Latest news with #Singh
The Print
32 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Print
What has happened so far was just a warm-up: Rajnath on Operation Sindoor
'I want to tell all of you not to leave any shortcomings in your preparations. What has happened so far was just a warm-up; if Pakistan dares to act again, this time the Navy will also spring into action, and then only God knows what will happen to Pakistan,' he said. In an interaction with naval warriors onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off Goa, Singh said if Pakistan resorts to anything 'evil or unethical' against India, it will face the firepower and ire of the Indian Navy this time. New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) Pakistan should hand over UN-designated terrorists Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India if it is serious about talks between the two countries, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday. Singh said 'Operation Sindoor is not over yet and this is just a pause, a warning. If Pakistan makes the same mistake again, India's response will be even harsher, and this time, it will not get a chance to recover.' Pakistan needs to understand that the time is up for the 'dangerous game' of terrorism it has been playing since Independence and India will use every method to root out the menace, he said. Anti-India activities are being carried out openly from Pakistani soil and India is 'completely free' to carry out every kind of operation against terrorists on both sides of the border and the sea, Singh said. The defence minister, highlighting the Indian Navy's role during Operation Sindoor, said it succeeded in keeping the Pakistani military tied down. When the Indian Air Force destroyed terror bases on Pakistani soil, the Indian Navy's aggressive deployment in Arabian Sea confined Pakistani Navy to its own shores, he said. Singh used his brief speech to the naval personnel to send a stern warning to Pakistan as he asserted that Operation Sindoor is not just a military action but India's frontal assault against terrorism. 'We will use every method against terrorism that Pakistan can think of, but we will not hesitate to use those methods also which Pakistan cannot even think of,' he said. The defence minister said it would be in Pakistan's interest to 'uproot the nurseries' of terrorism operating on its soil 'with its own hands'. 'It should start by handing over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India. Both of them are not only on the list of 'Most Wanted Terrorists' in India but are also on the UN's list of designated terrorists,' he said. Azhar, the head of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group, is wanted in India for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, 2016 Pathankot airbase attacks and the 2019 Pulwama strike. Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group is known to be the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack and wanted in several other terror cases in India. 'Today the whole world is acknowledging India's right to protect its citizens against terrorism. Today no power in the world can stop India from doing this work,' he said. On Pakistan's repeated offer of talks, Singh clarified: 'If there are talks, it will only be on terrorism and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir. If Pakistan is serious about talks, it should hand over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India so that justice is served.' Commending the Indian Navy's 'silent service' during Operation Sindoor, Singh said the mighty Carrier Battle Group ensured that the Pakistani Navy did not venture out, or else it would have faced the consequences. '1971 is a witness that when the Indian Navy sprang into action, Pakistan was split into two,' he said. On the Operation Sindoor, he said 'our strike was so powerful that Pakistan began pleading with entire world to stop India.' In just a short span of time, we demolished Pakistan's terrorist bases and its intentions, he said adding the speed, depth and clarity with which our armed forces acted were remarkable. Operation Sindoor not only sent a clear message to terrorists but also to their patrons who nurture them, Singh said. In end, on our own terms, we halted our military actions, he said. India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures early on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. PTI MPB ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Defence ministry weighs licensing reform; DAP 2020 revision by Nov-end
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh calls on private sector to scale up R&D and capital equipment investment while assuring full govt support A more expeditious industrial licensing process in defence is among the suggestions being considered as part of reforms to further enhance competition and private-sector participation in the sector, a government source told Business Standard. This was a day after Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh underscored the importance of disruptive reforms in licensing and ease of doing business to break down entry barriers in defence manufacturing and support grassroots investors. The revision of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 document, aimed at streamlining the defence procurement policy, will be completed within six months — by the end of November — added the source. In line with the decision of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to observe 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms', a committee under the Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition) is driving procedural reforms in DAP 2020. The reforms aim to eliminate redundancies and make the acquisition process more efficient in meeting the needs of the armed forces, while also addressing the pain points of the defence industry, including private firms. Addressing industry leaders at the annual business summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, the defence secretary had described the defence industry as the last vestige of the licence permit Raj — because it continues to have industrial licensing under the Industrial Development and Regulation Act. 'This means all the ills of the licensing Raj in terms of delays — getting a licence, which should take six months, takes one to two years, given the need for clearances from the Department of Defence Production, security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and from the state's Home Department.' Noting that policymakers increasingly recognise that reducing entry barriers and expanding the industrial base are crucial in an era of disruptive technological change, where incumbency may not withstand innovation from upstart firms in modern warfare, Singh outlined four reforms — some already underway — that could give the domestic defence industry a significant fillip. 'The concept of deemed licensing beyond a certain timeframe to put accountability on the government departments concerned; shifting entirely from cost-based pricing to competitive bidding; removing legacy aspects like product reservation for public-sector units; and slashing procurement timelines by weeding out rigid and redundant procedures. These can lead to genuine broadening and diversification of our defence industrial base.' 'At this stage, deemed licensing is one of the suggestions. It still has to be negotiated through the system,' added the source quoted earlier. At present, India has one of the largest defence industrial complexes in the developing world: 16 defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) under the administrative control of the MoD, over 430 licensed companies, and about 16,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Highlighting at the CII summit how the MoD would in the past surrender part of the military modernisation budget each year due to protracted procurement procedures, Singh assured change was already underway, but emphasised that more still needed to be done. 'The MoD has already crunched the process timelines for various steps in the procurement cycle. Hopefully, that will save us about 69 weeks overall. It's important, but it's not enough.' Describing DAP 2020, which lays out the country's defence procurement procedures in detail, as a 'voluminous' document, the secretary said: 'It is time for it to be revised wholesale to reflect current realities. It needs shifting from the traditional nomination-based, cost-plus procurement focused mostly on the public sector, to a much more competitive pricing model where both the public and private sectors compete for orders.' Singh also highlighted how for shipbuilding and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (Amca) programme, this approach was already being implemented. 'It's critical because this is increasingly an innovation-led, technology-driven industrial economy that we are witnessing.' Between 2016-17 and 2024-25, India's total defence production nearly doubled — from Rs 74,054 crore to Rs 1.46 trillion (Rs 1,46,000 crore) — while the private sector's contribution rose by over 2.2 times, from Rs 14,104 crore to over Rs 32,000 crore. Yet, its share in overall production remained largely rangebound, fluctuating between 19 per cent and 22 per cent. Assuring private-sector companies that the government was working on improving the ease of doing business, creating a level playing field between them and the DPSUs, and inundating them with a surge of orders, the secretary called for much greater focus from the private sector on research & development (R&D), and on private-sector capital formation through investments in capital equipment, machinery and engineering strength. 'In the longer run, companies which do not have the engineering manpower, or the capital equipment, or the willingness to invest in R&D, should not even think of entering into the defence domain, because your contribution to India's strategic autonomy will be minimal until you make those investments in creating a localised manufacturing ecosystem within the country.' In recent years, the United States and Europe have seen a surge in venture capital-backed military technology unicorns disrupting traditional defence R&D, contracting, and acquisition. Focused on platforms using computer vision, networking, and artificial intelligence, these non-traditional firms have leveraged commercially derived technologies to challenge incumbents like Lockheed Martin. Some have pushed to move beyond cost-plus contracts and are privately funding R&D, developing products without firm orders or specific user requirements, and selling them off the shelf. Their equipment are fast becoming integral to global arsenals, though they still cannot replace the costly manned platforms built by traditional players.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP leader Mahachandra Prasad Singh appointed Chairman of Bihar Upper Caste Commission
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): In a key political development ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mahachandra Prasad Singh has been appointed as the Chairman of the Bihar State Commission for the Development of Upper Castes. The official notification was issued by the Bihar General Administration Department on Thursday. Singh has been appointed for a tenure of three years. Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Commission. The move comes at a time when the state is witnessing significant political realignments. Former Union Minister and ex-JD(U) leader Ram Chandra Prasad Singh recently merged his political outfit Aap Sabki Awaz (ASA) with the Jan Suraaj Party led by Prashant Kishor. Singh had left the JD(U) in 2023, joined the BJP, and later launched his own party in 2024, announcing plans to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls. The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held in October-November this year. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, is aiming to retain power, while the opposition INDIA Bloc is preparing to challenge the incumbent Nitish Kumar-led government. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration and foundation laying of multiple development projects worth Rs 48, 520 crore in Karakat, hit out at the opposition over the issue of social justice and said that people who cheated Bihar were now the ones talking about 'social justice' for the sake of power. PM Modi said that during the opposition's tenure, poor and deprived sections of the society had to leave Bihar, and for decades, the Dalits and tribals of the state did not have toilets. He stated that their entry into banks was also not allowed. 'Those who cheated Bihar the most, during whose tenure the poor and deprived sections of Bihar had to leave Bihar, are today the same people telling the lie of social justice to gain power. For decades, the Dalits, backwards classes and tribals of Bihar did not even have toilets. For decades, these brothers and sisters of ours did not even have a bank account. Their entry into banks was banned', PM Modi said while addressing the gathering. The Prime Minister questioned RJD and Congres,s saying that during their tenure, crores of people didn't even have proper roofs over their heads. 'Here, crores of people did not even have a proper roof over their heads. This plight, pain, and suffering of the people of Bihar, was this the social justice of Congress and RJD? There can be no greater injustice than this', the Prime Minister said. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
'Operation Sindoor' not just military action but India's attack on terrorism: Rajnath Singh
Panaji (Goa) [India], May 30 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that Operation Sindoor is not just a military operation but a direct attack on terrorism by India. Speaking onboard INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea, Singh interacted with naval personnel and praised the Indian Navy's role in the operation, which he described as a strategic and symbolic move in the country's broader fight against terrorism. ''Operation Sindoor' is not just a military action but India's frontal assault against terrorism. We will use every method Pakistan can think of against terrorism, but we will not hesitate to use methods that Pakistan cannot even think of,' he said. He praised the Indian Navy's strategic restraint and effectiveness during the operation. 'During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Navy impressed every Indian with its silent service. By remaining silent, the Indian Navy succeeded in keeping the Pakistani army tied down. Just imagine what will happen when the one who can keep a country's army 'locked in a bottle' even by remaining silent,' he added. Singh warned Pakistan of severe consequences if it continues to support terrorism. 'This time Pakistan did not have to face the firepower of the Indian Navy, but the world knows that if Pakistan does any nefarious act this time, it is possible that this time the opening will be at the hands of our Navy,' he said. He further asserted that Pakistan's longstanding involvement in terrorism has reached its end. 'Pakistan needs to understand clearly that the dangerous game of terrorism that it has been playing since the time of independence, its time limit is now over. Whenever Pakistan instigates any terrorist act against India, it will not only have to bear the consequences but, like every time, it will also have to face defeat, he said. Reiterating India's right to self-defence, Singh said, 'Anti-India activities are being carried out openly from Pakistani soil. India is completely free to carry out every kind of operation against terrorists, both on this side and that side of the border and the sea. Today, the whole world is acknowledging India's right to protect its citizens against terrorism. Today, no power in the world can stop India from doing this work.' He further said that it will be in Pakistan's favour if it uproots the nursery of terrorism operating on its soil with its own hands. 'It should start by handing over terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India. Both of them are not only in the list of 'Most Wanted Terrorists' in India, but they are also in the list of UN-designated terrorists,' Singh said. 'Hafiz Saeed is the culprit of the 'Mumbai attacks'. Justice should be done for the crime committed by his organisation of spreading death in Mumbai through the sea route. This cannot happen in Pakistan.' Referring to the recent extradition of Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India, Singh said, 'Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the Mumbai attacks, has been brought to India recently. Pakistan is repeatedly offering talks.' Rajnath Singh was accompanied onboard INS Vikrant by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, and other senior officials of the Indian Navy. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Lucknow range additional director (prosecution) booked in DA case
Additional director of prosecution, Lucknow range, Virendra Vikram Singh has been booked for allegedly procuring disproportionate assets (DA) worth ₹86.12 lakh during his service period. Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment has registered an FIR under appropriate sections of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988, with its Lucknow sector police station on Wednesday, confirmed senior vigilance officials here on Friday. A senior vigilance official said inspector Gyanendra Pandey had lodged an FIR against Singh under PC Act's section 13(1)(b) for enriching himself illicitly during the period of his office and section 13 (2) for criminal misconduct by a public servant. He said the FIR was lodged on the basis of findings surfaced in an open inquiry ordered against Singh regarding his disproportionate assets earned during the period of his office. The investigator discovered that Singh earned around ₹2,20,88,325 (2.2 crore) through his all legal sources, but did expenditure of ₹3,07,00,061 (3.07 crore) in procuring properties and daily maintenance of his and his family. 'This way, the investigation findings suggested that he earned an extra amount of around ₹86,12, 286 other than his legal sources of income and it is a crime under the provisions of the PC Act following which a regular case has been registered against him,' the official said and added, 'The investigation in the matter is going on and further legal action will be initiated against him for corrupt practices'.
