"Since home minister has called a meeting of the chief ministers on internal security on Januray 6, I hope to take over before that so that I could represent J&K as the chief minister. But we have few formalities. The governor's rule has to be revoked before that," Omar Abdullah said.
Giving a new impetus to Marine leisure activity, India's first World class Marina, built at a cost of Rs 8.21 crore, was today commissioned by Union Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and a host of party leaders today paid homage to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy, who died in a chopper crash.
"Non Resident Indians having relevant qualification and experience in Engineering or basic sciences are being inducted into the Defence Research and Development Organisation under a talent hunt scheme," Defence Minister A K Antony informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The talent hunt is being conducted through video-conferencing on adhoc basis and the posts subsequently advertised for regular inductions, he said.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday said a Navy inquiry has established a senior officer's connections with a Russian woman, but it was yet to be probed whether the link had influenced the price hike of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday reiterated that the terror camps located in Pakistan, which are close to the Indian border, pose a threat to the nation's security. Antony's statement came close on the heels of the statement by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who warned chief ministers from across India on Monday that Pakistan based terror outfits are planning further attacks in India.
Defence Minister AK Antony address to the armed forces personnel in his Independence Day eve.
The PM held a lengthy two-and-half-hour discussion with Defence Minister A K Antony and officers from the armed forces and the intelligence agencies on ways to prevent recurrences of such terror attacks, government sources told PTI. However, Home Minister Shivraj Patil was missing at the top-notch meet, as he was not called for the meeting, the sources added, indicating that the PM could be "cut up about Patil's handling of the Mumbai terror crisis".
Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday warned that security forces will experience a 'hot summer' this year as those hostile to India's interest are trying to infiltrate more and more terrorists into the country."Those inimical to India's interest are sending more and more terrorists across the border and the summer is going to be a hot summer as far as security is concerned," Antony told reporters.
India and the United States are unlikely to wrap up any defence deals during the high-profile visit of President Barack Obama early next month, Defence Minister A K Antony indicated on Monday
A worried army chief, General Deepak Kapoor, has protested to Defence Minister A K Antony about the derailing of vital defence purchases by allegations of corruption. On June 10, General Kapoor complained about the cancellation of army trials on the Pegasus ultra-light howitzer, after the manufacturer, Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK), was suspended on suspicion of links with a discredited Ministry of Defence official.
"Approximately 85,000 MT of ammunition pertaining to Army is lying in open plinth or temporary accommodation," Defence Minister A K Antony said in the Rajya Sabha.
Defence Minister A K Antony called upon the private and public sector on Tuesday to join hands to help India achieve self-reliance in defence production, asking them to set up a large, modern manufacturing base in the country.
The details of assets and liabilities of the ministers for the year 2008-09 have been made public by the Prime Minister's Office.
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony -- on his maiden visit to the United States met Defence Secretary Robert Gates in the Pentagon on Tuesday. Antony was received with full ceremonial honours in the River Parade Field before engaging in over an hour-long discussion on bilateral, regional and international issues with Gates. Sources said that no major bilateral agreements vis--vis military sales or contracts were signed during the meeting.
During the meeting, Antony accompanied by a delegation comprising the Defence Secretary and the Director General of Procurement is expected to exchange views on not only the status of the bilateral defence and security cooperation but also the next steps that are being envisioned. It is learnt that Antony and Gates would also be discussing global and regional issues, including the recent developments in the sub-continent.
Indian-Americans in the Washington metropolitan area accorded visiting Indian Defence Minister A K Antony -- on his maiden visit to the United States on the invitation of Defence Secretary Robert Gates -- a rousing welcome on his arrival at the Washington Dulles International Airport on Sunday evening. Dr Parthasarathy Pillai, a community icon in the Washington, DC area and erstwhile national president of the National Federation of Indian Associations were at the airport.
The US made it clear on Wednesday that India's patience would be "limited" if it faces a Mumbai-type attack again, as it warned that Lashkar-e-Tayiba was working in league with the Al Qaeda to destabilise the region and provoke an Indo-Pak military confrontation.
India on Monday voiced its worries over the underground nuclear test carried out by North Korea, terming it a 'development of serious concern'. He was asked how India viewed the announcement by North Korea that it has 'successfully' conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence.
Downplaying reports of India losing territory to China in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said there was 'no change' in the Line of Actual Control.Antony said the issue was raised at a meeting he had with Jammu and Kashmir government officials and Army officers in Jammu on Tuesday, where the Army Corps Commander for Ladakh had categorically reported that there was not much change in the situation along the LAC.
Army chief Deepak Kapoor will take 'some disciplinary and administrative action' against the four Generals involved in a land scam in Darjeeling, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Wednesday. The ministry had received a report from the Army chief in this regard on Tuesday night and it was 'too early' for him to comment on the action to be taken against the Generals. "The defence ministry received a report from the Army chief," he said.
A total of 234 army personnel have died fighting terrorists in the last four years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
The government on Monday warned of strict action against anybody found guilty of irregularities and malpractices in arms deals as the vigilance authorities of the defence ministry have unearthed wrongdoings in some ongoing deals.
United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates is expected to undertake a visit to India later in January, during which the two sides will discuss ways to push their defence cooperation, and take stock of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dates for the visit are being worked out, defence ministry sources said on Monday.Gates will hold talks with Defence Minister A K Antony and meet top officials of the armed forces.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where violence is continuing over the Amarnath land row.
"The joint development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft will mark the start of cooperation in the development of major state-of-the-art new technology weapon systems," Antony said, adding that both India and Russia would have equal financial and technological stakes and issues related to the intellectual property and specific requirement of the Indian Air Force have been resolved.
Accusing the government of engaging in a 'game of quiet diplomacy' with certain groups in Jammu and Kashmir, a Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament on Monday claimed it was playing into their hands by withdrawing 30,000 troops from the state. BJP leader S S Ahluwalia said during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha that a 'game of quiet diplomacy is being played with certain groups'. Without naming the separatists, the BJP leader said, "There are secret meetings held with them."
Congress lawmakers from Telangana met senior party leader and Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday demanding disciplinary action against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy for joining a Telugu Desam Party protest in Lok Sabha against the decision to carve out a separate state from Andhra Pradesh.
Expressing concern over allegations by a woman army officer of physical and mental torture by her seniors, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the incident.The minister intervened after the army described the allegations of Captain Poonam Kaur of the Kalka-based Army Service Corps battalion as 'baseless'.But nevertheless, army authorities instituted an inquiry as stipulated under the Army Act.
The Kiev-class warship, for which India signed a contract with Russia in 2004 for $974 million, was originally scheduled for delivery in 2008.
An important milestone for the naval programme of Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency, the aircraft was brought out of the hanger where it was assembled part-by-part during the rollout.
The United Progressive Alliance-Left parties may have averted a showdown at the key meeting on Wednesday, but the hours preceding the meet were dramatic, and full of suspense.
Defence Minister A K Antony emphasised the upcoming five-nation naval wargames, which will include the US, were not aimed at any third country, but to help Indian forces enhance their fighting capabilities.
Defence Minister A K Antony, on Thursday, carried out an in-depth review of coastal security mechanism put in place post-26/11 and ordered Navy and Coast Guard to quickly integrate all maritime agencies into the security grid to plug "gaps" in the apparatus.
Recent reports of Chinese incursions and Beijing's claims over chunks of Indian territory notwithstanding, Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday said that India will follow a non-confrontationist approach towards its neighbours.Over 150 incursions into Indian territory by China's Peoples Liberation Army troops have been reported in the last one year, apart from claims over Indian territory, including the recent controversy over the Finger Area in north Sikkim.
A longstanding demand for voting rights in India by millions of Non Resident Indians may finally see the light of the day with a group of ministers clearing a draft bill on the issue, paving way for its consideration by the Union cabinet.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday rejected his cabinet colleague and Union Railway minister Mamata Banerjee's demand for deployment of army in Maoist-affected areas of West Bengal, saying use of armed forces for internal security was the 'last resort.'
Defence Minister A K Antony said on Friday that the truce between Pakistan and Taliban has added to India's "worries" over the security scenario in the region.
Warning that the situation in Pakistan is 'very serious', Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said terrorism is spreading in that country and asserted that India is prepared to meet any challenge from Taliban militants. Asked if the Taliban's threat to carry out attacks on India was a cause of concern, Antony said, "We are always prepared to meet any challenge to our territorial integrity and national security from any quarter. Our security forces are vigilant."
India cannot leap-frog to a higher plane virtually overnight. The immediate requirement is to think big in keeping with the country's growing international status and to plan for the future with a level of confidence that policy planners have not dared to do before.
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