhan's remarks, made during an interview with Bloomberg TV, got published, Reddy took the opportunity to say, 'It appears very clearly a Rafale fighter aircraft was downed in the four-day operations.' 'Today, an hour ago, CDS Gen Chauhan has confirmed that a Rafale aircraft was brought down in the four-day operation. The fact that the fighter aircraft were down is something that the Government of India needs to stop denying. The CDS himself mentioned that.' At a press conference, the Congress leader said, 'Earlier, Air Marshal (Awadesh Kumar) Bharti had mentioned it indirectly in his briefing along with the DGMO. He specifically said that 'losses are normal in combat; the mission objective of the operation has been achieved, and all pilots have come home'.' He said when Rahul Gandhi first pointed it out in a question to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, it was 'very bizarre and strange' that the ruling party functionaries at all levels accused him of not being patriotic. 'We are happy that the objectives (of Operation Sindoor) have been achieved, but the fact that the fighter aircraft were down is something that needs to be… the Government of India should stop denying that. The CDS himself has mentioned it and Air Marshall Bharti had also done so,' Reddy said. The Telangana minister reiterated that the Congress supports the Indian armed forces in every endeavour. 'The party congratulates them as they have done a great job and we are proud of them, we salute them,' he said. 'Today the whole country must realise that for some reason the Government of India were not upfront with whatever happened. The other thing that needs reassessment by the government is that most of the firing in the four-day operation was done by respective countries from within their borders; still, we lost our aircraft. 'I think, this needs serious reassessment of technology so that lessons are learnt and we go forward and improve in those aspects,' Reddy, a former IAF pilot, said. He refuted allegations that his party was playing politics over the issue and said that after every war or conflict, all nation discloses what losses they inflicted on the enemy and what losses they suffered. 'We are not playing politics. We are proud of our armed forces's decisive victory over Pakistan. We want to know the truth about the reverses for lessons for future conflicts.' 'The moot point is every time we have raised this, they have said we are anti-patriotic, anti-national. Are they going to accuse Gen Chauhan of this now,' he posed. Reddy claimed the government was trying to, somehow, not come out clearly with what really has happened. 'We feel the government must be more transparent on every significant event that took place throughout the India-Pak operation,' he said, adding the way forward must be clear and transparent. 'We are very proud of our armed forces and we have seen the satellite pictures. Please tell us how many Pakistan Air Force aircraft you have downed and Indian aircraft that were down. 'A government has to be transparent. Accountability is normal in a democracy. This is not about patriotism. We are more patriotic. Our first family, the Gandhi family, have suffered and have made huge sacrifices for the integrity of the country and these people question us. This is really shocking,' the Congress leader said. Gen Chauhan, in the interview, asserted it is more important to find out why the aircraft were lost so that the Indian military could improve tactics and hit back again. 'I think what is important is not the jet being downed but why they were being downed,' he said. The CDS was asked whether India lost combat jets during the four-day military clashes with Pakistan earlier this month. 'The good part is that we were able to understand the tactical mistakes which we made; remedied, rectified and then implemented it again after two days. We flew all our jets again targeting at long range,' he said. 'Absolutely incorrect,' Gen Chauhan said when asked about Pakistan's claim of shooting down six Indian jets during Operation Sindoor. Previously, Indian Air Force's Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshall AK Bharti, acknowledged that 'losses are a part of combat' and said all IAF pilots returned home safely. Air Marshall Bharti made the remarks at a media briefing on May 11 when asked about Indi'a aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor. Gen Chauhan is in Singapore to participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the government of misleading the nation on the India-Pakistan conflict and demanded holding a special session of Parliament immediately, following Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan's acknowledgement of aircraft loss in the hostilities. In a post on X, Kharge said his party demands a comprehensive review of India's defence preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the survey done by the Kargil Review Committee. 'In the wake of the remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in Singapore in an interview, there are some very important questions that need to be asked. These can only be done if a special session of the Parliament is immediately convened,' he said. 'The Modi Government has misled the nation. The fog of war is now clearing.' The Congress chief said the IAF pilots risked their lives fighting the enemy, and 'suffered some losses but our pilots were safe'. The Congress president said his party salutes their resolute courage and bravery. However, a comprehensive strategic review is the need of the hour, he asserted. 'The Congress party demands a Comprehensive Review of our Defence Preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the Kargil Review Committee,' he said. Citing Donald Trump's statements, Kharge said the US president has again repeated his claim about 'brokering a ceasefire'. 'This is a direct affront to the Shimla Agreement. Instead of clarifying Mr Trump's repeated assertions, and the affidavit filed by the US Secretary of Commerce in the United States Court of International Trade, PM Modi is on an election blitz, taking personal credit for the valour of our Armed Forces, hiding behind their bravery and dodging the contours of the agreed ceasefire, which the Foreign Secretary announced on May 10, after Trump's tweet,' Kharge noted in his post. 'Is India and Pakistan now again hyphenated? What are the conditions of the ceasefire agreement? The 140 crore patriotic Indians deserve to know this,' the Congress chief asserted. In a separate post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also asked, 'It is an extraordinary and telling commentary on Emergency@11 that the PM will not chair all-party meetings and will not take Parliament into confidence but the nation gets to know of the first phase of Operation Sindoor through the CDS's interview in Singapore.' 'Couldn't opposition leaders have been taken into confidence by the PM earlier?' he asked.
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'Disclose How Many Aircraft...': Congress Questions Govt On Op Sindoor Losses
Last Updated: The remark from Congress came hours after CDS Chauhan hinted at India losing fighter jets, but dismissed Pakistan's claim that it downed six Indian jets. Congress on Saturday asked the government to be transparent about India's military losses in Operation Sindoor. The remark by Telangana's Minister of Irrigation Uttam Kumar Reddy came after General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), spoke about the loss of Indian aircraft in the operation. 'The fact that the fighter aircraft were shot down is something the government needs to stop denying. The CDS himself mentioned that. Earlier, Air Marshal Bharti had mentioned it indirectly in his briefing report, along with the DGMO… The whole country must realise today that for some reason, the GoI was not upfront with whatever happened," said Reddy. He also asked the government to clarify US President Donald Trump announcing the ceasefire between India and Pakistan on May 10 before any official announcement was made by the Indian government. 'The government of India never clearly stated how and why the US president first announced the ceasefire through a tweet beforehand, and hours later DGMO Pakistan called DGMO India, and the ceasefire was agreed upon. The Government of India must be more transparent on every significant event that took place throughout the Indo-Pak operation," he added. The fact that the fighter aircraft were down is something that the Government of India needs to stop denying. The CDS himself mentioned that. Earlier Air Marshal Bharti had mentioned it indirectly in his briefing along with the DGMO. He specifically said, 'losses are normal in… — Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamINC) May 31, 2025 His remark came hours after CDS Chauhan, in conversation with Bloomberg TV at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, hinted at India losing fighter jets. He, however, dismissed Pakistan's claim that it downed six Indian jets. 'What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were down. What mistakes were made — that is important. Numbers are not," he said. 'The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake that we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and fly all our jets again, targeting at long range," added CSD Chauhan. Meanwhile, Congress has reiterated its demand for transparency on Operation Sindoor on several occasions. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 31, 2025, 19:04 IST
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
From Covid-19 frontlines to inflight heroism: Kolkata's Doli Biswas wins National Florence Nightingale Award
Written By Adrija Datta Doli Biswas, Chief Nursing Officer at Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, Kolkata, has been honoured with the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award 2025 for her service and dedication to the field of nursing. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. Biswas is among the 15 distinguished nurses from across the country who received the award this year. The award recognises meritorious services rendered by nurses in India. It is the highest national recognition for nursing professionals in the country, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 'I was also felicitated by The Trained Nurses' Association of India and the Indian Nursing Council yesterday (Friday) after the completion of the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan,' said Biswas. With over 27 years of experience in nursing, Biswas is recognised for her clinical expertise, leadership in nursing practice, and compassionate patient care. She completed her specialisation in cardiovascular and thoracic nursing from the BM Birla Heart Research Centre under the West Bengal Nursing Council in 1997. She later pursued a Master's degree in Nursing from the West Bengal University of Health Sciences and earned an MPhil in Nursing from Manipal University. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Medical-Surgical Nursing from Mansarovar Global University, Bhopal. Biswas played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic and was awarded the Covid Warrior Award in 2022. 'I looked after the bed management, nursing management, and nursing care of corona patients during the Covid-19 wave and arranged green corridors for patients,' said Biswas. It has been learnt that she was instrumental in the development and standardisation of various nursing procedures at Fortis Hospital for 14 years, significantly contributing to quality care initiatives. In 2024, Biswas was widely appreciated for saving the life of a passenger who suffered a heart attack aboard an Indigo flight from Delhi to Kolkata. The incident occurred on the runway at Delhi's Terminal 3, IGI Airport, just before take-off. Responding swiftly to an onboard medical emergency announcement, Biswas, along with two doctors, provided timely assistance that helped stabilise the passenger. 'When the in-flight medical emergency was announced, I didn't think twice before stepping forward. The passenger showed signs of hypoglycemia and later suffered a heart attack. I immediately administered sugar water, monitored his blood pressure, and identified the cardiac event. With the help of co-passengers, I administered emergency medication, stabilised him, and advised the crew to arrange urgent medical evacuation, and he was safely shifted to a hospital,' said Biswas. 'I addressed a similar medical emergency while on a trip to Kedarnath,' added Biswas. (Adrija Datta is an intern with The Indian Express)
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
India hands over newly constructed building in Accham District of Far-Western Nepal
Kathmandu [Nepal], May 31 (ANI): The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu handed over the school building for Shree Mahendra Secondary School, Sanfebagar Municipality, Achham District. As per the release from the Embassy, the school building was formally handed over on Saturday jointly by Lalit Bahadur Kunwar, Chief, District Coordination Committee, Achham; Rajendra Bahadur Kunwar, Mayor, Sanfebagar Municipality and Suman Shekhar, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu to the Management of Shree Mahendra Secondary School, Achham. 'School Building of Shree Mahendra Secondary School has been built with Government of India's financial assistance at the project cost of NRs 32.40 million under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation',' the release stated. For the construction of building the Government of India's grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' has been utilized for the construction of the school building comprising class rooms, laboratory, computer room, staff room, administration section, principal's room, library, accounts section and toilets for boys and girls. The grant has also been utilized for the procurement of furniture and computers. 'The project was taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and was implemented through DCC Achham,' the release further stated. Shree Mahendra Secondary School was established in the year 1960 as a Secondary School and subsequently upgraded to Higher Secondary school. The school runs classes from Nursery to 12th Standard. The school has a strength of more than 400 students, out of which 65% are girls. DCC Achham; Mayor, Sanfebagar Municipality, Achham; Chairperson, School Management and other stakeholders appreciated the developmental support being provided by the Government of India to the people of Nepal. They expressed confidence that the new infrastructure would help provide better education facilities to the students of Mahendra Secondary School, Achham. 'It would also help enhance the overall learning environment and contribute to the development of the education sector of the region,' the release mentioned. Since 2003, India has taken up over 573 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 495 projects. Amongst these, 43 projects are located in Sudurpashchim Province including Shree Mahendra Secondary School in Achham. In addition to these, Government of India has gifted 1,009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal. Amongst these,70 ambulances and 27 school buses have been gifted in Sudurpashchim Province. Out of these, six ambulances were gifted in Achham. As close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of India in bolstering the efforts of Nepal in the growth and development of its people by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors. Political representatives, government officials, social workers and teachers of the school, students and their parents were also present on this occasion. (ANI)
India.com
7 hours ago
- Health
- India.com
India Tops World Population Charts; Guess Which Metro Birth Rates Are Booming?
New Delhi: India has become the most populous country in the world, officially overtaking China. While the national population continues to witness a rapid grow, the country represents a contrasting trend. Birth rates are declining in several states and metro cities. If the overall population is increasing, where are the most children being born today? Chennai holds the top position in childbirth in the list of India's major metropolitan cities. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, the city's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 1.65 – which is highest among metro cities. It means each woman here gives birth to an average of 1.65 children. Following closely are Delhi with a TFR of 1.57, Hyderabad at 1.54, Mumbai at 1.44 and Kolkata at 1.40. These numbers highlight a trend, which is urban lifestyles, rising education levels and employment opportunities are contributing to lower fertility rates in India's largest cities. Still, Chennai remains an outlier with the highest urban fertility rate. Interestingly, Gujarat's Ahmedabad is also witnessing a mini baby boom. The city recorded over 100,000 births in fiscal year 2022–23 – a milestone not reached since 2019. It is the first significant spike in births since the COVID-19 pandemic. It points to a rebound in family planning and healthcare access. There is a twist here. Several South Indian states are now actively promoting childbirth. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister MK Stalin recently made headlines for suggesting that 'the time has come to have 16 children' – a statement (many view it as bold and symbolic) that reflects demographic concerns. Andhra Pradesh too has seen calls to boost fertility rates in the wake of fears that if the TFR dips below 2.0, population decline could soon follow. The NFHS is a crucial nationwide initiative by the Government of India. Conducted across all states and union territories, it gathers data on health, nutrition, education, gender equality and population trends by directly interviewing households. Policymakers use these insights to formulate targeted and effective public policies. While India takes the global crown for population, these numbers suggest that the country is faced with the dual challenge of managing growth in addition to addressing urban fertility slowdowns. Will Chennai continue to lead the baby boom among metros? Or will policy shifts spark new trends across states? Only time and the next survey will offer answers to the questions.
