| India
enters elite club with launch of nuclear submarine Visakhapatnam:
India's first nuclear-powered submarine was launched today after Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's wife, Gursharan Kaur cracked the auspicious coconut on the hull
of the vessel at the Ship Building Centre here, giving the country a credible
three-leg nuclear deterrent and strengthening the attack capability of the Navy.
India will now have a nuclear submarine that can slip under water and emerge to
strike at a time and place of its choosing, as the country already possessed ground
based missiles and aircraft that can deliver nuclear warheads. Gursharan Kaur
launched the submarine as per naval traditions. Verses from the Atharva Veda were
recited on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said: "The
construction of a submarine is a highly demanding task by itself. For the country
to develop its first nuclear submarine is a special achievement." "Today, we join
a select group of five nations who possess the capability to build a nuclear powered
submarine. I am particularly glad that this submarine is the outcome of a productive
public-private partnership. Private industry in India has evolved considerably
during the last few decades and we should leverage its strengths to achieve our
defence goals," he added. "The sea is increasingly becoming relevant in the context
of India's security interests and we must re-adjust our military preparedness
to this changing environment. Our Navy has a huge responsibility in this regard,"
Dr. Singh said. He also expressed India's appreciation to Russia for its "consistent
and invaluable cooperation," adding that it "symbolizes the close strategic partnership
that we enjoy with Russia." He reiterated the government is fully committed to
ensuring the defence of national interests and the protection of its territorial
integrity. "We will continue to render all support to the constant modernization
of our armed forces and to ensuring that they remain at the cutting edge of technology,"
Dr. Singh said, adding that India does not have any aggressive designs nor does
it seek to threaten anyone. "It is incumbent upon us to take all measures necessary
to safeguard our country and to keep pace with technological advancements worldwide.
It has rightly been said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," he said.
The nuclear submarine is 110
meters in length and 11 meters in width, and has a surface displacement of 6000
tonnes. Navy sources said that work is in progress for building a second nuclear
submarine. With Sunday's launch, India enters the exclusive club of five countries
comprising US, Russia, France and China, which have capabilities to develop nuclear
submarines that operate nuclear submarine with the launch of the top-secret Advanced
Technology Vessel (ATV), called silent killers for its ability to remain under
water for a long period due to its nuclear-powered engines. The INS Arihant (destroyer
of enemies) is a copy of Russian Charlie class nuclear submarine leased in 1980s.
The trials of submarine here will prove its nuclear power plant and auxiliary
systems before it goes to the Bay of Bengal for sea trials and weapon trials.
The INS Arihant will begin its underwater journey from Shipbuilding Centre here.
Once submerged, it will undergo two years of extensive trials, first in harbour
and then at sea, before formally joining the navy. INS Arihant is a ballistic
missile submarine armed with twelve K-15 missiles, each capable of carrying a
500-kg nuclear warhead to a target 750-km away. At present submarines used by
the Indian Navy are the diesel electric versions that have to come up to recharge
their batteries, increasing their chances of being spotted. For a brief period
of three years from 1988-91 India used a nuclear submarine leased by Russia. Since
then it has been trying to build one of its own. India will also get couple of
nuclear-powered Russian Akula class submarines this year. The INS Chakra, an Akula-2
class nuclear powered attack submarine, is already undergoing sea trials in the
Pacific Ocean before coming to India for induction. IAF
copter hit by bullet in Doda, alert sounded Top Drass:
A bullet was fired at an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter flying over the
Doda sector in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, following which a high alert was sounded
in the region. All security forces have been put on alert and a massive security
drill has been launched after the incident. Air Officer Commanding, Jammu and
Kashmir, Air Marshal J. Chouhan said the air force has put all its flights on
high alert and precautions are being taken while flying in J and K. Speaking to
the media after laying a wreath at the Kargil war memorial in Doda Air Marshal
Chouhan said a hole was created in the tail of the copter by the bullet. Personnel
of the Delta Force and Rashtriya Rifles are sanitizing the area to make sure the
area is safe. The Indian Air Force provides copters as civilian air support in
the Gurez, Kargil, Leh, Kishtwar, and Doda areas. AN-32 and MI-17 copters fly
almost regularly for civilian support during the closure of roads due to snowfall
or other problems, Air Marshal Chouhan said. Manmohan
Singh pays tribute to Kargil martyrs Top New
Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday led the nation in paying
homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war on its 10th anniversary. "I join the entire
nation in paying homage to the martyrs of the Kargil war. They sacrificed their
lives in defence of Indian unity and integrity," Dr. Singh wrote in the visitor's
book at Amar Jawan Jyoti. "The best tribute we can pay to the gallant officers
and jawans is to dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of nation building and
work steadfastly to protect the unity and integrity of our nation," he added.
Dr Singh was accompanied by Defence Minister A K Antony, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh
Mehta, Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj and Air Force Vice Chief
Air Marshal P K Barbora. Nearly 500 Indian soldiers died on the snow-capped peaks
of Kargil in the campaign to oust hundreds of infiltrators from Pakistan in the
summer of 1999. ESMA
invoked against striking doctors in Gujarat Top Gandhinagar:
The Government of Gujarat on Sunday invoked Essential Services Maintenance
Act (ESMA) against the striking resident doctors seeking hike in their stipend.
The resident doctors have been on strike for last four days here. "We have invoked
ESMA against the striking resident doctors. Now that they are under ESMA, they
can be arrested or detained also," said Principal Secretary of Health Ravi Saxena.
The State Government also warned that if the doctors continued their strike, steps
will be taken to terminate their registration from Monday morning. "We had several
rounds of talks with the representatives of the resident doctors but so far they
have been adamant, forcing us to terminate them," Saxena said. Meanwhile, the
Gujarat Association of Resident Doctors (GARD), in a statement said the doctors
are prepared to face the "action to be initiated by the authorities." "We are
ready to face any action initiated against us. However, we want the government
to resolve the issue by negotiation," GARD said in the statement. Vice-Admiral
Sushil to take charge of southern naval command Top Kochi/New
Delhi: The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral Krishnan Nair Sushil
as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command with effect from
August 31, 2009. He will take over from Vice Admiral Sunil K Damle, who superannuates
after 40 years of distinguished service on the same day. Vice Admiral Krishnan
Nair Sushil was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1973. A submarine
branch pioneer, Vice Admiral Sushil was sent to then West Germany for submarine
training in the eighties. Vice Admiral Sushil was appointed the commissioning
Commanding Officer of the first ever indigenously built submarine, INS Shalki
in 1992. He has commanded the frontline destroyers of the Indian Navy, INS Ranvijay
and INS Delhi. The Vice Admiral has also served as Director Submarine Operations,
Principal Director Personnel, Flag Officer Submarines and Assistant Chief of Naval
Staff (Submarine Projects). Son of Krishnan Nair and Bhagirathyamma, Vice Admiral
Sushil completed his graduation from University College Thiruvanthapuram in Kerala
prior to his joining the Navy. He is married to Letha Sushil and has two daughters,
Preethi and Prasida. Coca-Cola
set to launch fizzy milk on the world! Top
London: This might come as a shocker to the
milkman or cows, but Coca-Cola are to launch a range of fizzy milk drinks. Trials
of the new product - Vio - started last month in New York where it is being marketed
as a refreshment drink, and comes in four "natural" flavours - peach mango, berry,
citrus and tropical colada. It sells for about 1.50-pound a bottle, no chilling
required. The drink contains skimmed milk mixed with sparking water, flavoured
with fruit and sweetened with cane sugar, reports The Times. It was developed
by scientists at the firm's laboratories in Atlanta, Georgia. One of Coke's copywriters
claims it tastes "like a birthday party for a polar bear". A flavour tester for
BevNET.com, a drink industry research site, who tasted the citrus version, said:
"It's big on milk flavour and, as a result, has a somewhat creamy body. It didn't
seem sweet until you consumed almost a whole bottle." David Cotton, vice-chairman
of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, said: "Anything that helps
to sell milk is great. If Coca-Cola want to market fizzy milk and give us the
odd shilling, we would be very happy." Buckingham
Palace hit by two swine flu cases Top London:
Swine flu has now reached Buckingham Palace in London, with two cases being reported
from there. The outbreak, along with a case reported at Windsor Castle, has led
to the Queen's order to crackdown on cleanliness at Royal palaces. The monarch's
senior aides have been asked to strictly abide by NHS guidelines, including the
isolation of affected individuals to prevent swine flu spreading. The highly contagious
virus has thus far hit employees, rather than members of the Royal Family. However,
according to reports, one of the infected persons at Buckingham Palace is said
to work in the catering department. "Given the speed this thing can spread it
was important that anyone with symptoms, particularly around the kitchens, is
kept isolated," the News of the World quoted an insider as saying. "We don't escape
catching swine flu just because of where we work and everyone has been taking
precautions. The last thing any if us wants is for it to spread to the Queen or
the Duke of Edinburgh," the insider added. The Queen usually spends the week at
Buckingham Palace and weekends at Windsor. However, her aides hope that her risk
of contracting swine flu will be reduced by her imminent move to Scottish estate
Balmoral, where the monarch will spend the summer. A Palace spokesman said: "As
a large and diverse organisation, employing over 1,000 personnel in a number of
locations, we accept there are likely to be cases of suspected swine flu. Managers
have been briefed to take sensible precautions." Earlier this week, Prince Andrew
had to scrap a visit to a factory because of a suspected swine flu outbreak. He
was due to officially open a new factory for digger maker JCB in Uttoxeter, Staffs,
and present the 40million-pound plant, JCB Heavy Products, with a Queen's Award
for Enterprise. |
