19 November - A Date which broke millions of heart

          Cricket is a sort of religion for Indians. Till 1983 it was Hockey which acted as magnet for all sports fans in India majorly because we were world champions in it. From 1928 to 1956, was the golden period for the Indian Hockey team. The Indian men's team remained unbeaten in the Olympics, gaining six gold medals in a row. For a country recuperating from the horrors of partition and often seen as poor country contrary to its golden past Hockey gave the confidence and belief that Indians can be world's best.

         Kapil Dev led Team India victory at Lords against 2 time World Champions West Indies again gave the same confidence and belief to the millions of Indians that we can be World Champions and that we are second to None. That victory also brought Cricket to forefront and with emergence of Cricketing genius like Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid ,Cricket took lead over Hockey and slowly started becoming a religion for Indians.

        We often assuaged over feelings of defeat in earlier games whenever India played exceedingly well like for Millions of Indians grousing over Javed Miandad last ball six of Chetan Sharma's were finally at peace after witnessing the greatest innings of Sachin Tendulkar against Pak in 2003 WC .Remember the fiery knock of 98 runs against the likes of Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akhtar, Waqar Younis.The pain of 2003 WC Final loss was erased by the victory in 2011 WC Final.

     So when Team India qualified for final of 2023 World Cup we all Indians were looking forward to see Rohit Sharma erase the pain of defeat in 2019 WC Semi-final.Having played sensationally till final without losing any games and with the likes of Rohit Sharma (The best pull shot hitter having played the most selfless innings world has seen any Captain playing), Virat Kolhi(The Run Machine), Mohammed Shami(who was in the best form of his life), Jasprit Bumrah(India's dependable pacer) Word Cup final was just a formality.But like everytime God had some other plans.

I had arrived in Baroda a day before and stayed there as all hotels in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar was fully booked.After all World cup final was going to be played in World's biggest stadium having 130000 capacity.Having attended Ind Vs Pak at the same venue around a month back and also Ind vs England at Lucknow and Ind vs NZ(Semi-Final) AT Wankhede in Mumbai. I was waiting eagerly to witness a moment which if it had gone India's way it would have remain etched in my memory for life.

Along with my cousin I left for Ahmedabad from Baroda by train.We both were wearing Indian Jersey.There were many people like us on platform.All others who were not lucky enough to get the final tickets were approaching us and asking us at what price we purchased the tickets and were complaining how they did not get tickets ,making us realize how lucky we were .In a cricket crazy country of 140 crores i am sure we 130000 capacity crowd of Motera stadium were luckiest among atleast minimum 10 crores of people who were vying for tickets.I so felt more lucky because i had got Ind Vs Pak,Ind vs NZ Semifinal as well.Even once inside Train we were subjected to same questions by our co-passengers. One could easly sense a bit of jealousy in their eyes.

Reaching Ahmedabad Station we quickly took rickshaw.While on the way to stadium we suddenly heard growling sounds of engine of low flying Surya Kiran aerobatic team of Indian Air Force which was performing before start of the final. Indeed such events invoke a prideness and sense of patriotic feelings among onlookers.It was truly a sight to watch. 

As security measures we were made to alight 2km away from stadium.While walking towards Stadium and with Surya Kiran team performing overhead you could see a Tsunami of Blue jersey of Indian team.I have never seen so many people thousands and thousands of them at same place.Each one of us had dreams that the pain of 2019 Semi-Final WC defeat will be erased today.

Having entered stadium after completing security checks we were treated with six of Rohit Sharma.Things were looking rosy with Stadium erupting in joy after every 4 or 6 was hit.Everyone thought victory was ours.Even though we had Lost Shubman Gill early the sea of blue was not worried as Rohit was playing dangerously and then the unthinkable happened.Travis head taking catch of Rohit Sharma,entire stadium went into sudden silence.When Kolhi got out we started getting  doubt of the impending disaster which was going to unfold in couple of hours towards evening.

After scoring a modest 240,it was certain to all in stadium that we were going to lose.However the wickets of Warner,Smith and Marsh gave back hopes.When the above 3 wickets fell, each and every one in 130000 plus crowd was dancing on their feet. I will never forget the sounds and screams of joy emerging out of each and everyone. All of us thought we had chance and we might well win the WC. 

But like they say When kismat kharab (luck is against you ) even a dog bites a person sitting on a camel. And unfortunately of all the days luck was against us on 19 November 2023.How else you will explain Indian bowlers had beaten Travis Head's bat 15 times. Luck as they rightly said is the most dreaded thing when its against you and it lived upto its reputation that day.

If there was one thing i wish i could undo something-it will always remain that catch which Travis Head took of Rohit Sharma.In my opinion we lost World Cup there itself because Luck showed it was not with us on the very day we wanted it so dearly.

Like all Indians I will carry the pain of 19 Novemeber 2023 to my grave.If only Travis Head had dropped that catch.

Agnipath Scheme is nothing but legalized Use and Throw Policy

 Within 24 hours of announcing new so called path breaking reforms termed Agnipath Scheme Government bowed down to spreading protest against it by relaxing age rules for the first year of the recruitment in the so called Agnipath scheme not only shows that BJP led Central Government has nit learned lesson from its Farm laws Debacle.

 Though Farm laws was indeed progressive reform but government had to relent and bow down to protestors demand as UP elections where around the corner.

Among the state legislative elections no other state holds so much importance than Uttar Pradesh as its the state which sends 89 MP's to Lok Sabha.

The important lesson from Farm laws debacle was -you may have brute majority in Lok Sabha but u still need to bring ground awareness and make people understand the government move. The fact that Yesterday COAS General Manoj Pande saying on camera that youth's of the country have not fully understood the Agnipath scheme shows that the press conference by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and all the 3 service cheif's failed in its objective.

Whether you like it or not the raging protest by Army aspirants across states is justified.

In reality Agnipath scheme is nothing but euphemism for legalized Use And Throw Youths scheme.

Wars are always won in strategy room only its manifestation is on ground.And like everything else in life Conflict needs to be studied and weaknesses and gaps filled up.

The entire world has taken note of how Russia has failed to materalize its massive weaponary  against an inferior military force of Ukraine. It has shown to the world that how conscripts can never hold ground howsoever advanced weapons they are equipped with.

Even the Russians have never learnt their lesson from their Afganistan debacle which eventually led to disintegration of Russia predecessor USSR .

Contrary to widely public opinion for Indian soldiers it's their paltan ki izzat which matters more than anything else including love for the country.Regimentation system is the best legacy left behind by Britishers apart from Civil Service,Judiciary and Railways.

One of the many reasons why we never faced military coup was combination of all the above legacy left behind by Britishers (not including Railways in this).

Recruiting youths at ripe age of 17 to 21 years and giving them retirement after 4 years is not only cruel joke but government is ruining the future prospects of the country.

As soon as the Agnipath scheme was announced the Chairman of Central Association of Private Security Industry K .Vikram Singh wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi congratulating him for this so call bold reforms which is nothing but an organized use and throw away youth prime years policy.

Below is the image of the letter 

Contrary to the claims of the self proclaimed scholar Generals this scheme will put the youths who are not retained after 4 years in lurch and these youths will be at the mercy of corporates like private security agencies. For first they wont have a degree as the years when youth earn college degree these boys will be on fronts.

Howsoever euphemism government may publicize the accessibility of digital media has nade countrymen more informed. They can see through government lies.

The fact that based on criteria which will range over many stuffs including performance for deciding which lot of these so called Agniveers will be recruited for permanent comissionn will increase sycophancy and give rise to boot licking and will produce only paper tigers.

The fact that it took our Army 72  years to realize they need light tanks to fight the Chinese should push comes to shove shows us that promotion policy in our Armed Forces is flawed.

Its high tine that the intellectual veterans come forward and start a vigorous campaign to force government to roll back this suicidal reform.

With this Agnipath scheme Government has prepared for our next defeat in war which will be 2 front war against Chinese and our old nemesis Pakistanis.Don't forget that these 3 men in below pic.They are responsible for our next defeat.

Congress stands exposed

 Recently released movie 'Kashmir Files' has brought to light what should have been done by mainstream media 30 years ago.Not only the movie has brought the exodus and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits but also it has shown the crimes done by locals who were not kashmiri Pandits.They were not from Pakistan but they were neighbours,students,childhood friends yet they indulged in murder,gangrape of kashmiri women.The announcement from local mosque across kashmir in 1990 warning Kashmiri Pandits to leave Kashmir but leave their women behind not only has exposed the people who cry victim.It has also brutally exposed the the erstwhile Central Government who never had the intention to rescue Kashmiri Pandits.

Whether its India's partition in 1947 or Kashmiri Pandits exodus and genocide in 1990 or legislation brought by Rajiv Gandhi to overrule Supreme Court judgement in Shah Bano case or The meeting of Former PM Manmohan Singh with Yasin Malik who publicly confessed of murdering 4 IAF Officers or statement by Manmohan Singh on December 9, 2006 as PM said: "Muslims have first right over India's resources"  or opposing abrogation of Article 370 calling it an international issue --all the above statements or policy of Congress Government had only 1 single point agenda that of appeasement of Muslim community in the name of minority rights protection when in-fact they are 2nd largest majority even at the cost of other community and country at large.Congress has always treated Muslims and appeased them as mere vote-banks as they used to vote enmasse.

Only grace is that unlike earlier Muslim community is also realising all these years they have been merely played for fools.In the recently conducted UP Elections where BJP Came back to power with overwhelming majority ,there were many seats from where BJP had won had Muslim Majority.Take for example Deoband from where BJP won -it had 75% Muslim majority.Take for example in the recently conducted UP Elections or the one preceding that in both the instances Muslim women enmasse voted for BJP as BJP had promised Triple Talaq Bill which were brought in to end the exploitation of Muslim women.

VN Gadgil (deceased), who served as AICC spokesman during the regimes of Narasimha Rao and Kesri, had once told that Congress policymakers react as if God himself has spoken Every time the Shahi Imam makes a statement.

Perhaps its the same reason that today even after 6 state governments like UttarPradesh,Uttarakand,Gujarat,Madhya Pradesh,Haryana,Goa And Karnataka made the movie Kashmir Files none of the Congress ruled state has declared the  movie tax free.Kashmir Files has not only exposed the brutality and crimes of local kashmiris who proclaim innocence despite killing,raping Kashmiri Pandits,but also exposed the Congress government in all states wherever they are in power their pseudo secularism policy which is nothing but anti-Hindu policy only for  dirty vote-bank politics.

Congress government all these years buried the brutality borne by Kashmiri Pandits because it never served their agenda.A fake narrative was set with the help from Media.Take the example of Barkha Dutt who in one telecast said Kashmiri Pandits cornered all government jobs which led to growing discontent.She was indirectly blaming Kashmiri Pandits for the genocide heaped on them.

As soon as Kashmir Files released and people started thronging in numbers to theatres Congress PR team started narrative that Kashmir Files shows only half truth.Even if for a second if we agree they dont explain why this half truth was not highlighted by them earlier.

Why has none of the Congress ruled state have declared Kashmir Files tax free??Why has state government in Maharashtra which is a 3 party coalition government with Congress as one of the coalition partners declared Kashmir Files tax free.Remember it was only Bal Thackeray who was vocal about plight of kashmiri Pandits and ensured the students get engineering seat.Today the same state government which ironically is run by the same party founded by Bal Thackeray has still no declared Kashmir Files tax free.Reason is again Congress.

Also the movie Kashmir Files shows the connivance of local J&K Police and somehow paint them as part of same conspiracy though in some cases it might have turned out true but i must say one thing today the bravest and best Police force in our country is J&K Police.Many J&K Policemen who are kashmiri muslims have fought bravely and martyred in the fight against Pakistan inspired,funded and supported terrorism.

Also the recent spate of killings targeting Kashmiri Pandits who remained in Kashmir even through the height of genocide and also targeting of migrant labours have shown the necessity that Ex DGP J& K Police S.P Vaid has long been advocating Arming Kashmiri Pandits with weapons for their own safety.

Its high time that so called advocates of secularism realise that India will be secular only till Hindus are in Majority.They should also see the fact that we Hindus are global minority .Also so called self proclaimed  champions of secularism  have no answer when asked why they did not highlight the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits .They need to introspect and look at history because those who don't learn from History are condemned to repeat it.

More than Kashmiri Muslims , Congress is guilty for the genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.Even today they dont support the cause of Kashmiri Pandits because they are not votebanks.

The abrogation of Article 370 has given some hope for Kashmiri Pandits that one day they will return to their native land.For abrogating Article 370 the nation shall always be grateful to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.Its heartening to see that not only they are building this country back to glory but also they are building the great civilisation that existed in this countries many thousands of years ago.

Not only Congress and many pseudo seculars have been exposed but also the so called big celebrities of Bollywood have been exposed for their silence and lack of support for Kashmir Files.

The world will pay a heavy price

Henry Kissinger once said - To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.

Joe Biden has just proved it.Americans can never be trusted.The disastrous withdrawal of US Forces apparently some leaving before their citizen and diplomats not only shows America screwed up but also made a fool of themselves and in the bargain lost their credibility in front of allies.

This will haunt America for posterity.America's withdrawal has given moral booster to radical organisation all over world.

Two days before there were reports of Jaish-E-Mohammed cadres meeting Taliban and seeking help for their struggle in Kashmir Valley.Lets not forget one of the mastermind of Pulwama attack on CRPF Convoy was an Afghan war veteran.

With Taliban in control of Afghanistan ,Pakistan gets opportunity to temporarily shift all its terror training camps to Afghanistan and show the world that they have removed all terror training camps so that they can come out of Financial Action Task Force(FATF) grey list.

Looking at the mess America is leaving behind,today Mikhail Gorbachev might be having last laugh.Soviets at least did not beg to Taliban to spare its embassy something which Americans did by sending CIA director William Burns to Kabul to meet Abdul Baradar.

It's often said you reap what you sow and Karma is a Bitch.

Today America might be realizing this.They have been defeated and humbled by the very same organisation which they funded,armed and supported in 80's when Soviets were in Afghanistan.

We can forget about our hopes of creating an alliance on the lines of NATO with ASEAN,Japan,Australia,Taiwan as a counterbalance to China as this alliance will not have requisite military weight without US and with Biden at helm of affairs,America can never be trusted.

Biden belongs to the erstwhile cold war era where Americans considered Pakistan as their ally and India as a threat for peace in sub-continent.Lets not forget America had dispatched its aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower part of its seventh fleet to intimidate India in 1971 war with Pakistan.

US forces has reportedly left behind 65 aircraft, 109 choppers, 8000 trucks, 160000 NVDs, 360000 rifles, 130000 pistols, 64000 machine guns, 169 APCs, 155 MPVs, 42000 SUVs.This is an insult to the sacrifice of over 2000 American soldiers who laid down their life.What kind of a military evacuates before their citizens are evacuated.And what kind of military arms the very same organisation it has been fighting for 20 years?

America will come to regret this hasty withdrawal.And in coming years will find itself getting deployed in Afghanistan again.

The refusal of Islamic Countries on accepting Afghan refugees is not only inhuman but it also has exposed their hypocrisy.

The world will pay a heavy price and will regret its decision of not supporting America when it alone was fighting for 20 long years in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan will become again safe heaven for terror organisations.And the heaviest price will be paid by us as Pakistan will get cover of plausible deniability and will continue its strategy of bleeding India by thousand cuts with renewed vigour and get out of FATF grey list at the same time.It had used Afghanistan territory in the past,Pakistan will use it again against us.

The world has no rights to blame United States for leaving Afghanistan

 Afghanistan often labelled as graveyard of empires has lived up to its reputation as United States(U.S.A) has become second superpower after erstwhile Union Of Soviet Socialist Republic (U.S.S.R) to leave Afghanistan without achieving their purpose.

Needless to say Afghanistan has become second Vietnam for Americans and the fact that US Forces slipped out of Afghanistan's Bagram Air-base quietly in night itself shows that its the Taliban which is nearing to complete control over Afghanistan and it might be probably months before Kabul falls.

Two weeks ago India had evacuated all its staff from its Kandahar Consulate had also sent arms and ammunition for the Afghan forces in the same IAF plane which was used to evacuate Indian Consulate staff.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly $3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country. Recently Afghan forces captured a Pakistan national who was attempting to destroy Afghan-India Friendship Dam (AIFD), formerly Salma Dam, is a hydroelectric and irrigation dam project located on the Hari River in Chishti Sharif District of Herat province in western Afghanistan. 

There have been growing calls, including those from former US President George W Bush, for his country to slow down its exit. Bush said civilians were being left to be “slaughtered” by the Taliban. “Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm. This is a mistake... They're just going to be left behind to be slaughtered by these very brutal people, and it breaks my heart,” Bush told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Though what former President Bush said is true which is also being agreed upon by world leaders but no country has right and credibility to blame United States for leaving Afghanistan in such fashion especially after U.S having spent more than $3.5 trillion dollars and after more than 2,400 American soldiers have sacrificed their life fighting in Afghanistan. No other country can boast of its soldiers having fought and lost their lives for world peace like U.S .Lets not forget it was Americans who saved the world and defeated Germans, Japanese in WW2. 

Recently there was a pic where a father and son were both deployed in Afghanistan reminiscing past history were many father and sons fought together on D-Day on the beaches of Normandy in WW2.The famous movie -Saving Private Ryan story was inspired by the fact that seven brothers fought and were killed in WW2.No other country has contributed so much for world peace like Americans. No country has right to blame Americans for leaving Afghanistan especially when other countries refused to send their troops.

Its the collective responsibility of the world to ensure Taliban does not take over Afghanistan again. Perhaps before withdrawing in such abrupt fashion Biden should have lobbied with world powers and convince countries to send their peace keeping force under United Nations Mandate.

The abrupt withdrawal of US forces will embolden Taliban and in future Afghanistan may again become a safe heaven for organizations like Al-Qaeda.

This will have huge negative impact on India as Pakistan which was on Financial Action Task Force(FATF) will again recieve funding form Americans for its services as Afghanistan being landlocked depends entirely on Pakistan for supply of goods through border at Torkam located near Khyber Pass and Spin Boldok.

The Jaish-E-Mohammed(JEM) Commander who infiltrated India and who was mastermind of Pulwama Terror Attack was a Afghan War Veteran.

During early days of militancy in Kashmir valley many Kashmiri youths who had crossed to POK for terror training were trained in terror camps in Afghanistan.

Its no doubt that as per present situation in Afghanistan India will be biggest loser because Pakistan importance in Washington DC will increase thereby resulting in lifting of measures put by FATF.

India should lobby with world powers so that UN Peace keeping force is sent to Afganistan so that total control is not lost.

This could be a golden opportunity for Iran to come out of the sanctions imposed on it by Americans if it decides to utilize its geography the way Pakistan smartly does. India which already had aided in  construction of Railway line from Chabahar port to Iran-Afganistan Border and Zaranj-Delaram Highway will be able to utilize this as another supply line for UN Peace keeping force.

All these years Americans fought in Afghanistan almost single handedly though British and some European countries sent troops but they were minimal when it should have been collective responsibility of the world. And now for world leaders to blame Joe Biden for abrupt withdrawal is not only hypocrisy but also morally wrong.We often take for granted the very same thing that deserves our gratitude. Joe Biden is the fourth US president presiding over having troops in Afghanistan.

India all these years had played constructive role in Afghanistan but it failed to make the Chabahar Port-Zaranj railway line fast tracked project  and also failed to make Iran as logistical source for the West and thereby losing golden opportunity to make US less dependent on Pakistan.We lost a golden opportunity during President Obama term when Iran and US were willing to break the ice for better relations.

Let's not forget when Indian Airlines IC-814 was hijacked it was taken to Kandahar Airport by the hijackers and India was forced to send Ajit Doval for negotiation which resulted in releasing of  JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar from Indian prison.

We need to make Iran as logistical hub for friendly forces in Afghanistan rather than they depending on Pakistan and its the moral responsibility of entire world to send it's troops to Afghanistan under UN mandate as peace keeping force otherwise if Afghanistan falls to Taliban another 9/11 or another hostage situation like IC-814 will occur and Afghanistan will become safe heaven for Pakistan to train militants and send them over to Kashmir valley. They did this in past in early 90s they will do it again notwithstanding the so called peace process which both India and Pakistan has agreed to take further. We all know Pakistan will not leave its hate towards India and will continue its strategy of bleeding India through thousands cuts.

Neither Air-Force or Navy is a supporting arm of Army

 Yesterday on 2nd July 2021 CDS General Bipin Rawat raised a storm after declaring on national television in an interview that Air-Force is a support arm of Army just like how Engineers and Artillery are for Infantry units of Army. 

This statement not only is outdated and wrong but the timing of this statement when India is going for joint Theatre commands has exposed the turf war which came to affect our National interest for the first time in 1999 Kargil War. The lack of jointmanship during decision making when Army's demand for AirStrikes on enemy position was not entirely agreed upon by Air-Force.Thereby resulting in not only we losing above 500 soldiers but also it resulted suggestion of post of CDS  in the subsequent Kargil review commitee.

Today CDS has said Air-Force is a support arm, Tomorrow he may even include Navy in that list.

Lets not forget in the same Kargil war Pakistan didn't opened up another front because it was left with only six days of oil left as Indian Navy had blocked of all oil supplies to our western nemesis.

Let's not forget after Pulwama Suicide Bombing it was Indian Air-Force which extracted revenge by bombing JEM complex at Balakot. In the subsequent next day Operation Swift Retort launched by PAF it was again IAF which defended us and saved Oil depot which was one of the target.

Let's not forget it was IAF hunter fighter jets which saved brave men of Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri at Longewala in 1971 who had bravely held guard against enemy ten times its size.

Lets not forget in the distant past we had sent a patrol of Jaguar jets to Jaffna during the start of IPKF deployment in Sri Lanka as a warning. Nothing intimidates  like Air-Force strength in the heart of enemies.

Around same time when Maldives was facing coup it was IAF which sent its Mirage Jets as a warning to rebels that India is intervening the crisis.

The recent Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region where Azerbaijan used Turkey manufactured Bayraktar TB2 UAV wreaked havoc on a superior Armenian Forces.It shouwed the world that in today's warfare its the Air-Power which will decide the course of war.

Lets not forget how Israel destroyed Iraq's under construction Nuclear plant using its fighter jets. Not many people know in those days Israel had requested India the use of Indian Air-force Western Base as a launchpad to strike Pakistan Nuclear Sites.According to the Dawn Newspaper, the operation was subsequently called off due to fears of a retaliatory attack on Indian nuclear facilities. It is also believed that the CIA had tipped off Pakistan President Zia Ul Haq of these plans and the State Department warned India of stern action (Dawn, 29 October 2007). The timing of this suspected operation suggests that the US was concerned about Pakistan losing its focus on the Afghan Jihad against the Soviet Union. Indeed, at that time, Pakistan was an indispensable ally for the fight against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, in the same way today Pakistan is again an indispensable ally today for America's interest in Afghanistan. The difference now is that the US strongly encourages and remains an active party to the growing Indo-Israel relationship, and is an important factor in this growing relationship.

Today when Afghanistan is again in doldrums as US just removed all its forces from Bagram Airfield and with Taliban again making steady inroads Pakistan has become an important launchpad again for Americans.

On one end we have Chinese who have annexed our land in Ladakh forcing us to move 4 divisions from the Pakistan border to the Ladakh border with China.

Prior to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh India had 12 divisions facing China on the Ladakh front and 25 facing Pakistan on the west. This ratio has now changed. Today there are 16 divisions positioned on the Ladakh front compared to 21 on the western front.

The recent India - Pakistan signing ceasefire declaration and signalling intentions of making peace inroads is nothing but all directed by China.

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan open support for Pakistan cause all these years was not a cause of concern for us as it hardly mattered but the role of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UAV role  in Ajerbaijan's victory over Armenia  has potential to change the war outcome in sub-continent if it occurs .In all probability we can safely assume that Pakistan already has Turkish  Bayraktar TB2 UAV.

Now that two-front threat that strategists have long regarded as the worst-case military scenario for India is a reality and with Army stretched to its reserves our only deterrence will be a Fully equipped modernised IAF. And with our dependence of oil on Gulf Navy also plays an equally important role.

With Pakistan importance rising again in American strategic intrest as they pull out of Afganistan -America's Second Vietnam we no longer can expect the formation of an alliance like NATO with ASEAN,JAPAN,AUSTRALIA as It was USA which could have added punch to such an alliance.

In the end its us who will be butchered if we dont pull up socks and equip our Air-Force with the required strength. Operation Swift Retort has shown us how a inferior Enemy can escalate and de-escalate war as per its needs using its Air-Force.We were lucky in Operation Swift Retort that we had a friend in Oval Office that time.President Trump though not a politician till he became President had an understanding of world's Geo-politics way better than other American Presidents in the past.He was truly India's friend .Had he got 2nd term the alliance on the lines of NATO against China which is ur only way to tame the dragon would have become reality.Lets's not forget Henry Kissinger once had openly declared America doesn't have any foreign policy they only have American Policy .With Pakistan again in focus in America's interest over Afghanistan and with China breathing fire on us our only hope to stalemate and defend ourselves will hugely depend on our  Air-Force and Navy.

So for CDS to say Air-Force is a support arm of Army is wrong and reflects lack of strategic understanding.

In today's warfare Its the AIr-Force which plays the most decisive part.

Lets not forget in 1965 and 1971 both wars Pakistan had got fighter jets from countries like Jordon and Indonesia where as we had recieved none as such .If today war breaks out Pakistan needs only Turkish  Bayraktar TB2 UAV to wreak havoc.In all probability with our current state of affiars of Air-Force the result of any war will be similar to one we had in 1965 which ended in stalemate.

And if such a stalemate occurs its a victory for an inferior and smaller force.

The recent attack on Jammu IAF base by drones has shown our vulnerability.

Its high time we equip our Air-force with enough teeth .Already the tenure of A K Anthony has pushed our Armed forces back by 25 years if we dont catch up we may lose more land in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

The place to discuss (and resolve) differences among ARMY,AIR-FORCE And NAVY is in Chief of Defence Staff room in South Block. Not TV studios.

Government needs a PR overhaul

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Government of India has lost the perception battle in people's mind following Government announcement of its willingness to defer the implementation for 18 months as the protest now spanning months around Delhi border is not showing signs of subsiding. Like every reforms in past has faced opposition the 3 new farm laws passed by Parliament is being opposed vociferously by farmer unions particularly those belonging to Punjab earlier now supported by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) led by now the face of the protest -Rakesh Tikait-  a Delhi Police constable-turned-farmer leader following in the footsteps of his father - Mahendra Singh Tikait whose rally at Delhi's Boat Club lawns in 1988 forced the erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi led Union Government to accept the union demands. 

Just like how liberalisation reforms where vehemently opposed then by the erstwhile so called Bombay Club led by the erstwhile Industrial stalwarts who had their wealth grown exponentially as they were the benefactors of the erstwhile License Raj system which these groups had ensured remain till 1991 through lobbying similarly the recently 3 Farm Laws allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country outside APMC markets passed by the parliament are being opposed by farm unions who are brainwashing farmers in creating a theory that government will in few years remove the MSP provision. In the initial days of protest the farm union demands included amending the laws passed by including the sovereign guarantee of MSP provision and it will not be discontinued. Initially Government had golden opportunity to end the protest to accept this demand but the government stuborness added more fuel to the raging fire .This led to farmers now calling for rollback of farm laws.

There is no doubt that the recently passed 3 farm laws are in interest of farmers as existing MSP provision is not discontinued and in fact they are getting additional options to sell their produce. However the present quagmire that Government and now the farm unions are also stuck in following 26 th January Delhi rampage including storming of Red -Fort has come to a situation who will blink first and willing to accept defeat in public perception.

The ruckus of 26th January has diminished the public sympathy which was generated towards farmers as they were camping in winter and as given the Government a face saving exit option. To tackle the brainwashing of farmers in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Western UP , Government needs to involve the stalwarts of all walks of life and show the protesting farmers the advantages of the 3 farm laws. So far Government has not been able to convince the protesting farmers that MSP will continue and not removed in coming years as being spread by farm union leaders.

The present mess which the Government itself finds is classic example how despite having good intention and good governance is not enough until you have a good PR. To tackle brainwashing of farmers by vested interest. Government so far seems to have failed miserably in handling the PR by taking on those who are spreading false fears. The 3 farm laws will end the monopoly of the APMC markets in the districts who were till now monopoly customer. Till now APMC traders were controlling the prices by forming cartels among his peers and the poor farmers till now were being taken for ride because he had no option but to sell at the price willing to be paid by APMC traders as most of the farm produce used to be perishable. All these years the farmer was being taken for ride. The new 3 Farm laws will give the same farmer option to sell his produce elsewhere to any private trader at a price acceptable to both. Earlier the farmer was forced to sell only at designated APMC Markets.

Government strategy of playing waiting game to ensure fatigue creeks in the protest seems to have backfired as the protestors are led by vested interest who have amassed enormous wealth all these years by looting the poor farmers can keep on the protest for many more months.

Government needs to amend laws by ensuring the sovereign guarantee of MSP continuence in text. Also selling and buying farm produce below MSP should be made a crime and stringent punishible terms should be included in the amended laws and above all Government today need its maverick leaders who are mass leaders to hit the street and take on brainwashing of farmers by vested interest head-on. So far not one major BJP leader has hit the streets amassing support for the 3 farm laws.

The recent concretisation of barrricades at Gazipur border which included creating a minefield of nails has done a big damage to government's image and it should be removed because its wrong morally.  Damage is already done. So far PM Narendra Modi has not got directly involved in negotiations between farm unions and government which is being handled by his Agricultural Minister. Perhaps the time has come for PM Modi and big leaders of BJP to get directly involved and ensure the 3 farm laws are enforced and accepted by farmers to take on the opposition not only in Parliament but also on streets.

Above all Government needs a major PR Overhaul and a face to take on those who are brainwashing the poor farmers with false fears. Good Intention and  good governance are not enough .You need a maverick leader to make the rebel believe in you. Unless they hit the streets and convince the protesting farmers the benefits of the farm laws it will cause serious dent to Government's image as anti-farmer despite the 3 farm laws being pro-farmers law.This government is failing at only one point and that's PR-Public Relations.